The use of electronic cigarettes is on the rise in the UK but questions remain over their use, particularly in the workplace.
E cigarettes; are they harmful and where can they be used in the workplace
We’re now used to the outlawing of smoking within the workplace but when someone is not technically smoking how do the rules apply?
Our advice is that you should treat e cigarettes as normal cigarettes in terms of where people are allowed to smoke and this includes from a safety perspective as well as a compliance one.
Arguments can be made that the liquids nicotine which is vapourised within these e cigarettes is relatively harmless but it is mixed with a number of other substances in order to produce the smoke like vapour including water, flavoring, and propylene glycol, a solvent for flavorings.
So, whilst there is currently no evidence to suggest that e cigarettes are harmful in themselves you should still have controls on their use in the workplace.
If you’ve got questions or need support on safety in the industrial, contracting or construction sectors please contact us for sensible and proportionate advice on 01453 800100
