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Vaping in the workplace

How should employers tackle the rise of the e-cigarette and their use within the workplace? Policies are continually be revised and drawn up to cater for smokers, non-smokers and vapers, but is there a fine line?

Latest figures suggest that around 1.3 million Britons now smoke e-cigarettes, a 100% increase from 2012. The fact that it is a vapor that is inhaled rather than smoked has led to the verb ‘vaping’ being adopted to describe their use, instead of ‘smoking’.

Some argue that e-cigarettes should be actively promoted as a healthy alternative to smoking and that employers should play their part in encouraging employees to give up smoking by using this method. On the other side of the debate, people are concerned that the use of e-cigarettes glamorises smoking and could in fact encourage non-smokers, including minors to take it up. Although e-cigarettes do not contain any tar, some however do contain nicotine, which is addictive.

Whilst employers are of course bound to abide by legislation governing the use of cigarettes and smoking in the workplace, they are now having to list a new set of rules for the use of e-cigarettes. Some are stating that because e-cigarettes haven’t been regulated yet, they may still contain harmful chemicals and need to be used in an outdoor space, whilst some are in favour for vaping to take place in office space, due to them being odourless and tar free.

It all depends on the workplace, those working in consumer facing roles such as retail, or childcare may see vaping as a big no-no, whereas employees in open corporate offices may be more lenient towards members of staff vaping at work.

They need to think twice on sending a vaping employee to join other smoking workers outside. More smokers, regardless of their status in society or position at work, are choosing electronic cigarettes over traditional cigarettes.

Employers are now facing quite a difficulty in choosing whether to include vaping it their current smoking policies or create new regulations for the new products.

Electronic cigarettes may be like tobacco cigarettes in terms of the way some devices look like real cigarette; in terms of how the device is used to create vapors that look like real smoke; in terms of how it delivers nicotine to the user.

According to several reports and study results, the vapors are not harmful or dangerous neither to the users nor to the bystanders.

The policy need be no different to other policies implemented. However, employers should ensure that any new practices or changes are communicated effectively to all staff and should further make certain that there is transparency regarding the course of action should a breach occur.

Continuous health crazes and medical warnings filling our smart-phones and newspapers seem to suggest that vaping isn’t just a New Year’s fad. Employers are best advised to put a policy in place detailing their attitude to vaping, before they get their fingers burnt.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Truvape .