Friends,

As you are aware that the Government of India has prohibited smoking in public places. This will also apply to the office premises. Part A is about the guidelines. and Part B is about the legislation which comes into effect from tomorrow.

How is your company coping with this ? Have you created smoking zones ?

Share your best practices with others.

Raghav
Founder HRinIndia
Indias Biggest HR Network
www.hrinindia.in
#
HR Guru & Strategist
Bangalore, India
9880080321


Part A
Highlights:

Implementation from 2nd October, 2008, pan India.
No Smoking in Public places in all private/ public establishments.
HR Manager/ Admn. Head is authorized to impose fine or take action on offenders.
If the HR Manager/ Admn Manager fails to implement or fails to act on complaints, he will be fined as no. of individual offences.
Notice to be displayed showing the authorized person to take action on any contravention in the Act.
Posters with pictures & footer showing “NO SMOKING AREA” “SMOKING HERE IS AN OFFENCE” to be displayed in each floors or entrance or places where public assemble or public place

Smoking room or area or space defined:-
- physically separated and surrounded by full height walls on all four sides;
- as an entrance with an automatically closing door normally kept in dose position;
- has an air flow system, with non re-circulating exhaust ventilation system
- has negative air pressure in comparison with the remainder of the building.

Part B

In the interest of public health, the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare had issued a detailed Notification dated 30th May, 2008 making Rules under the Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003 for the prohibition of smoking of cigarettes and other tobacco products.

Attached is the regulation

The following are some of the salient aspects of the revised Rules:

(a) Restrictions with regard to smoking apply clearly to hotels, restaurants, refreshment rooms, public places etc. which would also include workplaces among other places as defined in each category.
Section 4 of the Act envisages a separately ventilated smoking room that is termed as "Smoking Area".
(b) The Rules provide that the owner, proprietor or the manager of all public places shall ensure that no person smokes in the prohibited areas under his jurisdiction. It also calls for a sign board to be displayed at the entrance of the premises on each floor including the staircases and entrance to the lift.
(c) Detailed provisions have been incorporated for strict
implementation of the prohibitory orders.
(d) The manager of the establishment is liable to be fined for any violation by any person of the above prohibition.
(e) The head of the Institution / H.R.Manager / head of administration has to be designated / authorised to prohibit smoking at offices and workplaces.
(f) Ashtray, match boxes, lighters or other things designed to facilitate smoking should not be provided at the workplace.
(g) It will be necessary for the manager to display in the
establishment prominently, the name of the person to whom complaints can be made by any person for violating the provisions of these Rules.