Sacked for smoking

UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUMS THE UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUM (INTERACTIVE)
61

Harry Monk:

MR VAIN:
So does anyone have an opinion of an owner driver smoking in cab? What are the rules?

That’s permitted.

Well i thought it was but was ready to be corrected. Personally, if they stopped me i’d tell em to go shag em selves. My truck, i’ll do what the hell i want inside it.

62

MR VAIN:

Harry Monk:

MR VAIN:
So does anyone have an opinion of an owner driver smoking in cab? What are the rules?

That’s permitted.

Well i thought it was but was ready to be corrected. Personally, if they stopped me i’d tell em to go shag em selves. My truck, i’ll do what the hell i want inside it.

you could make it a company rule that no smoking was allowed Rob and then sack yourself for doing it :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:

63

marcustandy:
I don’t see the issue. It’s quite clear really; like 'em or not, rules are rules - not options!

There’s plenty of other rules we (or some of us) might choose to break/ignore; speeding (on single carriage roads), for example. We all know (or should) that there is a ‘price to pay’ should our indiscretion be noticed by those in authority.

You speed - you get points/fine.

You drink drive - you get sacked.

You smoke in the cab - you get sacked.

Severity of punishment may depend on company policy but either way, ‘live by the sword, die by the sword’ an’ all that!

Says it all if you’re smoking while driving the penalty is the almost as bad as being over the alcohol limit while driving a company truck but driving your own truck or a company car or your own car exempts you from the smoking rule but not the drinking one.If you live by common sense,with the exception of the penalty for being drunk behind the wheel, you’ll get shafted by the rule makers.I reckon that the statements rules are rules not options and there’s a price to pay should your indiscretions be noticed by ‘those in authority’ came straight out of the Hitler Youth rule book.

64

Where does the law stand if there are no no smoking signs in the cab?
I know of a company with red trucks that dont have them in… :wink:

65

ROG:

MR VAIN:

Harry Monk:

MR VAIN:
So does anyone have an opinion of an owner driver smoking in cab? What are the rules?

That’s permitted.

Well i thought it was but was ready to be corrected. Personally, if they stopped me i’d tell em to go shag em selves. My truck, i’ll do what the hell i want inside it.

you could make it a company rule that no smoking was allowed Rob and then sack yourself for doing it :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:

Rog he could make a deal with the council officials that if they go shag themselves he’ll think about sacking himself.

66

ROG:
I am assuming that the company has a no-smoking policy and that any breach of this will be instant dismissal - that being written into a contract that the drivers signed :question: :question: :question:

if it’s law then i don’t think they need anything in writing rog,the stickers on the vehicle tells them that they ain’t allowed to smoke,this also apply’s to their depot’s,they will have sign’s stating that it is against the law to smoke in their premises.if drivers get caught by police it’s something like 50quid fine and alot more for the company they work for.

67

tofer:
It does amaze me the amount of drivers you see smoking in cabs in traffic. I have been told by our Driver Trainer that any DHL manager/Driver Trainer can report smoking, mobile phone usage, bad driving by any DHL driver and start of an Investigationary Procedure. I don’t know the truth of it though.

there is a total smoking ban within all dhl vehicles and depots,and anyone can report bad driving etc,proving it might be a different matter.but knowing dhl management they tend to believe the person reporting it.drivers are just numbers at dhl.

68

rp1974:
I deliver to peoples homes, 40 times day, 5 days a week. Does that mean that each of these delivery locations are my place of work? I have to enter the home and leave the goods in whichever room the customer wants (normally upstairs). Does that mean that any customers that smoke are smoking in my place of work? (It doesn’t bother me in the slightest, I am all for people doing what the hell they like, especially in their own homes, just wondering what the nanny state would make of it!)

You could say yes to the above mate,if a doctor/nurse has to come out to your own house they are within their rights to refuse to enter your house if you have been smoking.generally they don’t but you can bet there’s 1 that will do it.

69

rp1974:
So, given that three drivers have been sacked for smoking in other people’s working environment, should us remaining drivers refuse to enter any customer’s homes that are or have been smoking in our working environment?

put that question to your manager and see what answer he/she gives you.it’d be pretty interesting to read what he/she say’s to you.

