1. Procedure statement

The Royal Children's Hospital (RCH) is committed to providing a safe and healthy workplace for its employees and to promoting the health and well-being of all staff, visitors and patients.

Accordingly the RCH is a totally smoke-free environment.

Smoking or e-cigarettes (vaping) are not permitted anywhere on or in the premises, workplaces or vehicles operated by the RCH. This procedure is supported by our campus partners.

Through this, Hospital management aim not only to prevent staff, visitors and patients being exposed to side stream smoke but also reinforce public health messages regarding the health impacts of tobacco smoke and e-cigarettes (vaping).

In addition, the maintenance of the RCH as a smoke free environment will reduce the presence of ignition sources and thus reduce the risk of fire.

2. Definition of terms

Smoke free areas - all areas of buildings, premises, workplaces or vehicles operated by the RCH.

Smoking - is defined as the act of lighting, smoking or carrying a lighted or smoldering cigar, cigarette or pipe of any kind. This includes electronic nicotine delivery systems or electronic smoking devices such as e-cigarettes, e-pipes, e-hookahs and e-cigars.

3. Responsibility

All hospital employees are required to:

• Be aware of the requirements of this procedure
• Comply with the hospital's smoke-free environment procedure

People & Culture are to ensure all future employees and employment related advertisements acknowledge the hospital's smoke-free status.

Communications and Marketing Department will promote the smoke-free environment to staff and visitors

Security staff will enforce the procedure.

4. Procedure

The RCH is a smoke-free environment. This includes all indoor and outdoor areas and vehicles at all sites.

Facilities for extinguishing and disposing of cigarette butts have been provided at key entry points to hospital premises.

Staff in breach of this procedure will be subject to normal disciplinary procedures.

Notices advise any person entering premises that the hospital is a smoke-free environment.

Staff who smoke will be encouraged to quit and will be referred to the Quitline (131 848) and/or the RCH Employee Assistance service (1300 360 364). Quitting aids (patches, gum etc) are available at the retail Pharmacy store at a 10% discounted price for staff.

The procedure statement shall be made available to staff on the Intranet and in staff orientation packages.

Tobacco, smoking related products and goods including electronic nicotine delivery systems or electronic smoking devices such as e-cigarettes, e-pipes, e-hookahs and e-cigars will not be used, sold, distributed nor advertised within the hospital.