Smoking in the workplace

Smoking and vaping in a workplace is covered under the Work Health and Safety (General) Regulations 2022 (external site) and the Work Health and Safety (Mines) Regulations 2022 (external site) (‘WHS Regulations’) which are administered by WorkSafe WA (external site), a part of the Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety.

The WHS regulations prohibit smoking and vaping in enclosed workplaces. For information and guidance on creating and maintaining a smoke-free and vape-free workplace, please see Cancer Council WA’s resources (external site) which include:

• a guide to developing a smoke-free and vape-free workplace
• customisable smoke-free and vape-free policy templates
• infographic poster about the benefits of a smoke-free and vape-free workplace
• downloadable smoke-free and vape-free signage.

The provisions in the WHS regulations that relate to secondhand tobacco smoke are similar to the smoking in enclosed public places provisions in the Tobacco Products Control Regulations 2006. In Western Australia, it is illegal to smoke in all enclosed public places, such as a shopping centre, hospital, airport, cinema, theatre, pub, club or restaurant.