RATIONALE
The Park Orchards Football Club (the Club) recognises that passive smoking (inhaling second-hand smoke) is hazardous to health and that non-smokers should be protected from tobacco smoke. Passive smoking can lead to other serious illnesses such as bronchitis, lung cancer, cardiovascular disease, and chest illnesses in children. Accordingly the following policy has been developed by the Club to help protect people’s health.
The move to go SmokeFree also complements the Club’s desire to create a healthy family friendly environment. The Club believes that such an environment and image will be advantageous in attracting new members and positively promoting the Club in the community.
Legislation and the legal duty of care also provide reasons to have a SmokeFree club. Under common law the Club has a legal duty of care to ensure that employees, volunteers, players and officials are not exposed to potentially harmful situations. The Occupational Health and Safety Act also stipulates that employees and working volunteers must have a safe environment to work in. Victorian SmokeFree dining legislation also states that enclosed dining areas must be SmokeFree.
WHO IS AFFECTED BY THE POLICY
This policy applies to all members, administrators, officials, coaches, players and visitors of the Park Orchards Football Club.
TIMING
This policy is effective from 1 March 2013.
DESIGNATED SMOKEFREE AREAS
The Park Orchards Football Club requires the following areas to be SmokeFree:
• Club and social rooms
• Administration and office areas
• Changing rooms
• Toilet blocks
• Indoor spectator viewing areas
• Playing areas
• Eating areas
• Grandstands and spectator viewing areas as signed
• Near entries and exits of buildings, facilities and the ground
SALE OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS
The Park Orchards Football Club will refrain from selling tobacco products.
BEHAVIOURAL EXPECTATIONS
Coaches, trainers, officials and plays will refrain from smoking while they are acting in an official capacity for the club or while in Club uniform
PROMOTION OF THE POLICY
The following mediums will remind patrons about the Club’s SmokeFree policy:
• Non-smoking signs
• Club Policies and Procedures Manual
• Advertising and promotional resources (e.g. brochures, newspaper ads etc.)
• Club correspondence (letters, faxes, e-mails etc.)
• Signage
Ashtrays will be removed from the clubrooms to discourage smoking.
Cigarette butt bins will be provided outside to encourage smokers to smoke outside.
NON-COMPLIANCE STRATEGY
The following non-compliance strategy will be followed if anyone breaches the Club’s SmokeFree policy.
1. Assume that the person is unaware of the SmokeFree policy.
2. A Club representative will approach the person breaching the policy and politely ask them to refrain from smoking and remind them about the SmokeFree policy.
3. If the offence continues, then the most senior most senior Club representative will verbally warn them again and hand over a formally written letter that outlines the Club’s policy on smoking. The offending patron must also be made aware that if they don’t stop smoking then they will be required to leave the Club’s facility. The Club’s management committee will sign off on the letter. This letter will be pre-written and kept both behind the bar and at the ground so that copies are readily available.
4. If the offence does continue then the patron will be escorted out of the facility by a senior Club representative.
POLICY REVIEW
The policy will be reviewed from time-to-time to ensure that the policy remains current and practical.