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Smoking and Vaping

Workplace Smoke and Vapour-Free Policies

Smoking is the number one cause of disability and death in Canada. In 2020, smoking killed about 46,000 Canadians. This means smoking was responsible for two thirds of the deaths caused by substance use. Commercial tobacco use also cost Canadians about $5.25 billion dollars in lost productivity costs. 

Under the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017 (SFOA, 2017) all enclosed workplaces, including work vehicles, must be smoke-free and vapour-free (including cannabis) to protect workers and the public from the hazards of secondhand smoke and vapour (aerosol).

Workplaces can show leadership in promoting and protecting their employees' health by becoming a smoke and vapour-free workplace. This means the workplace has implemented measures in addition to those required by the SFOA, 2017, such as: 

  • Banning smoking/vaping on all workplace property, or at a minimum, restricting the location of smoking/vaping areas to the outdoors (e.g., no smoking or vaping at least nine metres of any window, door, and intake vent).
  • Enhancing existing policies to ensure all employees are protected from secondhand smoke/vapour while on the job. For example, when workers enter a private home to perform their job, they have the right to be protected from exposure to secondhand smoke/vapour.
  • Demonstrating corporate responsibility by having a policy that refuses any sponsorship from, and business with, tobacco companies. 

If you want to become a smoke and vapour-free workplace, we can support you with resources to develop a comprehensive policy. Example policies are provided in the sections below or for more information call Health Connection at 705-721-7520 or 1-877-721-7520.

(Adapted from "Towards a Healthier Workplace: A Guidebook on Tobacco Control Policies)

Your company name is committed to providing a smoke and vapour-free working environment. There is recognition that secondhand smoke from tobacco industry products, including cigarettes, is a significant health hazard and smoke and vapour-free environments both protect the health of the employees and have a positive imp​act upon cessation efforts.

In order to eliminate hazards and ensure a safe and healthy workplace, our buildings and properties will become smoke and vapour-free effective ______________.

Policy

All buildings, offices, and vehicles owned or leased by company name here are “smoke and vapour-free areas” as required by law under the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017.

In addition to the legislation, the company name prohibits the use of tobacco, vapour, and cannabis products on all outdoor property belonging to the company. Appropriate signage will be posted at key locations in the parking lot and at entranceways. Copies of this policy will be available to all employees.

All visitors to company name are to be asked to observe the smoke and vapour-free policy while conducting business on company property.

Those employees who smoke/vape and who want to quit smoking, vaping, or using other commercial tobacco products are invited to participate in the quitting supports being offered by company name here.

Information about these supports is available from the Human Resources Department. The success of this policy will depend on the thoughtfulness, consideration, and cooperation of all employees of company name here. We all share responsibility for adhering to this policy.

Signature of CEO or President

Your company name is committed to providing a working environment that is free of all commercial tobacco products, vapour, and cannabis products for all employees, volunteers, and students. This policy extends the same protection that the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017 provides to home healthcare workers to all of our employees when providing services in clients’ homes.

Policy

All employees have the right to ask a person not to smoke/vape in their presence while they are providing services. If a person refuses to comply with the request not to smoke/vape, employees have the right to leave a location due to the presence of secondhand smoke/vapour without providing further services – unless doing so would present an immediate, serious danger to the health of any person.

Procedure

When an employee is arranging to provide services in a client’s home, the client will be informed that there must be no use of commercial tobacco, vapour, or cannabis products by anyone in the home during the time that the services are being provided. If there is evidence of active smoking/vaping in the home at the time of the visit, the employee has the right to leave.

If a person refuses to comply with the request not to smoke/vape, the employee will follow the following procedure:

1. Notify their supervisor/manager within 30 minutes, or as soon as reasonably possible, of the following, if applicable:

a) That the worker has left.

b) Whether an appropriate person is present and available to care for the person to whom the services were being/to be provided.

c) If the person to whom the services were being provided or were to be provided would require services in the next 24 hours.

d) In what situation the person was in when the employee left.

e) Whether there are any unusual circumstances and if so, what they are.

2. In cases involving service coordination, the employee needs to notify appropriate agencies as soon as possible that the service was not performed, if applicable.

3. In cases of ongoing service disruptions, the employee is to work with the client to find viable solutions (change of location, etc.), if applicable.

Signature of CEO or President

Tobacco industry products will kill one out of every two long term users. This epidemic is courtesy of a legal industry selling a legal product. Its legitimacy was established more than 50 years ago, before research unequivocally showed that commercial tobacco was a killer. The tobacco industry continually attempts to buy legitimacy by providing corporate sponsorship funds and donations. By refusing to accept sponsorship from the tobacco industry and any company doing business for or with the tobacco industry, you are refusing to align your company with an industry whose strategies and tactics divert attention from the truth about their products.

Policy

Throughout the process of securing corporate sponsorship, your company name must retain its credibility in the eyes of the public. Potential risks associated with corporate sponsorship may include: loss of credibility should the public view the sponsor as inappropriate; perceptions of favouritism to sponsors in the application of legislative duty; perceptions of conflict of interest.

Company name will consider a corporate sponsor where the moral integrity and interests of the sponsor are aligned with the interests of our company and our image is maintained or enhanced.

Sponsorship may occur in many ways: A financial donation, production of materials, free or at-cost distribution of materials, publicity, meeting space, prizes, supplies, equipment or food, expertise or organizing special events.

Procedure

When seeking sponsorship for our company, staff must ensure that the following criteria are met:

The message conveyed through the sponsorship or provision of product or services is compatible with the intent of the project.

The sponsorship agreement is consistent with the policies, practices, or objectives of your company name and of the project.

The corporate sponsor is in good public standing and their product or service is not seen to be in conflict with the mandate of your company name.

Acceptance of sponsorship from a company, whether a financial contribution or products or services, will in no way interfere with or influence our company.

Company name will exclude the tobacco industry and companies that work with or support the tobacco industry from any form of sponsorship.

Signature of CEO or President

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