Dear Reader,

Last week Thursday I heard on the radio that new legislation is in the works to further prohibit where smokers will be allowed to light up. Government wants to make it illegal to smoke outside the entrances to public places. This includes stadiums and shopping centres. The way the noose has been tightening on smokers, they’ll eventually only be able to smoke at home!

I know we’ve opened the floor on this before, but if you have any further thoughts on the subject, why don’t you email us on safety@fsp.co.za.

On the subject of smoke, here’s this week’s HOT question (and answer)...

An electronic cigarette is still a cigarette... according to the law

Question

I wonder if you have any guidelines regarding smoking of electronic cigarettes in the offices? We currently have a huge debate on our premises as there is a project environment where a number of the smokers have switched to electronic cigarettes and they now smoke in the office (it’s an open-plan office with quite a number of people).

All the research on the Internet indicates that electronic cigarettes are safe and don’t have any harmful effects on other people.  However, we have an employee who suffers very badly from asthma and she has lodged a complaint that it’s triggered by the use of these electronic cigarettes.

We have a smoking policy in place but the policy refers specifically to tobacco products, which users of electronic cigarettes can argue doesn’t qualify as there’s no tobacco involved.

Answer

I’m not exactly sure how the electronic cigarettes work but could the use of such aggravate the asthma  sufferer’s condition? 

The other side of the coin is that legislation still prohibits smoking in public places etc, and it doesn’t address the use of electronic cigarettes.  The law thus still stands, no smoking in a public area!

Stay safe,

Nadia Smith-Pisanti

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