Workers face repercussions for puffing on grounds
Jump to full article: Saskatoon (Sas) Star Phoenix (ca), 2005-08-24
Author: Janet French The StarPhoenix
Intro: The Saskatoon Health Region has started collecting the names of staff who light up on the region's grounds in violation of the organization's smoking policy.
To coincide with the provincial smoking ban, the health region instituted a new policy Jan. 1 that prohibits smoking on any property the region owns or operates, including hospitals and long-term care homes, except in designated smoking areas.
At Saskatoon's three hospitals, those designated areas are only accessible from 8 p.m. until 6 a.m. . . .
The Service Employees International Union Local 333, which represents licensed practical nurses, maintenance workers, lab technicians and other health-care workers in Saskatoon, is looking into how enforcement of the policy is affecting its members, said president Roselyn Colwell.
In particular, the union is concerned that staff who work 12-hour shifts don't have enough time during their smoke breaks to get to an area where smoking is allowed and that safe outdoor places are available for them to smoke.
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