Nestle to ban cigarettes from all buildings

9:04am Friday 9th February 2007

WORKERS at York's Nestlé factory will soon have to stub out their fags for the last time - when it goes smoke-free.

The confectionary giant has decided to ban cigarettes from all its sites ahead of the Government's smoking ban which comes into force later this year.

The company has never allowed smoking outside factory walls on food hygiene grounds, but rooms for smokers were provided inside.

These will now be closed, which will mean staff will not be able to smoke anywhere on site.

The Government's ban covers enclosed areas, but some companies have installed outdoor refuges so that smokers have somewhere to go.

A trade union leader said today that Nestlé should make more provision for smokers - like installing special refuges - rather than banning the habit entirely.

John Kirk, organiser for York's GMB branch, which represents about 1,000 workers at Nestlé, said: "It's better to have a smoking policy rather than a no-smoking policy.

"We have written to Nestlé requesting a meeting to discuss their decision to ban smoking from all the sites completely.

"No one has discussed it with us. People who have approached the GMB are seeking a solution to the problem."

Leaving the factory grounds to have a cigarette was not an option as staff were not allowed to go off site during the working day, he said.

Nestlé's decision to outlaw smoking follows that of York Hospital, which became smoke-free on January 1.

In 2005, The Press teamed up with Selby and York Primary Care Trust - which has now merged into the new North Yorkshire and York trust - in our Yes! To Clean Air campaign, which aimed to banish smoking in the workplace.

A Nestlé spokeswoman said all its sites would be going smoke-free in the near future, but an exact date had not yet been confirmed.

"Nestlé is going smoke free because it chooses to ahead of the Government's ban which comes into force later this year," she said.

She said: "This is to give our employees a chance to become accustomed to not smoking in the work environment and there will be help available for those employees who would like to stop smoking."

The company would respond to the union about its concerns, she added.

NHS staff from North Yorkshire and York Primary Care Trust's stop smoking service are running a clinic at Nestlé helping staff to quit. The service is available by phoning 0845 877 0025.

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