Firm hopes to wipe the floor with smoking

A COMPANY is encouraging smokers to quit the habit – for the sake of both staff and the bottom line.

Cheddleton flooring adhesive manufacturer F Ball was the first business in Staffordshire to sign up to the Breathe Easy scheme last August.

Carl Norman, the firm's health and safety adviser, said 27 of its 125 employees are smokers.

Based on NHS estimates, this could cost F Ball more than £17,000 a year in time lost to smoking breaks.

Mr Norman said: "It reminds employees that we are a caring, compassionate employer – not just towards smokers, but towards all employees."

The NHS in North Staffordshire has stepped up its programme to help an extra 2,010 people to quit in 2010.

Health officials want more companies to follow F Ball's example and sign up.

Under the scheme, firms are presented with an award if they fulfil criteria such as implementing a no-smoking policy and putting in place support for employees who want to give up.

In return, the NHS helps train a stop smoking support officer and gives staff access to one-to-one counselling and nicotine replacement therapies for just the cost of a prescription.

Felicity Johnson, accounts assistant at F Ball, volunteered as the firm's in-house stop smoking adviser.

F Ball admits employee take-up of the support has been slow.

But Mr Norman said: "The programme we run isn't just about smoking. It's about lifestyle changes as well and it involves things like diet and exercise.

"If just one employee gave up as a result of this initiative or reduced what they smoked it would be worthwhile."

To find out how to join the Breathe Easy programme, or for details, call Michelle Ellis on 01782 298044.