Conference govt02::basingstoke

re .0

>    Isn't it time either the Smoking policy was reviewed or alternatively 
>    confine smoking only to the smoking rooms no matter what time of day it
>    is and with no exceptions? 

	Hey, lighten up guy...

	What's been getting up your nose then? Oh, I see...

        There is also a report in todays FT of a new study that found 
        smokers work 7� hours a week less than non-smokers. 

        I think that the present policy should continue, but non-smokers
        should be allowed a 3 day weekend to compensate!

        Ian.

    I think the time has come to at least review the smoking policy at the
    CSC which is basically no smoking at all except in smoking rooms except
    the period midnight to 7am and weekends with agreement. 
    
    The problem is that it is difficult for people in CCD to leave their
    desks out of hours to use the smoking rooms.
    
    Personally I don't think anyone should have to endure smoking in the
    workplace and there should be a total ban to protect everybody.
    
    I would be surprised if other designated non smoking buildings relax the 
    restriction out of hours.
    
    I with Norm on this one as I am also a shift worker affected by this.
    
    Royston 
                                                      

        It's a bit of a one sided debate at the moment. Are there any
        smokers in the building who know how to use notes?
        
        Ian.

    I smoked when I first joined the company but have since given up...The
    smoking confined to the smoking rooms was fine by me and I think was
    pretty well accepted by other smokers in the building....A total ban on
    smoking is not a step forward at all....Smokers are now (generally
    speaking) the only minority group that are legally discriminated
    against...! 
    
    Cheers,
    Nick.

    I think everyone should stop smoking.....
    
    Paula

    Well, 
    
    I guess I have to stick my hand up as the man responsible both for the
    review and the maintenance of the Viables Smoking Policy.
    
    I'm only going to react to Royston's comments for the moment, but I do
    want to work on the issue - just not in here :-)
    
    >Personally I don't think anyone should have to endure smoking in the
    >workplace and there should be a total ban to protect everybody.
    
    I absolutley agree Royston - you should not have to endure smoking in
    the workplace, the Viables policy should ensure this.
    
    >I would be surprised if other designated non smoking buildings relax the 
    >restriction out of hours.
    
    This is the only building (discounting manufacturing) that I know of
    which operates 24 x 7:  so there's nobody else who would need to relax
    the restriction.
    
    >I with Norm on this one as I am also a shift worker affected by this.
    
    Nobody should be "affected by this".  The policy is absolutely clear -
    nobody is allowed to smoke outside the smoking rooms unless they have
    the permission of all the people in the area who would be affected by
    them so doing.
    
    If you are being affected by other people's smoke, raise the issue with
    your Manager or with me.  As Norman has done.  And I will be dealing
    with that one reported incident.
    
    Based on the extremely low level of _reported_ problems with our
    policy, I am not presently anticipating a review.
    
    Now wait for the rush ..........
    
    Jon

    I am a smoker, I am extremely grateful for Digital in supplying smoking
    rooms for employees, not many companies would do something like that. 
    I have to admit that it is the first time in a year that I have herad
    that smoking is allowed out of hours anywhere (with permission from
    fellow workers) but think that it is quite reasonable and I would not
    feel comfortable smoking outside of the smoking rooms if I knew it was
    affecting someone else and they objected. 
    
    Mark

    
    Being the other "Systems Engineer" working in G4 with Norman at the
    weekend, I would point out that the "cigarette/smoke-smell" appeared
    to be coming from the "Air Cooler" vents in the ceiling.
    
    Now I presume that the two floors of the building have separate air
    flows, so would I be right in thinking that this had to be someone
    smoking on the ground floor ?? Maybe even in the smoking room or in
    reception ?? I have, on occasions recently finished a night shift,
    only to find a semi-fog in reception, presumably from the security
    guard smoking. However, this was not noticeable in G4, probably due
    to the Air system being switched off overnight.
    
    Your comments - Jon !!
    

�    ... I would point out that the "cigarette/smoke-smell" appeared
�    to be coming from the "Air Cooler" vents in the ceiling.
        
        Does this explain the number of fire alarms we get?
        
        Ian.

    I doubt it....Ask the Comms. group....8-)
    
    Cheers, Nick.

       <<< Note 867.7 by KERNEL::MORRIS "Which universe did you dial?" >>>
                               -< Here goes... >-
    
>    This is the only building (discounting manufacturing) that I know of
>    which operates 24 x 7:  so there's nobody else who would need to relax
>    the restriction.
    
     Just for the record Digital F.M. in Enterprise House is 24 x 7 x 365.

     Stuart

    
    re. -1
    
>    Just for the record Digital F.M. in Enterprise House is 24 x 7 x 365.

    Thanks for that information - obviously, I didn't know that.  Just for
    the record, are there people there 24 x 7 x 365 or is it that there are
    computers whirring away and people at home on standby?
    
    Jon

There are people on site all the time.

Stuart

    re. -12,13
    
    Just for the record Digital F.M. in Newbury Business Park is 24 x 7 x 365.
    There are Operations and Network Staff on-site, who monitor the IDN,
    customer machines & networks, and they do remote monitoring of other 
    F.M. locations' customer machines where staff do not work 24 x 7.

    Mark,
    
    Since I moved from Great Shefford three years ago, and no longer have
    to drive through Newbury twice every day, I have been desperately
    trying to forget it!
    
    Jon

    
    Just out of interest, would the London & Newbury people who have 
    contributed to the discussion, like to indicate how the smoking issue 
    is handled outside 9-5 in their locations.
    
    ie. By agreement/Smoking rooms only/Total ban/No restrictions  etc etc.
    
    Brian.

    There is a smoking room on the first floor.
    
    On the ground floor, the 'Operator Rest Room' used to be used, 
    but since this has been redesignated a food-preparation area,
    the No-Smoking signs have gone up. 
    
    I believe out of normal hours, smoking in the office areas is
    'by agreement'....but don't quote me, as a non-smoker, in Newbury, 
    I've not had to address the issue about inhaling second-hand smoke.
    
    Smoking is banned in the toilets.
    
    Maybe the buidling air re-circulation is better - I know there's a 
    hefty extractor fan in the Newbury Smoking room, and I think they 
    installed a barrier in the ceiling void to stop the spreading through 
    the rest of the building. 
    
    Newbury, like Viables, does not have building air-conditioning installed,
    rather it has a air-heating/cooling plant. However, because the first
    floor gets very hot indeed in Summer, it does have individual a/c 
    units installed in the ceiling for each office area on the first floor. 
    
    The ground floor is mainly Computer and utility rooms, where smoking is 
    banned anyway.
    
    Mark (Ex-Newbury)