Smoking and Vaping at Work

What Good On-Site Fire Safety Guidance Should Look Like

Smoking and vaping remain a common cause of fires and near-miss incidents in workplaces. While smoking indoors is prohibited, poor control of external smoking areas, charging of vaping devices, and staff behaviour continue to present a fire risk. This article sets out what good practice looks like for managing smoking and vaping safely.

Why Smoking and Vaping Still Matter for Fire Safety

Although smoking rates have fallen, fires caused by smoking continue to occur in UK workplaces each year, and according the the London Fire Brigade, smoking is one of the leading causes of fire deaths. Discarded cigarettes, poorly managed smoking areas and charging of vaping devices are all frequent contributors to small fires. Many incidents happen outside the building and go unnoticed until a fire spreads to the structure or stored materials. While a little dated, the below video by Lancashire Fire Brigade provides a good demonstration of how cigarettes can generate the kind of fire risk we will discuss in this article.

Key Principles for On-Site Smoking and Vaping

Any guidance for smoking and vaping should be based on three core principles:

• Keep ignition sources away from buildings and combustibles.
• Control where smoking and vaping take place.
• Make responsibilities clear to staff and managers.

Informal or poorly enforced rules are one of the most common weaknesses identified during fire risk assessments.

Smoking Guidance for Workplaces

Designated Smoking Areas

Smoking should only be permitted in clearly designated external areas. Good practice includes:
• Locating smoking areas well away from buildings, doors, windows and air intakes.
• Keeping smoking areas away from combustible storage, waste bins and parked vehicles.
• Avoiding smoking near escape routes or final exits.

Smoking should never take place near entrances where smoke or discarded materials can enter the building.

Smoking Bins and Disposal

Poor disposal of smoking materials is a frequent cause of fire. Guidance should require:
• Metal, purpose-designed smoking bins with self-extinguishing features.
• Regular emptying and maintenance of bins.
• No use of general waste bins or planters for cigarette disposal.

Overflowing or damaged smoking bins should be treated as a fire risk and addressed immediately.

Smoking Indoors

Smoking inside buildings is prohibited under UK law and should be clearly reinforced in fire safety guidance. Any evidence of indoor smoking should trigger:
• Immediate management action.
• Review of supervision and enforcement.
• Consideration of whether signage and communication are adequate.

Vaping Guidance for Workplaces

Vaping presents different but growing fire risks, particularly related to batteries and charging, as this short video by Safety Verse highlights:

Where Vaping Is Permitted

Many organisations treat vaping in the same way as smoking. Good practice includes:
• Restricting vaping to designated external areas only.
• Prohibiting vaping near entrances, exits and escape routes.
• Making rules consistent and easy to understand.

Allowing vaping indoors can lead to confusion, poor enforcement and unsafe charging behaviour.

Charging Vaping Devices

Charging of vaping devices is an increasing cause of fires. Guidance should address:
• Prohibition of charging devices unattended.
• No charging overnight or outside normal working hours.
• Use of suitable sockets rather than extension leads.
• No charging in plant rooms, cupboards or near combustible materials.

Damaged or overheating devices should be reported and removed from use.

Storage of Vaping Devices

Where devices are stored on site:
• Avoid storage near heat sources.
• Do not store devices in escape routes or electrical cupboards.
• Encourage staff to report damaged batteries.

Management Responsibilities

Clear roles and responsibilities are essential. Management should:
• Include smoking and vaping controls within the fire risk assessment and staff fire training.
• Inspect smoking areas as part of routine checks.
• Ensure signage is clear and consistent.
• Address unsafe behaviour promptly.
• Review arrangements following any near miss or incident.

Smoking areas should never be “set and forgotten”.

Staff Responsibilities

Staff guidance should make it clear that individuals must:
• Use designated smoking or vaping areas only.
• Dispose of smoking materials correctly.
• Follow rules on charging and storage of devices.
• Report damaged bins, unsafe behaviour or near misses.

Fire safety relies on behaviour and good training as much as equipment.

Review After Incidents or Near Misses

Any fire, overheating incident or discarded smoking material should trigger a fire risk assessment review. This should include:
• Whether smoking or vaping guidance is adequate.
• Whether staff understand and follow the rules.
• Whether locations and equipment remain suitable.

Small incidents often highlight bigger weaknesses.

How Fletcher Risk Can Help

Fletcher Risk Management regularly reviews smoking and vaping arrangements as part of fire risk assessments across Chester, the North West and North Wales. We help dutyholders assess smoking and vaping risks objectively, update fire risk assessments, improve site rules and staff guidance, and deliver fire marshal and staff fire safety training. If you are unsure whether your smoking or vaping arrangements are increasing fire risk, a fire risk assessment can provide clarity and proportionate solutions.

Please contact Fletcher Risk to arrange a fire risk assessment or fire marshal training and ensure on-site smoking and vaping are properly controlled.

Disclaimer

This article is provided for general guidance only and does not constitute legal or professional advice. Smoking and vaping arrangements should be assessed as part of a site-specific fire risk assessment carried out by a competent person.

(C) Fletcher Risk Team - 18 Feburary 2026