Lunch and smoke breaks

[xyzabc198]

Well I was the one that started this conversation...I suppose it's only fitting that I kill it too

 

[RoryA]

I have a vague recollection that if you do a lot of work in front of a computer (and who doesn't these days) you are entitled to a 5 min break per hour for the sake of your eyes, due to Health and Safety regs. I might have made that up when I was a smoker though!

 

[xyzabc198]

Anybody have anything to add to rorya's comment there? I would like to see if anybody else has facts on that or has heard it before

 

[Patience]

It certainly rings a bell, although it may just be guidelines, and I am not sure it is specifically a 'break' ie I don't think it is for 'you time'.

 

[RoryA]

"Every employer shall so plan the activities of users at work in his undertaking that their daily work on display screen equipment is periodically interrupted by such breaks or changes of activity as reduce their workload at that equipment."
Regulation 4 of Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992

The guidelines suggest 5-10 minutes after every 50-60 minutes. But it's not an entitlement to a break from work, just from VDU work, as Bryony said.

 

[cornflakegirl]

There are 2 exceptions to this rule
2)houses of parliament, because the people who made the law, want to smoke themselves...GRRRRR that's just totally hypocritical!

That's not actually true. As a royal palace, they are technically exempt, but have decided to abide by the spirit of the legislation anyway.

http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2007-06-11b.141621.h

 

[DonkeyOte]

Look who's back on the "pedant pills" ...

 

[Jonmo1]

That's not actually true. As a royal palace, they are technically exempt, but have decided to abide by the spirit of the legislation anyway.

Then that means it IS true. It is an exception to the rule, They are allowed to smoke there, they have simply CHOSEN not to.

 

[cornflakegirl]

Actually, that one was scepticism, not pedantry - it sounded unlikely, so I googled it! But I do the same thing with virus warnings, and funny stories that claim to be true. I like to think it's attention to detail...

 

[arkusM]

Yesterday, this tread just went silent!! Then I realized most of you guys are in the UK, and went home!! My day only just started an hour ago!! LOL.
I heard of a US company Banning smoking for thier employee totally, at work or home. It of couse was challenged as a infrigment of their workers rights, but as far as remember/know the courts had not struck it down, yet. I cannot recall if the issue was settled. Like I said earlier, it does pose some interesting big issues. Since the we run on the common law system... the precendents are distrubing.