RampART/smoking

RampART and smoking

It was original the policy of the rampART collective that it is was up to event organisers to decide their own policy on smoking during their events. However, we reconsidered our position after risk assessments carried out when consulting with the fire brigade during health and safety inspections. The building contains many soft furnishings that do not meet fire safety regulations and there are additional hazards associated with the design and use of the building. Our no smoking policy

As a result those health and safety issues, along with concern about the poor ventilation in the hall and comments from people attending events, the rampART collective agreed by consensus that we’d introduce a no smoking policy. An alternative might have been to remove all the soft furnishings, ban overnight stays, fit expensive forced ventilation and make people sign in and out of the building - none or which we were willing or able to do. The Government's ban

Since July 1st 2007, the government has banned smoking in all enclosed public spaces and work places. Some people might argue whether this ban applies to the rampART at all since it is a private members club and not a workplace however that’s beside the point. The rampART already has a no smoking policy and private members clubs are NOT exempt from the governments ban as they are still classed as a public space. Who's responsible

When we introduced our no smoking policy, we left the responsibility of ensuring people were aware of the policy to event organisers. Since the government ban was introduced, the responsibility under the law now falls on the individual smoker and those deemed responsible for the premises. Additionally, the local authorities have legal power (with the help of the police if need be) to enter premises to determine if their new law is being upheld.

Obviously we’d rather not find out who the authorities might decide is legally responsible for the rampART (or paying their £2,500 fines for failing to prevent smoking). We therefore ask that smokers respect the rampARTs no smoking policy and also respect the non smokers who also use the building.