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Tobacco

Frequently asked questions

Contents

1. What is Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS)?

ETS is smoke from burning tobacco products that is present in the general environment and which people can inhale.

ETS is a term for a complex mixture of particles, vapours and gases. Over 4000 compounds have been identified in ETS. Sixty of these are known to be carcinogenic.

Examples of toxic chemicals in ETS include:

  • carbon monoxide; 
  • nicotine;  
  • polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons;  
  • hydrogen cyanide;  
  • pesticides;  
  • toxic metals; and  
  • radioactive substances.

2. What are the health effects of ETS?

Research shows that ETS may cause a range of adverse health effects. Some of these are:

  • increased risk of lung cancer; 
  • increased risk of heart disease and stroke;  
  • upper/lower respiratory tract irritation;  
  • eye irritation;  
  • coughing;  
  • headaches; and 
  • increased respiratory problems in asthmatics.

The risks to health from a complex chemical mixture such as ETS are hard to establish through epidemiological studies or experiments. As a result there are no occupational exposure standards established for ETS. This makes ETS different from many other chemicals in the workplace. It also makes it more difficult to establish appropriate controls.

3. What do the Occupational Safety and Health Regulations 1996 (OSH regulations) say about smoking in an enclosed workplace?

The OSH regulations (regulation 3.44B) prohibit employers, employees and self-employed people smoking in enclosed workplaces.

A workplace is an ‘enclosed workplace’ if it has a ceiling or roof and is greater than 50% enclosed by walls, or other vertical structures or coverings.

Note: If a workplace does not have a roof or ceiling then it is not an enclosed workplace.

4. What about smoking in enclosed public places that are also workplaces?

Where the workplace is an ‘enclosed public place’, smoking is also regulated by the Tobacco Products Control Regulations 2006 made under the Tobacco Products Control Act 2006  The Department of Health of Western Australia is responsible for the administration of this legislation and environmental health officers attached to local councils undertake enforcement activities.

Smoking is prohibited in all enclosed public places. The only exception is the Burswood Casino’s International Room. These regulations apply to smoking by all people, including visitors and patrons, in all enclosed public places, including pubs, nightclubs, shopping centres, indoor sporting venues, food halls and restaurants.

5. What about smoking in vehicles or residences?

A vehicle meets the definition of an enclosed workplace. Smoking is only permitted if the vehicle is supplied by the person smoking and no other person who is an employee of the same employer is present.

A person may smoke in their own residence while working as long as no co-workers or employees of the person are present.

6. What signage needs to be displayed?

The OSH regulations require a person who is an employer or a person having control of an enclosed workplace to give notice or display to people working in the workplace that smoking by workers is prohibited in the workplace.  This should already be in place for patrons in the hospitality and hotel industry.

Stickers that comply with the ‘no smoking’ signage requirements are available free of charge from the Department of Health.  Order forms can be downloaded from the Department of Health website. 

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