Companies should use national no-smoking day (14th March) to blow away any confusion regarding their obligations under the anti-smoking legislation that comes into force later this year.

That’s the message from health and safety consultancy Croner, which claims many employers are not aware of their responsibilities and is urging them to be more vocal in issuing and enforcing no-smoking policies throughout offices and shops in the UK.

The smoking ban is already in place in workplaces across Scotland and will come into force in Wales on 2nd April and England on 1st July. There will be a limited number of exceptions to the law, notably private homes, residential care homes, hotel rooms and prisons.

Last year research by Croner identified confusion among employers, with 78% claiming they already complied with the law despite 48% admitting they did not provide smoking areas for employees.

The organisation is now urging company owners to go beyond just implementing the law by using the smoking ban as an opportunity to reduce absenteeism and increase productivity by promoting a healthier workplace.

“A healthier workforce is a happier and more productive one, so employers should be consulting now with staff over exactly what the smoking ban will mean to them and what the consequences could be if they don’t,” said Trevor Davies, health & safety expert at Croner.

“No-smoking day is a timely opportunity for employers to review the help they make available to staff who want to quit smoking, from information leaflets and nicotine patches through to medical interventions.

“It will take time for new workplace smoking policies to be implemented and understood, so employers have no need to panic,” he added. “However, by acting soon rather than later, they can get ahead of the legislation and ensure they’re on top of every part of it when it comes into force.”

A review of the costs and benefits of making workplaces smoke-free in England revealed that there would be a total net benefit of between £2.3bn and £2.7 bn for businesses. Anti-smoking pressure group ASH estimates 30m working days are currently lost each year in England and Wales through sickness caused by smoking.