Looking for a functional smoking area that actually works?
Providing a place for smokers in the workplace is not only a considerate gesture, it is an absolute necessity if you want to protect your staff from health risks and comply with state and local regulations.
But here’s the catch:
If you just set up a designated area and call it a day, you’re leaving your business and employees exposed to lawsuits and liability risks. Non-smoking workers have a 20% exposure rate to second-hand smoke in establishments with indoor smoking, which means higher insurance premiums and potential workers’ comp claims.
When you design and implement the correct smoking area setup, however, you can keep everyone safe and smoke free without racking up fines. Businesses with a fully compliant smoke-free policy and outdoor smoking area have seen their fire insurance costs go down 25-30% since cigarette fires are no longer possible.
Whether your employees smoke dk cigarettes or other premium vaping devices, the right smoking area setup keeps them safe while also protecting non-smokers and keeping your company compliant.
The trick? Knowing how to do it right…
Here’s what you’ll learn:
- Legal Requirements
- Location Planning
- Ventilation Tips
- Signage and Policies
- Safety Measures
Legal Requirements
You’ll need to know the law before you can implement it.
Let’s give you some context:
Requirements vary based on where you are located, but the penalties for violations are substantial. California employers face fines of up to $70,000 for a serious infraction. Other states have their own penalty schedules.
The minimum standards in most states now include:
- Designated areas that are only outdoors
- Minimum distance from the building
- “No Smoking” signs
- Written policies that are shared with all employees
But here’s the thing…
21 states have banned e-cigarettes from workplaces and the same policy will apply. Your smoking area setup and procedures must account for all types of smoking and vaping, not just traditional cigarettes.
Compliance is good for more than just keeping out of legal trouble. When you do it right, you protect your employees and create a healthier workplace overall.
Location Planning
A smart location is the most important part of creating a smoking area.
Let’s share some reasons why most businesses get this part wrong:
They assume they can put a cigarette smoking area in any outdoor space on the property. Bad placement, however, can actually make the problem worse by creating an area where smoke drifts back into the building or causes other safety hazards.
The smoking area will need to be:
- At least 20 feet away from entrances, exits, and windows to prevent smoke from being sucked back into the building
- Away from air intake systems, which can pull smoke right into the HVAC ventilation system
- Downwind of main building areas depending on the prevailing wind patterns
- Away from high traffic pedestrian areas to keep visitors and non-smokers safe
But that’s not all you have to think about…
Location is also important from a safety and supervision standpoint. The area needs to be visible from inside the building so you can monitor it, but not so close that it distracts from other employees’ work.
Best practice: Consider the sightlines from client meeting rooms and the reception area. You don’t want your customers seeing employees smoking immediately outside the front entrance.
Ventilation
Outdoor smoking areas still require ventilation planning.
Let’s explain:
Yes, it’s outdoors, but that doesn’t mean you can just build an enclosure and let people smoke inside. Smoke clouds without proper ventilation will still blow back toward the building or linger in the area.
The most effective ventilation setup includes:
- Natural wind barriers such as landscaping or other structures that will direct airflow away from the building
- Negative pressure design so the prevailing winds blow smoke away from the facility
- Proper spacing to avoid cramming too many people into a small area
- Planning for different weather conditions with alternate locations
The real question is…
Most companies get this right, but focus only on the minimum legal requirements. Smoke blowing back to your building is still a problem that will get you complaints from non-smokers and health code violations.
Signage and Policies
No smoking area signage isn’t just decoration.
Here’s what most business owners don’t realize:
Visible signage that leaves no room for interpretation. But it’s not enough to slap up a “No Smoking” sign and call it a day.
Essential signage includes:
- “No Smoking” signs at all of the building entrances (required in most states)
- Markers for the designated smoking area showing where smoking is permitted
- Distance markers to help people visualize the 20-foot rule
- Policy reminders with a brief summary of key rules posted in the smoking area
Signage is only half of the equation, of course. Your written policy needs to address all of these aspects:
- Where smoking is and is not allowed
- Procedures for smoking during breaks (types, duration, etc.)
- Disciplinary actions for policy violations
- Emergency procedures
- Contact information for questions
Fact check:
74% of employees support workplaces banning e-cigarettes, including 54% of current e-cigarette users. Your policies need to be in line with this strong support for smoke-free workplaces.
Cost-Effective Safety Measures
Effective safety measures don’t have to cost a lot of money.
The part you’ll like the most:
Many highly effective safety measures are quite affordable. In some cases, these low-cost upgrades will actually pay for themselves through lower insurance costs and reduced health-related claims.
Budget friendly safety solutions:
- Weather resistant ashtrays that have self-extinguishing features to prevent fires and reduce cleanup efforts
- Covered areas or simple shelters to keep the smoking area usable in all types of weather
- Basic seating to reduce loitering in undesignated areas
- Lighting for evening use that improves safety and supervision
- Security cameras to monitor policy compliance
The bottom line:
Workplaces that allow smoking have twice the accidents among smokers than non-smokers. By providing a proper smoking area and enforcing safety measures, you can actively reduce risk exposure for your business, not just meet minimum legal requirements.
Insurance companies often provide better rates for businesses that have comprehensive smoking policies in place.
Effectively Managing Smoking Breaks
Something many employers forget…
Employees taking cigarette smoking breaks can seriously reduce productivity. But with proper management, smoking breaks will not become a problem.
Here’s how to do it:
Allow breaks only during approved times so you don’t lose extra work time. Successful policies only allow smoking breaks during regular break times plus lunch and an exception during high-stress periods.
Successful smoking break management involves:
- Aligning smoking breaks with the regular break schedule
- Implementing a buddy system for coverage when someone takes a smoking break
- Tracking break patterns to catch when smoking breaks get excessive
- Providing alternatives such as smoking cessation programs as a benefit
In summary:
Setting and communicating clear expectations for when breaks are allowed goes a long way toward preventing abuse of your smoking area. When employees know the rules, you will see fewer lost work hours and better overall policy compliance.
Setting up a Successful Smoking Area: The Takeaway
You can provide an area for employees to smoke cigarettes, vape or use dk cigarettes while also protecting non-smokers and complying with all local regulations.
Here’s what happens when you do it right:
- You protect non-smoking employees from secondhand smoke exposure
- You will reduce insurance and liability costs
- You stay compliant with all state and local regulations
- You create a harmonious workplace for everyone
- You may even reduce accidents and health claims
It all starts with treating this as a comprehensive safety measure rather than a quick way to keep smokers from complaining. Start with researching your local requirements, then move on to smart location planning and policy setup. With the right approach, you can create a smoking area that works for everyone without putting your business at risk for fines and health claims.
Don’t forget: The end goal is a workplace that both smokers and non-smokers feel safe, respected and protected in. When you have that, you will see success across the board.
