How can I make my workplace smoke-free?

Benefits of a smoke-free workplace

Smoke-free workplaces are becoming increasingly common in WA, for good reason. With a smoke-free policy in place, your workplace could see the following benefits:

• Less employee absenteeism;
• increased productivity on the job;
• reduced fire insurance premiums;
• reduced cleaning and maintenance costs;
• lower risk of fire damage, explosions and other smoking-related accidents;
• lower risk of legal action from the health impacts of secondhand smoke; and
• less early retirement due to ill health.

A smoke-free workplace also reinforces the commitment to a healthier workplace, raises awareness of smoking health risks and encourages employees to cut down or quit.

Legal requirements

There are a number of WA laws that require employers to provide a safe working environment, some of which deal with secondhand smoke. The main laws that employers should be aware of are:

• the Work Health and Safety Act 2020 (WA), which imposes a duty on employers to, as far as is reasonably practicable, ensure the health and safety of their workers and other persons who may be affected by their work; and
• the Work Health and Safety (general) Regulations 2022 (WA), which prohibit tobacco smoking in enclosed workplaces, including vehicles. Penalties apply to both individuals who smoke and employers who allow this.

For more information on these laws for your workplace, contact WorkSafe at the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety.

Signage and resources

Make Smoking History has developed and focus-tested a suite of smoke-free signs that are a friendly and colourful alternative to traditional no-smoking signage. These can be downloaded for your workplace here.

For more information on making your workplace healthier, you can also visit Healthier Workplace WA.