Smoke-Free Workplaces Laws – Taking action

Your business could be fined up to £2,500 if you do not follow the rules laid out in the Smoke-free (Premises and Enforcement) Regulations 2006.
You must display no-smoking signs in all smoke-free premises and vehicles.
The no-smoking signs must comply with the law. For more information on the requirements, see the Smokefree England Guide called Everything You Need to Prepare for the New Smoke-Free Law on 1 July 2007.
Staff smoking rooms and indoor smoking areas are no longer allowed. An employee, customer or visitor who wants to smoke must go outside.
Employers of smoke-free premises and vehicles have legal responsibilities to prevent people from smoking.
You must take reasonable steps to ensure that employees, customers and visitors are aware that premises and vehicles are legally required to be smoke-free.
You need to demonstrate that you have taken reasonable steps to meet smoke-free requirements, such as removing ashtrays from the workplaces.
You must ensure that no-one smokes in smoke-free w orkplaces, including business premises, shops or vehicles.
You do not have to provide outdoor smoking shelters for employees, customers or visitors who smoke.

Smoke-free exemptions

There are a limited number of exemptions under the Smoke-free (Premises and Enforcement) Regulations 2006.
You can contact you local authority for clarification on whether your workplace needs to be smoke-free.
Exemptions include, for example, certain care homes, prisons and residential mental health units.