Smoking to be banned on submarines.

[I Ratant]

Before the addicts had to go outside the office building, they'd congregate in the stairwells.
Awful stench in the stairwells.
Then they had to go outside to light up.
In essence, this gave them a 10% raise.
Not exactly a punishment or restriction, that.

 

[jiggeryqua]

Before the addicts had to go outside the office building, they'd congregate in the stairwells.
Awful stench in the stairwells.
Then they had to go outside to light up.
In essence, this gave them a 10% raise.
Not exactly a punishment or restriction, that.

Of course, non-smokers work constantly, at a constant rate, with nary a dip or delay - they certainly don't take toilet breaks or idle at the water cooler, or carry pointless pieces of paper around trying to look busy.

I worked in a residential home some years ago, where I was entitled to a 10 min break every 2.5hrs, for smoking. Non-smokers were entitled to a 10min break every 2.5hrs for not smoking (it was established as a smoking break but necessarily extended to all staff). In fact, I roll my own cigaretters, they're small and I don't particularly relish them, I'd just get my nicotine fix and get back to work for the remaining 7 mins of my break, since standing around not working irritates me if I have to be at my workplace anyway.

But this is a thing we don't like, so we needn't be too strict on the old critical thinking around this issue.

 

[Ranb]

I'm really surprised to hear there is any objection to this type of banning and even more to hear that sailors can smoke, when on duty.

It depends on what you mean by "on duty". While underway on a sub, most of the junior enlisted are on a three section (6 hours on 12 hours off) or post and starboard (6 on, 6 off) rotation. No one is allowed to smoke while actually on watch, at least since the 90's anyway. The CO, XO and corpsman (Doc) are usually the only ones who do not stand a watch. The rest of the time they could smoke if in the designated place.

Even though the stink of tobacco smoke was less objectionable than the other odors, I always moved the smokers to the hydraulic power plant area on my subs especially if I was running the still. The smoke made me wheeze and cough. If this ban happened while I was on active duty, then I would have said it was about time.

Ranb

 

[Francesca R]

I'm fairly confident that it's not allowed on the UK's subs.

Looks like they've stubbed out, yeah.
http://www.newredarchives.com/bands/uksubs/sk2.jpg

 

[I Ratant]

I expect when off duty, the sailor boys can go thru a door and get outside on the roof of the boat to smoke.

 

[Francesca R]

Shouldn't they have to stand 25 feet from the entrance to comply with clean air ordinances? What about second-hand effects on passing ships? And it would look bad if a client was visiting the submarine and was obstructed by a bunch of sailors blowing rings in their face.

 

[Careyp74]

This is a good move for the health of the military. remember, there are no rights, and the military owns you. It only makes sense that they want to ensure your health.

.
Porthole, when asea, landlubber!

No, Submarines have windows. Just like they are called boats, not ships. Who ever heard of a sub having portholes.

As an ex-smoker myself, I have no problem with reasonable accommodations for those who still do smoke.

Not so easy on a sub. The areas usually assigned for smoking are still manned by watch standers or compartment personnel, and their health should also be taken into effect.

It depends on what you mean by "on duty". While underway on a sub, most of the junior enlisted are on a three section (6 hours on 12 hours off) or post and starboard (6 on, 6 off) rotation. No one is allowed to smoke while actually on watch, at least since the 90's anyway. The CO, XO and corpsman (Doc) are usually the only ones who do not stand a watch. The rest of the time they could smoke if in the designated place.

Even though the stink of tobacco smoke was less objectionable than the other odors, I always moved the smokers to the hydraulic power plant area on my subs especially if I was running the still. The smoke made me wheeze and cough. If this ban happened while I was on active duty, then I would have said it was about time.

Ranb

Just wanted to back this up, when underway, after a day or so without a smoke, you can tell the exact moment when the 'smoking lamp' is lit, just by the smell in the air.

I expect when off duty, the sailor boys can go thru a door and get outside on the roof of the boat to smoke.

Even when surfaced, there is usually not anyone topside until coming into port, or the boat has stopped for a swim call. There is usually room for one more in the Sail area, which I took advantage of frequently when the right Officer of the Deck (was that the title underway?) was up there on watch.

 

[fuelair]

As an ex-smoker myself, I have no problem with reasonable accommodations for those who still do smoke.



Could be a bit dangerous on a submarine, don't you think?

That's why the one eyed jack - the other one is winking!

 

[fuelair]

If there's a legal right to clean air, how come nobody's banned driving? And submarines? I can't say I've ever been exposed to second-hand submarine air pollution, but if I want to walk to my nearest town, I will have to choke my way along a stretch of dual-carriageway that is frequently packed with slow-moving traffic. If I cycled, I'd be getting higher concentrations of foul fumes blasted straight into my face. I appreciate the momentum of the Ban The Habits Of Dirty Smelly Poor People lobby is currently unstoppable, and the inertia of the I Need My Car (Even Though My Ancestors Didn't) lobby makes it immovable, but neither fact is a valid argument for or against anything.

Actually, the "I need my car" thing would be a lot less a problem if those silly jobs providers had just thought to put most jobs right within easy walking distance of their employees. Which they might have done except their employees had cars and didn't need to be right within walking distance of their job. So now, if they try to change that .................(also, there's other stuff like economies of scale, cost/benefit concerns, etc. to muddy that pond).

I should note that I like clean air and water and a lack of industrial odors myself - but, they were inconsistent with the old ways of living except far from civilization (and not completely even there mostly) - and still seem to be. Though suburbs help there. Except for the car thing. Which allows suburbs. If you get my drift.

 

[FreshHat]

This thread has me thinking that the Beatles' Yellow Submarine was probably just badly nicotine stained.

 

[MikeMangum]

It doesn't seem like a good use of the very limited space on a sub to put aside one room purely for the benefit of (apparently) 35-40% of the crew.

I agree, submarines don't need a wardroom^WP.

Officers make up substantially less than 40% of a boat's crew.

 

[Sledge]

So I'm presuming you have an argument against the segregation of officers and enlisted men? I'll be happy to hear it, seeing as it's an issue I've not looked into.

 

[MikeMangum]

So I'm presuming you have an argument against the segregation of officers and enlisted men? I'll be happy to hear it, seeing as it's an issue I've not looked into.

Nope, I was being facetious. The point is that if it is really necessary for the maintenance of morale, discipline, or readiness, it is not wasted space, even if it only "serves" a minority of crew members.

 

[Bob Klase]

Before the addicts had to go outside the office building, they'd congregate in the stairwells.
Awful stench in the stairwells.
Then they had to go outside to light up.
In essence, this gave them a 10% raise.
Not exactly a punishment or restriction, that.

I'm amazed that non smokers haven't filed lawsuits complaining about this blatant discrimination. Why do you think they're not all demanding that they either get a 10% raise or that they be forced outside for breaks?