What exemptions are there to the workplace smoking ban?

There are some exemptions under the new regulations. These mainly relate to situations where a person’s workplace is also their, or someone else’s, home.

This includes residential homes, long-term residential mental health units, prisons, offshore platforms and hospices. Although smoking is allowed in either a bedroom or a designated smoking room, there are strict conditions. The exemptions relate to residents and their guests only and employees will not be able to smoke on the premises (except off-shore platforms). The regulations not cover designated hotel bedrooms or employees visiting people in their own homes.

There are also exemptions for theatre and film performances where smoking is necessary for “artistic” reasons, some research and testing facilities and specialist tobacconists. Some of these restrictions vary in Scotland.