| 1. |
The smoking policy document of the Western Cape Provincial Administration is attached. The policy takes effect immediately and is mutatis mutandis applicable to Head Office, Education Management and Development Centres (EMDCs) and educational institutions. |
| 2. |
In terms of Regulation 3 of the Tobacco Products Control Amendment Act (as contained in Government Gazette R1453 of 3 December 1999), offices (including open-plan offices), workrooms, conference venues, toilets, corridors, meeting rooms, rest rooms, utility rooms, medical facilities, lifts, official transport, storerooms, auditoria, any area to which members of the public normally have access, are areas where smoking is prohibited. However, the employer may designate rooms or enclosed areas for smoking, provided that the rooms have windows that open to the outside, that these windows are opened during smoking, and that these rooms have separate ventilation systems which convey air to the outside of the building. These rooms must also be separated from the rest of other areas by concrete walls or solid partitions. Where no adapted smoking areas are available owing to limited accommodation, personnel are requested to smoke outside the building during smoke breaks. |
| 3. |
The responsibility to decide whether personnel can leave their work places to smoke during official hours in terms of paragraph 4.5.2 of the attached policy is hereby delegated to heads of educational institutions and directors. Within the applied rules, personnel should be permitted to take smoke breaks during tea and lunch breaks, to prevent the loss of official hours which could effect productivity. Heads must make the necessary arrangements to ensure that the policy is executed. Heads of educational institutions can allow personnel to take their smoke breaks during the stipulated intervals for learners/students. |
Please bring the contents of this circular to the attention of all concerned.
SIGNED: J.J.L. Viviers
HEAD: EDUCATION
DATE: 2003:03:06
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