Published: June 2025
Reading time: 6 minutes
Suitable for: Business Owners, Managers and Supervisors
Topics: Smoking | Vaping | Workplace Policies | Employee Wellbeing
At a glance
Main goal: Develop a clear and consistent approach to smoking and vaping.
Who should be involved? Employers, managers and all employees.
Key action: Review your workplace policy to ensure smoking and vaping are addressed together.
Benefits: Clear expectations, improved consistency and a healthier working environment.
Why this matters
The way people use nicotine products has changed significantly over recent years, and many workplaces are now managing both traditional smoking and vaping.
With the UK ban on the sale and supply of disposable vapes coming into effect in June 2025, now is a good opportunity for businesses to review their workplace policies and ensure they remain clear, practical and consistent.
A well-written policy helps employees understand what is expected, supports fairness across the workforce and reduces uncertainty for managers.
Why should vaping be included in your workplace policy?
Many organisations already have clear rules covering smoking, but vaping is sometimes overlooked.
Without a clear policy, employees may have different expectations about:
- Whether vaping is permitted indoors
- Where vaping is allowed
- Break arrangements
- Charging vape devices at work
- Disposal of used vaping products
Including vaping within your existing smoking arrangements helps create consistency and makes policies easier to understand and enforce.
Health and safety considerations
Although vaping is generally considered to expose users to fewer harmful chemicals than smoking, employers should still consider the wider health and safety implications within the workplace.
These may include:
- Maintaining a comfortable environment for everyone
- Managing distractions in shared workspaces
- Preventing unnecessary conflict between employees
- Ensuring professional standards are maintained in customer-facing environments
Policies should be based on the needs of your workplace rather than personal opinions about vaping.
Fire safety and battery risks
One of the most significant workplace risks associated with vaping involves the lithium-ion batteries used in many vape devices.
Like other rechargeable devices, these batteries can become dangerous if they are:
- Damaged
- Charged incorrectly
- Exposed to excessive heat
- Stored improperly
- Used with unsuitable charging equipment
Employers should consider whether controls are needed for charging, storage and disposal of vaping devices as part of their general fire safety arrangements.
Environmental considerations
Although disposable vapes are no longer being sold legally in the UK, many rechargeable devices still contain batteries, plastics and electronic components that require appropriate disposal.
Businesses can support environmental good practice by:
- Providing suitable battery recycling facilities where appropriate
- Encouraging responsible disposal of vape components
- Including vaping waste within wider environmental initiatives
- Promoting sustainable workplace practices
Small changes can help reduce environmental impact while supporting safe waste management.
Supporting employees
A workplace policy should do more than set rules—it should also provide support.
Employers may wish to:
- Signpost employees to NHS stop-smoking services
- Promote employee wellbeing initiatives
- Encourage respectful behaviour between smokers, vapers and non-users
- Provide clearly designated outdoor areas where appropriate
A supportive approach helps create a positive workplace culture while balancing the needs of everyone.
What does the law say?
The Health Act 2006 and the Smoke-free (Premises and Enforcement) Regulations 2006 prohibit smoking in enclosed workplaces and public places.
These laws do not currently prohibit the use of e-cigarettes in the same way. Whether vaping is permitted at work is therefore generally a decision for individual employers.
Under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, employers must provide a safe working environment and manage workplace risks. Having a clear smoking and vaping policy helps communicate expectations, support consistent decision-making and reduce potential disputes.
Related resources
Documents
E-learning
Need more help?
As workplace habits continue to evolve, reviewing your smoking and vaping arrangements helps ensure your policies remain relevant, practical and easy to apply.
The Health & Safety Portal includes editable Smoking and E-Cigarette (Vaping) Policy templates, along with supporting guidance, e-learning and toolbox talks to help you develop a consistent approach that reflects the needs of your organisation. Whether you’re introducing a new policy or updating an existing one, clear communication and fair expectations will help create a safer and more harmonious workplace.