Hi, I have been asked about whether or not there is an issue of people using electronic cigarettes at work, and to be honest, I have no clue. Just wondered if anyone out there had come across a similar issue or knows if there is any guidance on this topic? Thanks for any help, suggestions or advice. Thanks

HR have banned the use of electronic cigarettes in offices, canteen and the factory floor, as it is not an H & S issue, I wasn't involved, I think HR were right to ban the use inside the premises

Good evening, we had the same question raised this afternoon at a meeting. Has no-one thought of the fire/explosion aspect of these e-cigarettes? On this occasion it was a lithium battery issue. See the article in Daily Mail 15th February 2012. www.dailymail.co.uk/.../...rette-knocks-teeth.html. Great to see that Off-shore have banned them. Any work place with high risk elements should consider the point very carefully. Also e-cigarettes can be purchased with "fill your own filters". How can you determine what these filters contain? There are many issues relating to this type product and careful consideration is required.

It's a perception thing by and large. We operate a very firm alcohol and drugs policy, but I often wonder what would happen if I arrived at a meeting with a six pack of 0% beer and a plastic cup?

There are also other issues such as COSHH / CLAW / hygiene rules etc -- on our site seating / drinking / smoking aree not permitted except designated locations, in which one must be clean & out of work wear.Since these things go hand to mouth like the regular version, our site rules effectively ban them - we have even discussed providing an e-cig "smoking shelter" specifically for their use. So far on site very few people seem to be using them at the moment

I am not sure how CLAW (lead) comes into this, I thought these 'e-cigarettes' just gave you a puff of nicotine.

I tend to agree with achrn and others. The fumes from E-cigarettes have not been tested (if they have, the results havent been published in the Public Domain). It seems contradictory for health and safety professionals to advocate the use of something which is potentially damaging without knowledge of the health risks for others. What is wrong with smokers using the e-cigarette at the smoking shelter during their morning/afternoon breaks or lunchtime? I dont get extra breaks to have a coffee or read of the newspaper!

Leave aside the arguments about 1) the health benefits or otherwise of electronic cigarettes [e-cigs for brevity] and 2) their evident exemption from the law which prohibits conventional smoking of tobacco in designated types of locations. If e-cigs look similar to ordinary cigarettes when used, surely they pose major practical problems for employers and other organisations when trying to ensure that employees, visitors and passengers comply with the legislation about smoking. This point was made quite clearly in responses to earlier threads about e-cigs. Furthermore, employers and other organisations can establish their own rules to ban e-cigs if they wish - just as they can about other matters such as dress codes for employees. As an absurd example, an employer could require all or some employees to wear red plastic noses. Mind you, in the case of clowns working at circuses and theme parks, this wouldn't be absurd! p.s. a whimsical thought: Following the highly publicised incident sparked (!) by someone furtively smoking an e-cig on a coach on the M6 on 5th July, I wonder if the makers of e-cigs have added to their product packaging a warning that 'use of this product on a bus or coach may seriously interrupt your journey' ! :-)