UAE urges smoke-free companies to enforce disciplinary actions on violators

The UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) has urged companies with 'tobacco-free' policies to take disciplinary actions against employees violating smoking prohibitions. Employees must be informed of the policy and served a written notice. A record documenting the violator's details and the incident must be maintained.

MoHAP's tobacco-free workplace guide mandates that smoking is prohibited in all forms across the entire facility, including outdoor and parking areas. UAE laws forbid smoking in closed public places and the guide extends this to all public places, including government, health and educational institutions and public transport.

Dr. Hussain Abdul Rahman Al Rand, the assistant undersecretary for the Public Health Sector, stated the guide aims to support government and private entities in fostering a tobacco-free workplace, aligning with the UAE's commitment to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC).

The ministry recommends integrating the tobacco-free policy into the professional performance document, developing written procedures, and nominating responsible staff members. Employees should be informed of the policy, provided with resources to quit smoking and informed of the consequences of non-compliance. Companies must display no-smoking signs prominently and ensure the policy is enforced without exceptions.

The guide highlights the dangers of passive smoking, noting it contains over 4,000 toxic chemicals and increases the risk of serious health conditions, such as coronary artery disease, lung cancer and respiratory diseases. Ventilation systems cannot eliminate these toxic substances, reinforcing the need for strict adherence to the tobacco-free policy.