70

Simon:

Deepinvet:
If 80% of cars on the road are company cars, does this mean they can’t smoke in them either??

Nope, yer allowed to smoke in company cars.
Company cars are specifically mentioned as being exempt from the smoking ban, in the legislation.

our bosses that have company cars ain’t allowed to smoke in them.

71

rp1974:
There have been 3 people sacked from my depot this week for smoking in the cab. I myself am a non smoker, and agree that drivers should’t be doing it, but the manager has been following us around looking for drivers having a smoke. They caught 3 drivers on the same day, and they all got the sack on the spot. They have no photographic evidence, but they say that as two managers witnessed it that the drivers cannot appeal. Surely this is a bit harsh? Should they have got a final warning first? All three drivers have not been in any trouble before.

They should’ve put them in the town center in stocks & we could’ve thrown rotten fruit at them too, smoking in their cabs, that’s criminal :open_mouth:

What a ridiculous piece of legislation that is, fair enough if you don’t smoke, I can imagine it’s not very nice getting in a lorry that smells like an ashtray, but surely it’s something two grown men could sort out between themselves? Do we really need the government getting that far into our lives, the same government I might add that makes a fortune out of taxing the same cigarettes, it fears revenues are dropping because of lower sales, so it makes it illegal so that it can fine those who carry on, while appearing to be concerned about our health, that’s a load of bollox, they couldn’t care less about us, they’re only interested in themselves, it’s the same with the HSE, they’re not doing it for our safety, they do it so that their left wing buddies can all have 50 grand a year jobs & keep voting for them, makes my blood boil it really does :imp:

‘Things can only get better’ they said when they came into power, really? More like’ do as you’re told, we know what’s best for you’ BOCs…

72

I have a couple of friends who run their own small family business making blinds.
They don’t employ anyone but do have a van to deliver the blinds in.
They both smoke and are husband and wife.
Fenland District Council have told them that because the van is driven by BOTH of them NEITHER can smoke in it as it is their work place.
If only one of them had a licence to drive it then it would be OK :unamused: :unamused:

Pat

73

i.m a non smoker and i think it’r the most pointless law since banning hunting with dogs while its legal to indiscriminately poison. But anyone caught is willingly committing a crime and where a company as a policy that says it’s a sacking offence i can’t imagine any defence.

74

newmercman:
but surely it’s something two grown men could sort out between themselves?

But, in my experience, that doesn’t happen. When I was last tramping, sometimes my truck was needed back at base for a night shift. Asking the night-man to not smoke (or at least keep the window wide open) and not to sleep on my bed/quilt with dirty, oily boots just didn’t work. :unamused:

Unfortunately, the night-man would be gone before I arrived in the morning otherwise it might well have been sorted out ala ‘two grown men’ style!!! :smiling_imp: :smiling_imp:

75

why can they smoke on corrie and eastenders, surely i know they are pretending to be in their own homes but for the tv crew it is a workplace :laughing:

76

chunkytransport:
why can they smoke on corrie and eastenders, surely i know they are pretending to be in their own homes but for the tv crew it is a workplace :laughing:

With modern computer film trickery it’s probably a virtual ■■■ :bulb:

77

ROG:

chunkytransport:
why can they smoke on corrie and eastenders, surely i know they are pretending to be in their own homes but for the tv crew it is a workplace :laughing:

With modern computer film trickery it’s probably a virtual ■■■ :bulb:

oh really? then is it ok to have a virtual ■■■ in your truck :laughing:

78

chunkytransport:
then is it ok to have a virtual ■■■ in your truck

I don’t have a truck but if I did then yes as I also smoke :smiley:

79

i think islam is worse than smoking, that should be banned :imp:

80

If press reports at the time of the implementation of the smoking ban are to be believed then you’ll be pleased to know that there is one place where smokers can enjoy a cigarette with their favourite tipple and that’s in any of the bars in the Houses of Parliament, apparently they’ve been granted an exemption!

So if any of you happen to be darn sarf just pop in and enjoy. You should be able to gain access because after all it’s government of the people by the people aint it? :imp: :imp: :imp: