Staff to be trained for no-smoking bar areas

Bartenders in the Eastern Health Board area are to be trained in techniques to deal with the advent of no-smoking areas in public houses.

Courses run by psychiatrists have been organised by the EHB's health promotion unit to advise bar staff on the best methods of securing the co-operation of the public for the scheme. As Dr Mary van Lieshout of the EHB points out, some of them may be "under the influence" when the no-smoking rule is pointed out.

There is no fixed date for the introduction of no-smoking areas in pubs, and the EHB is looking for voluntary participation from licensees.

The training scheme will begin next Monday with a course for 20 staff from pubs in the Meath and Kildare areas, under an agreement reached between members of the Vintners' Federation of Ireland (VFI) and the EHB. Similar courses will be run in line with demand. The federation has 6,000 members in the Republic, mainly outside the Dublin area.

Under the scheme the EHB will supply training and promotional items, such as table signage and beer mats, to participating public houses. Research has shown that the successful implementation of voluntary codes depends on staff training and management support, according to Dr van Lieshout.

Besides training in the provisions of the Tobacco (Health Promotion and Protection) Act 1998, "we will also provide trainers to support staff in developing assertiveness and conflict management skills". Other aspects of health and safety covered will include the prevention of cardiovascular disease, safe lifting techniques and first aid procedures.

The participation by VFI members will also test the effectiveness of voluntary measures to enforce what is seen by the health board as a customer's right to clean air.

The half-day sessions will be held at a number of venues in the Dublin, Kildare and Wicklow regions, and licensed premises are asked to send along two staff members for training.