A company director has been fined for smoking in his office after an anonymous complaint to the HSE prompted council officers to pay his firm a visit.
In November 2008, enforcement officers warned Metric Scaffolding in Preston, Lancashire, about its responsibilities under the smoke-free legislation after the council received a tip-off that the firm’s staff regularly smoked in the office and in company vehicles.
When they returned to the premises in January this year, officers caught operations director Martin Lenehan smoking at his desk.
Lenehan refused to pay an on-the-spot penalty of £50 and the matter went to court. On 11 June, South Ribble magistrates found Lenehan guilty in his absence of smoking in a smoke-free place, and fined him £175 plus £75 costs.
“This latest conviction will hopefully serve as a reminder to the small minority of employers who are not observing the smoke-free legislation that they have a legal duty to comply and will be prosecuted if they do not,” said councillor Peter Mullineaux.
