Contents
- Chronic Disease/Injury Prevention and Built Environment
- Healthy Eating and Food Security
- Injury Prevention
- Physical Activity
- Healthy Environments
- Tobacco Control Program
Ministry of Health
Employers
Under the Tobacco Control Act and regulation, as an employer, you are responsible for ensuring that your workplace complies with the restrictions on smoking in fully or substantially enclosed workplaces. There are also new requirements for a smoke-free “buffer zone” around doorways, windows that can open, and air intakes.
Frequently Asked Questions:
- What are my responsibilities?
- As an employer, what do I need to do to make my premises comply with the new smoke-free laws?
- How can I support my staff who wish to stop smoking?
- What signage do I have to display?
What are my responsibilities?
As an employer, you have a legal responsibility to prevent staff from contravening the tobacco laws. You may not be held responsible if you can demonstrate that you exercised reasonable care and diligence to prevent the contravention of the law. It is therefore up to you to take reasonable steps to ensure that staff are aware that your premises are smoke-free. This includes buffer zones and work vehicles.
Please note that many local governments have more restrictive laws in place. Please check with your local government before making any changes to your premises.
As an employer, what should I do to make my premises comply with the new smoke-free laws?
Review your employment policies and practices to make sure that they result in an indoor smoke-free environment for your employees. Smoking in indoor designated areas will no longer be permitted. Also ensure that your employees do not smoke within the 3 metre buffer zone around doorways, opening windows or air intakes. Check with WorkSafeBC for any additional environmental workplace requirements that may affect your operations.
How can I support my staff who wish to stop smoking?
Many employers encourage and support their employees in their efforts to quit smoking. For more information, see Make Your Workplace Tobacco-Free for information and links to Quit Now.
What signage do I have to display?
While signage is not required by law, you are required to take reasonable steps to ensure that people do not smoke where smoking is not allowed. However, signs are an excellent reminder that premises and vehicles are smoke-free, and help demonstrate that you are taking steps to meet the requirements of the law.
You can make your own signs, or you can download signs.
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