Reporting smoking in the workplace

[GavinPearson]

The OP may win the battle and lose the war.

After he informs his employer about the smoking, alienates the other employees and is seen as a guy that just can't get along with others he'll lose hours or lose his job. He'll sue, there'll be a settlement, but after that his past will catch up with him and potential employers will be picking other people to be their employees.

Move on to a shop run by a health nut who abhors smoking.

[Corpulent Tosser]

If I observe someone in breach of health and safety regulations I approach that person and advise them of the fact, I also make a written report to the HSE manager, no names mentioned only the facts, location, nature of the breach, what I did about it and where possible an improvemnet suggestion.

In this case, the improvemnet suggestion would be to advise employees of the regulations regarding smoking in the workplace and a few signs as a reminder.

[kev b]

With respect Corpulent, there is a world of difference between the corporate oil industry and a local HGV workshop, I still think the OP is on a hiding to nothing if he thinks he can both stop the smoking and keep his job.

If he makes a complaint, word will get around and working life will become difficult, he'll be given the toughest jobs, hours cut, ostracised or all the above.

The firm has had years to implement H&S changes and has not bothered, suggesting entrenched behaviour and management acceptance, it will be along and painful task to drag them into the 21st century.

Remember how long it took the oil industry to sort its appalling safety record ?

[Corpulent Tosser]

I think the fact that the oil industry did have a bad safety record and that it has been improved to a huge extent is relevant, without people making changes to behavour and attitudes that change would not have come about, it is unfortunate so many were injured before major changes were made.

So if no-one makes the effort to change, then no change will be made.

I often work in locations with very different cultures and attitudes to safety, here in Angola it is considered disrespectful to critcise the behavour of others, particularly someone older than you, but slowly that attitude is being diluted.

It may be the OP is on a hiding to nothing for highlighting this breach, but if approached openly and honestly I would hope he would be supported rather than criticised (though it seems here there is more criticism than support, which I find disappointing).

Maybe his fellow workers don't realise that they are potentially opening themselves and their employer up to prosecution, maybe the employer is not aware that it could have repercussions on him and the company as a whole.

[M4cruiser]

Looked around for the best place to post this, wasn't sure, but here it is anyway:-

As I dropped off my car today at a local garage workshop (non-franchise) I couldn't help noticing a mechanic/fitter smoking in the workshop - surely this has to be illegal, given both the "indoor" workplace regulations and also the flammable stuff lying around.

It was definitely not an E-cig, because he came into the reception's back door (without the cig, but smelling strongly) then went back out and carried on smoking as he walked through.

There is probably a "no smoking" sign somewhere.

I wouldn't want to name and shame yet, but I will if they have a fire ....

[gus607]

How on earth did you manage before the smoking ban ?

[psi310398]

Corpulent Tosser said:

I think the fact that the oil industry did have a bad safety record and that it has been improved to a huge extent is relevant, without people making changes to behavour and attitudes that change would not have come about, it is unfortunate so many were injured before major changes were made.

So if no-one makes the effort to change, then no change will be made.

I often work in locations with very different cultures and attitudes to safety, here in Angola it is considered disrespectful to critcise the behavour of others, particularly someone older than you, but slowly that attitude is being diluted.

It may be the OP is on a hiding to nothing for highlighting this breach, but if approached openly and honestly I would hope he would be supported rather than criticised (though it seems here there is more criticism than support, which I find disappointing).

Maybe his fellow workers don't realise that they are potentially opening themselves and their employer up to prosecution, maybe the employer is not aware that it could have repercussions on him and the company as a whole.

I'm not sure the experience of the oil industry will read across. The HGV garage seems more similar to a place I worked in decades ago.

As a student, I used to do casual labour in a foundry where one of the full-timers (a tool-maker, so he was quite high up the food chain) was suspected of being a management "grass". I never found out what offence he had committed but it had been committed months before.

His life was a living hell. He only ever was spoken to by the charge hand or foreman and, then, that was the minimum necessary to get work done. All day, every day.

His personal tools went missing or damaged or were smeared with excrement. His work was sabotaged or hidden. His timesheet and PPE were stolen/hidden etc etc. He knew that in an emergency he was on his own and nobody would help him, and an emergency was a distinct possibility: he was mending clapped out presses and stampers in a very old building.

By the time I was there, he'd given up complaining or reporting things and was just stoically getting through each day.

Then, one summer, I returned and he'd gone.

But this was the early 80s.