Smoking and vaping policies are an important part of workplace health and safety. While smoking legislation in the UK is well established, many businesses still need clear guidance on how smoking and vaping should be managed on worksites, customer premises and in company vehicles.
To support members, the Window Cleaners Association (WCA) has produced a new Smoking & Vaping at Work Toolbox Talk based on official guidance from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and UK smoke-free legislation.
Smoking Laws in the Workplace
Under the Health Act 2006, smoking is prohibited in enclosed workplaces in England and in work vehicles used by more than one person.
This means employers must:
- Display no-smoking signs in enclosed workplaces
- Prevent employees or visitors from smoking indoors
- Ensure shared company vehicles are smoke-free
Failure to comply can result in fines for both employees and employers.
Smoking in Work Vehicles
Smoking is illegal in any work vehicle used by more than one employee, including:
- Company vans
- Pool cars
- Goods vehicles used by multiple drivers
For businesses such as window cleaning companies, this rule usually applies to work vans shared by multiple employees.
What About Vaping?
E-cigarettes are not currently covered by smoke-free legislation.
However, guidance suggests employers can set their own policies regarding vaping in the workplace. Many organisations apply similar restrictions to vaping to:
- Avoid confusion with smoking rules
- Maintain professional standards on client sites
- Protect non-smokers from vapour exposure
For exterior cleaning companies, it is common for vaping to follow the same rules as smoking.
Smoking on Client Sites
When working on customer premises, workers must always follow the client’s rules regarding smoking and vaping.
Common requirements include:
- Smoking only in designated areas
- Properly disposing of cigarette ends
- Not smoking near entrances or pedestrian areas
- Avoiding smoking near flammable materials
Failure to follow site rules may lead to removal from site or loss of contracts.
Fire Safety Risks
Discarded cigarettes are a common cause of fires.
Employees should always:
- Fully extinguish cigarettes
- Dispose of smoking materials responsibly
- Never discard cigarette ends in bins containing combustible waste
A Practical Resource for WCA Members
The WCA Smoking & Vaping Toolbox Talk provides a clear safety briefing that can be delivered to employees.
The template includes:
- Workplace smoking laws
- Guidance on vaping policies
- Rules for smoking on client sites
- Fire safety reminders
- A briefing sign-off sheet
Members can customise the template by adding their company name, address and logo.
Download the Toolbox Talk
📄 Download the PDF
WCA Toolbox Talk – Smoking & Vaping at Work
Important Disclaimer
This document is provided by the Window Cleaners Association (WCA) as general safety guidance for members.
It does not replace:
- Workplace policies
- Risk assessments
- Professional health and safety advice.
Employers remain responsible for ensuring their workplace policies comply with current UK legislation and guidance from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
The WCA accepts no liability for injury, loss or enforcement action arising from the use or misuse of this template.