Help! My office stinks of cigarette smoke!

[Snufflebabe]

The company I work for recently moved to a new building. The building is across 3 floors and has a little bit of outside space right in the middle of it, sort of like an outdoor atrium?! The smokers of the building have taken it upon themselves to use this as their smoking space, which includes the CEO. The space could really only hold about 6 people, but is busy all the time. The room I work in is right beside this space, and as the office only has single glazing, as the day goes on, our room gradually gets fumigated with horrible cigarette smoke. We have complained to HR, but as the 'big bosses' also use this space, there is very little anyone is willing to do. And because everyone else's offices are situated further away from this smoking space, we are they only ones to complain.

By the end of each day, many of us have sore, itchy throats, and I'm just fed up with it.

Does anyone know how I should deal with this? I don't think I am being unreasonable to want to do my desk job in clean, non smoky air?!

Since one of the 'big bosses' is a filthy smoker (as am I), I doubt you'll get a lot of joy in complaining.
I thought by law a covered place had to be provided for smokers?
Could you ask for an air purifier.

Surely HR will have to do something about it, this is a health and safety issue. I've just checked the HSE website and it is down to the local authority to "encourage" the legislation. Perhaps ask your HR for a copy of the smoking policy?

I think this is a health and safety matter.

At the most basic level an employer has to provide you with a safe working enviroment (there are exceptions for the military) which this isn't.

How much smoke is there? Could you take in a smoke alarm or CO detector, they would have to act if there kept being alarms.

I think bicarbonate of soda is good for getting rid of smells, but you shouldn't have to get rid of the smoke. I don't know what else to suggest - sorry not to be more help. It does sound awful.

smoke can penetrate glass?

as a minimum, could they not ask if any of the smokers want to swap desks? they would probably like the convenience of being near the smoking area and wouldn't notice the nasty smell all day.plus if they suddenly developed asthma or chest infections they wouldn't be able to sue the company (maybe suggestion to HR with slight tongue in cheek)

squekytoy - we have managed to get my MIL to smoke outside now. but i can still tell when she is doing this as you can smell it a bit sometimes

probably the windows arent sealed properly. or it comes through and opening in the window,

i would contact you local hse, they have the power to enforce safe working practises

it would be on the workers clothes too yuk yuk yuk.

Try local authority (Environmental health?)

or HSE

or go to your GP if it's causing health problems - if your employers think that it could result in a claim against them, they might take it more seriously

You do sound a delicate little thing. No doubt you don't work in London, where the traffic fumes would knock you flat. PM and I will send you a gas mask.

I thought sming areas had to be no more that 50% enclosed. If it is a small area with walls all around them it may be illegal.

Not sure how you broach the subject thi
O.

Sorry ignore me...needs a roof to be illegal. I should have checked first.