Smoking in non-smoking zones

Smoking in men's ablution facilities: this was turned into a major finding for 2018 as it was found a minor during our 2017 FCCS audit.

A smoking zone was created about 50 metres from the men's toilets. In spite of this, signage and training awareness not to smoke in toilets  there are still employees  that do not obey . We have no acceptable manner to proof that a person did not adhere to the rules and without evidence we are unable to initiate disciplinary action.  

Smoke detectors and alarms were suggested- will sensitivity to be triggered by cigarette smoke be efficient. 

Your experience and help how we can tackle this to  solve the problem will be appreciated.

Hi, Leonie.

What other controls in food security do you have? Such controls can help you in addressing the above.

E.g. If you have CCTV or roving guards, you can utilize that to your advantage. If you limited entrances and exits and see some employees in areas where they are supposedly to be there then you may ask for explanation. Randomly, you can set frisking or bag checks at entrances and exits (if norms and regulation allows it to). 

If you have already identified the hotspots then you can deploy more frequent things, better illumination or CCTV,I assume that that there are places in your facility that is less frequented and not properly lighted thus they use it as alternative spots.

For the uniform, are the uniform designed to not allow other things be carried by personnel? AS much as possible, eliminate pockets and if not doable, ensure that size will not allow you to carry things other that what it is required relevant to his position.

Make the facility non-smoking with employees not allowed to bring in any tobacco products and related.

Put no tobacco on the GMP's.

Then you don't have to worry about cameras, sniffers, guards, smoke detectors etc - if they even have tobacco on them and bring it into the facilty - bam, GMP violation subject to write up and further action.

I would institute a management type person (preferably HR) to stand inside the loo until everyone gets the message

The only other option to is know who smokes and who doesn't and check outside on breaks.....if they're not outside, chances are they are inside smoking instead

There are a couple of detector options

http://www.freshairsensor.com/

http://www.cigarette...ASAAEgJpv_D_BwE

I have not..

out of curiosity, do you allow personnel belongings in the mens room?  You could ban all things, then you could put CCTV outside the washroom

Lots of reasons for things not in the washrooms....cross contamination, allergens etc etc

I believe your best route here is to ban tobacco products from the facility altogether. It makes it very simple for enforcement.

Hi Scampi
Thanks for the links!
Is there any members that tried these devices who is willing to share their experience and its efficiency?

One of the places i visited in the past have them installed and advised me that they are very effective. However, i have not experienced this device myself.

If you are installing one of these devices, make sure you communicate it to the employees. Just installing it in the restrooms will be a huge deterrent by itself. As Scampi mentioned in post # 5 earlier, multiple random inspections by HR during the day can be another factor in controlling of this issue.

P.S A busy Monday today for me, i think i need a smoke break now :silly:

Just remember, if you ban smoking inside (it's hard for us Canadians to imagine a place where it's still legal) be sure to add training about what PPE and and CANNOT go outside!

Could you relocate the designated smoking area away from the restrooms?