HUNTER AREA HEALTH SERVICE

POLICY

SUBJECT: SMOKE FREE WORKPLACE

POLICY NUMBER: 01/10

DATE OF POLICY: June 2001
LAST REVISION: June 2003

POLICY AIM/OBJECTIVES:

Reduce the harm associated with tobacco use amongst staff, patients, visitors
and the community, especially exposure to passive smoking
Provide a clear and consistent message to staff, patients, visitors and the
community about the hazards of smoking
Provide a clear and consistent message to staff, patients, visitors and the
community that smoking is not a healthy activity, and
Provide leadership in the community about reducing the harm associated with
smoking.

1. Background

Hunter Health is the major public health provider for the Hunter and Northern New
South Wales and is the largest employer in the Hunter Region.

Hunter Health is committed to improving the health, safety and welfare of all persons
using its facilities and services.

Medical evidence has confirmed that tobacco smoking is detrimental to health by

causing disease and ill health. Tobacco smoking is the single largest preventable
cause of disease and death in Australia. The health effects include lung cancer,
bronchitis, emphysema, laryngeal cancer, soft tissue lesions of the lip and mouth
and cardiovascular disease. Medical evidence has also highlighted the risks
associated with the inhalation of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) or passive
smoking.

Research has identified short term effects of passive smoking include eye irritation,
coughing, headaches and reduced lung function in asthmatic non smokers. Long
term effects of passive smoking include lung cancer, pneumonia, increased risk of
lung damage in non smokers, increased serious respiratory illnesses such as
bronchitis and pneumonia in children whose parents are smokers, slower lung
growth and poorer lung function in young children whose parents smoke and
coronary heart disease.

Hunter Health has implemented a Smoke Free Workplace Policy, which aims to:

Reduce the harm associated with tobacco use amongst staff, patients, visitors
and the community, especially exposure to passive smoking

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 Provide a clear and consistent message to staff, patients, visitors and the
community about the hazards of smoking
Provide a clear and consistent message to staff, patients, visitors and the
community that smoking is not a healthy activity, and
Provide leadership in the community about reducing the harm associated with
smoking.

It is recognised that some exemptions to the policy are currently required, however,
it is envisaged that ultimately the whole of Hunter Health will be smoke free. This will
be implemented in the following stages:

Phase 1 From June 1, 2001 smoking will not be permitted anywhere except in a
designated outdoor smoking area.
Phase 2. From September, 2001 a review of the policy and any designated
outdoor smoking areas will be conducted in preparation for totally
smoke free facilities and campuses.
Phase 3 Once agreement with HAREA and the NSW Nurses’ Association is
reached all Hunter Health facilities, campuses and vehicles will be
totally smoke free (pending the outcome of the review undertaken in
the previous phase).

2. Policy Statement

As of June 1, 2001 smoking is not permitted on any property controlled by Hunter

Health, unless an exemption has been granted for a designated smoking area.

2.1 Smoking is not permitted inside any building, inside any vehicle or on any
grounds controlled by Hunter Health.

2.2 Smoking cessation support will be offered to staff and includes: a 24hr Quit
line to help staff stop smoking; staff health nurses throughout the area will be
able to provide Quit information; and one-on-one counselling sessions with
drug and alcohol counsellors are available through Lowrey Lodge or group
counselling sessions can be arranged at individual facilities.

2.3 Where appropriate to clinical needs smoking cessation support will be offered
to patients, which may include provision of Nicotine Replacement Therapies.

2.4 Contracts of employment, job descriptions and job advertisements will include
statements about the Smoke Free Workplace policy.

2.5 Signs will be erected, notifying staff and the public of each facility’s smoke
free status. This will include signage with directions to any designated
outdoor smoking areas.

2.6 Appropriate disposal bins will be installed to ensure proper disposal of

cigarette waste.

2.7 Training programs for supervisors, security and other interested staff will be
provided.

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3. Breaches of Policy

There is wide support for the aims of this policy and the vast majority of staff will be
readily able to comply. It is however, acknowledged that some individuals will
encounter a period during which they may find it difficult to cease smoking during
working hours.

Hunter Health and its managers will offer support and assistance to any staff
member experiencing such a difficulty. In recognition of the effort that will be
required by these individuals, initial breaches of this policy are to be treated in a way
that acknowledges efforts being made by the employee and encourages them to
achieve the desired change in behaviour.

Only when there is evidence that the employee is not endeavouring to meet the
requirements of this policy or when the continuous efforts to encourage the
employee have proven fruitless, will disciplinary processes be initiated.

In these cases normal disciplinary guidelines will apply (see Hunter Health’s
Personnel Policy and Procedures Manual; 8.3 DISCIPLINE GUIDELINES)

4. Grievances

Grievances about the policy or actions in association with the policy should be
handled in accordance with Hunter Health guidelines.

Where issues arise in relation to the implementation of this policy at specific sites,
and these issues require consultation with Industrial Associations, such consultation
should be occur (in the first instance) through the local Joint Consultative
Committee.

5. Contact Person

Please contact your unit/department manager should you wish to:

Discuss the Smoke Free Workplace Policy

Obtain information about Quit programs
Talk to someone about difficulties you are encountering with the implementation
of the policy
Lodge a grievance regarding the Smoke Free Workplace Policy.

RELATED LEGISLATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CIRCULARS, AREA

POLICIES:

NSW Occupational Health and Safety Act 1983

NSW Department of Health Circular 99/76 – NSW Health Department 1999
Smoke Free Workplace Policy

DISTRIBUTION:

All Hunter Health Units.

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REVIEW:

Three years (2006)

AREA EXECUTIVE RESPONSIBLE FOR POLICY MONITORING AND REVIEW:

Director, Human Resources

POLICY APPROVAL:
Area Executive – July 2003

[JUNE 2003]

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