MMU Halls of Residence - Smoke Free Protocol

Kathryn McCune – Head of Accommodation and Halls
July 2009

Purpose

This Protocol has been developed to protect all residents, employees, service users, customers and visitors from exposure to second hand smoke and to assist compliance with the Public Health Act 2006.

Exposure to second hand smoke also known as passive smoking, increases the risk of lung cancer, heart disease and other illnesses. Ventilation or separating smokers and non-smokers within the same airspace does not completely stop potentially dangerous exposure.

Policy

It is the policy of Manchester Metropolitan University Accommodation Office that all of our Halls of Residences are smoke free within the communal areas and that all students have a right to live in a smoke free environment in accordance with the Smoke Free Policy of the University. This Protocol was amended on 1 July 2008 and will be reviewed on 1 May 2010 by the Head of Accommodation and Halls.

The Health Act 2006 means it is against the law to smoke in any area of the Halls of Residence except for designated smoking Student Study Bedrooms.

This Protocol applies to all students, employees, consultants, contractors, customers or members and visitors.

Implementation

Overall responsibility for Protocol implementation and review rests with the Head of Campus and Residential Services and Head of Accommodation and Halls. All students are obliged to adhere to, and facilitate the implementation of the Protocol.

A clause is inserted into the Student Tenancy Agreement informing students of their requirement to ensure their room is ventilated before staff enter to carry out work.

Maintenance Inspections and Cleaning

Students will be informed of their designated cleaning, inspection or maintenance day and will be requested to ensure that their study bedroom is adequately ventilated prior to the inspecting, cleaning or maintenance staff entering the area. However, if staff are concerned about the atmosphere in the room they should report the matter to their line manager. The line manager will make the decision as to whether the room is smoke free or not. If the room is not deemed to be smoke free then a notice will be left in the room requesting that the student ensures compliance with this request.

Non-compliance

Students who do not comply with the ventilation and non smoking requirements will cease to have services provided until they do comply and will be subjected to the Halls Disciplinary Procedures and The Health Act 2006 Sanctions if non compliance continues.

Help to Stop Smoking

The NHS offer the following free services to help smokers give up:

  • Local NHS Stop Smoking Services – you are four times more likely to give up smoking with the support of your local NHS Stop Smoking Service and nicotine gum and patches. Call The NHS Smoking Helpline on 0800 169 0 169 to find your local service or text “give up” and your full post code to 88088.
  • The NHS Smoking Helpline – you can speak to a specialist adviser or request resources by calling 0800 169 0 169 (lines are open daily from 7am to 11 pm).
  • Go Smoke Free – an online resource for all the advice, information and support you need to stop and stay stopped.
  • Together – this support programme is free to join, and is designed to help you stop smoking using both medical research as well as insights from ex-smokers. For more information call the NHS Smoking Helpline on 0800 169 0 169 or visit Go Smoke Free.