any regulations about nursery staff smoking?

[puffinsaregood]

Hi,

Are there any regulations about whether nursery child carers can smoke during their breaks and before starting work?

Would a nursery typically have rules about it?

I know it is their free time.... but worried about second hand smoke exposure.

I visited one nursery and one of the staff smelt very strongly of smoke and was cuddling the children, it surprised me. I am not planning on using that nursery for other reasons, but wondering whether it is something I should ask about in future.

Thanks.

Really?

I don't think there are, but I understand your concerns about this. I used to smoke and wouldn't have held a child after doing so, especially someone else's child, it's just good manners.

They can't smoke in the baby room, toddler room, or pre-school room.

They should not smoke anywhere on the premises. This would include the garden.

Doubt there is anything that can stop them smoking whilst on a break and not on the nursery premises.

It's not second hand smoke (which is when you breath in someone else's smoke that they have exhaled or from their lit fag)

It's third hand smoke (from clothes/breath/skin).

Honestly unless you avoid all traffic, open fires, BBQ's it won't make much of a difference to your DC.

Of course you can't stop them from smoking when they're not at work!

totally agree with your concerns about this, one of the nurseries I visited said part of the policy was they had to change clothes if smoking in their breaks so worth asking about their policy. I think it is worst for the babies who need to be picked up a lot.

Some nurseries insist that staff have to change out of uniform before smoking but there are no regulations except that the premises must be smoke free

Not in the nursery, or on the nursery grounds. Other than that, it's individual's policies AFAIK

I think there is health guidance on smokers not being allowed to work with under 1s, but this may just have been a specific policy for my previous setting.

Certainly there's nothing statutory but if it concerns you then ask the individual nursery about their policy.

In my opinion a responsible nursery should insist staff at least change out of their uniform top when smoking and wash their hands before coming back into contact with the children. Third hand smoke from smoking has far more harmful toxins in it that smoke from a bbq

I wouldn't want my child to be regularly exposed to smoke from a bbq either

We have to change clothes/cover uniform with another top and wash hands after and give a few mins before entering the room where children are. No smoking on premises including outdoor areas.

I don’t smoke so doesn’t affect me directly.

I would like to think all staff who smoke would change clothes. Wash hands and brush teeth

For the staff at my nursery that smoke, they can smoke on their lunch break obviously but they have to be well off the premises and most wear a big coat to try and stop the smell being on their uniform. No one gets changed or brushes their teeth though

Our staff are required to ensure 15 minutes between their last cigarette and returning to work. They are also asked to wear a coat so the smell doesn't go into their top, and ensure they freshen up before coming back