Border Telegraph | News | Smokers jacket in

Tuesday, 6th January, 2009

Published: Wednesday, 22nd March, 2006 10:15

Smokers jacket in

By Border Telegraph Newsroom

A TWEEDBANK factory is waxing lyrical about its workforce of quitters.

Almost 90 per cent of smokers at outdoor clothing manufacturer, J Barbour & Sons, have kicked the habit ahead of this weekend’s ban.

Company bosses and representatives from the Transport and General Workers Union thrashed out a plan at the start of the year to help employees throw away their fags.

And of the 22 who took up the challenge, 18 are still smoke-free.

Factory manager Ian Davidson told the Border Telegraph: “The company has always provided rest rooms for smokers, but the national ban meant that would have to stop.

“We talked to the union about the ban, and agreed something had to be done. Together we came up with the plan to help our smokers stop – if they wanted to.

“One or two didn’t want to as they enjoyed smoking, but most of employees went along with it. It has been a great success.”

An occupational health visitor has been making fortnightly visits to the factory since January 10.

And the company has paid for nicotine patches and tablets to ease the strain of stopping.

Tony Trench, from the TGWU, is delighted with the success. He told us: “Rather than put up outside shelters the company, along with the union, has taken positive steps to help its workers.

“Both Barbour’s and its workforce deserve a lot of credit for the effort they have put in. This just shows what can be achieved – and I hope it’s an inspiration to other companies.”

The Scottish Executive’s ban on smoking in public places comes into force this Sunday.

It will outlaw lighting up in pubs, cafes, factories and offices all over the country.

Gerry Hunter, the non-smoking union shop-steward at J Barbour & Sons, believes his workmates are over the worst part. He said: “It is more than two months since they stopped and I’m delighted for them.

“Everyone is really pleased with the success of the scheme.”

Around 13,000 smokers die in Scotland every year – an average of 10 years younger than non smokers.

The ban begins on Sunday morning at 6am.

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