Vaping in the Workplace – What You Need to Know
Vaping poses significant health risks, and Western Australian employers should treat e-cigarette use the same as smoking in the workplace.
Vaping, or e-cigarette use, is on the rise in Australia, with around seven percent of people reporting they have vaped in the past year. While sometimes promoted as safer than smoking, the reality is different. Research shows that vaping produces harmful substances such as formaldehyde, heavy metals and fine particles, which can cause lung disease and cardiovascular problems. Second-hand exposure also places bystanders at risk.
In Western Australia, the Work Health and Safety (General) Regulations 2022 and the Work Health and Safety (Mines) Regulations 2022 already prohibit both smoking and vaping in enclosed workplaces. In 2024, public consultation was held on proposed amendments to strengthen how vaping is managed in the workplace. These changes would ensure vaping is treated the same as smoking tobacco. With consultation now complete, workplaces should be operating on the basis that vaping and smoking carry the same health and safety obligations.
Employers (PCBUs) have a duty under the Work Health and Safety Act 2020 to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of workers and others. This includes managing exposure to potentially hazardous chemicals from vaping. Provisions also exist under the Tobacco Products Control Act 2006, which makes it an offence to sell products that resemble tobacco (even without nicotine), and under the Medicines and Poisons Act 2014, which regulates nicotine as a dangerous poison.
WorkSafe recommends that employers update their workplace smoking policies to explicitly include vaping, and ensure designated outdoor areas for both smoking and vaping are located away from entrances and workspaces. It is also important to consult workers on any policy changes so they are understood and effective, while taking into account workplace-specific factors such as the presence of children or other vulnerable people.
It is important to remember that vaping is not harmless. In the United States, more than 2,200 cases of lung injury linked to vaping were reported in 2019, including 47 deaths. Nicotine refills are also highly toxic if ingested, particularly for children.
Creating a smoke-free and vape-free workplace protects both workers and visitors, reduces health risks, and supports a culture of safety and wellbeing.
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