Hazards/Risks
The Tobacco Products Regulation Act 1997 prohibits smoking in all enclosed workplaces
(e.g. offices, shops, factories, work vehicles).
Workplace exposure to passive smoke can produce symptoms of ill health, particularly for people with pre-existing medical conditions (e.g. respiratory or
cardiovascular). Workers must be protected from the harmful health effects of exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke.
Workers who smoke should not be stigmatised.
Safety Solutions
1. The following control measures are key to successfully achieving a smoke-free work environment:
Commitment: Demonstrate senior management commitment and support to the development of a smoke-free workplace policy.
Consultation: Consult with workers during the development and implementation of the policy.
Policy: Following consultation, develop and communicate a written non-smoking policy. The policy should ban smoking from the workplace and include all indoor areas, vehicles and areas where smoke could drift into workplaces.
Support: Establish designated outdoor areas where smoking is permitted. These areas should have adequate natural ventilation and be placed where smoke cannot drift into smoke-free areas.
Communication: Make management, workers, customers and visitors aware of the policy. Use signage so that everyone knows where they cannot smoke (e.g. toilets, stairwells, foyers, staff rooms).
Offer encouragement to quit smoking by:
• placing health and ‘Quit’ information in strategic locations (e.g. staff rooms)
• not selling cigarettes at the workplace
• inviting ‘Quit’ program providers to talk with workers
• offering incentives to participate in ‘Quit’ programs
• referring smokers to the Quitline for help.
Further information
Further information and details of support are available at safework.sa.gov.au.
SA Health has a smoke-free workplace guide to help you meet your legal requirements and support the development of smoke-free policies – download it from sahealth.sa.gov.au.