Surely this shouldn’t be allowed in an office?

[Haaaalp]

I started a new job on Monday and the man in the desk next to me is sitting here vaping. It stinks and has given me headaches.

I am not the most senior but relatively senior and I feel if I say something (he’s not as senior as me), then it looks like I’m coming in and making a fuss.

I am quite fearful of cigarette smoke and I don’t really drink much so I don’t know if I’m making a mountain out of a molehill. Nobody else seems bothered though there’s only 4 others.

I thought vaping was classed as smoking, therefore it's something to be done in designated outdoor smoking areas

That’s disgusting! It shouldn’t be allowed. The sickly sweet smell of vapes turns my stomach.

Stop it!

If you are going to post about the negatives of vapes have the common sense and courtesy not to leap straight to the myths and scaremongering lies.

No matter what any of us think about vaping anyone going to HR citing 'popcorn lung' is going to get labelled as the office loon

It's perfectly safe passively, it's just scented steam!

Nope! It's perfectly legal to vape indoors!

As you are in a new job so it's a bit tricky you could ask if there could be a designated vaping room as you are struggling with the smell - rather than jumping straight to the conclusion that they should go outside.

Your work absolutely should have a policy about this. Fuck that.

I didn't think that was even allowed. I would not be able to tolerate that. Speak to your manager. Say it's making you feel unwell. If you get no joy go to HR. How can that even been allowed! Surely the other people don't like it either. It is very rude of them to put you in this position where you feel like you are making a fuss.

I'd prefer cigarette smoke to the horrid smell of sickly sweet vapes. YANBU

No. It’s not illegal to vape indoors. It’s up to the venue / manager to decide.

Plenty of pubs allow vaping.

I don't think so. But it creates an unpleasant working environment. It is certainly the norm for it not be allowed in offices.

No it doesn’t. The chemical that causes ‘popcorn lung’ isn’t used in UK and EU regulated eliquids.

OP, wailing it’s giving you headaches and is a health risk is being dramatic. Just speak up that it bothers you without the handwringing.

Eurgh, vaping! I hate it. Do people realise how ridiculous they look sucking on some silly little plastic tube? And the smell and the steam/smoke/vapour, I almost prefer old fashioned cigarettes. Unless you are doing it to wean yourself off cigarettes it's ridiculous. Where did vapes come from anyway? Just ban the lot of them.

This person should absolutely should not be doing it at your desk, you should really say something to someone senior or an office manager or building manager. I thought in terms of doing it in enclosed spaces they were treated the same as cigarettes?

Sorry, I know I'm being rude and judgey but I really hate them!

I smoke, my partner vapes. We wouldn't do either in our house due to kids and animals. Pretty sure anti smoking laws cover both and while research is limited passive smoke is unlikely to be good for you

I don't know but I'm pretty sure that vaping in an enclosed office is not allowed. Is there any designated space for people to use? It wouldn't be at all unreasonable for you to say politely but frankly that you can't stand the smell and he needs to take it outside.

The research I have seen suggests that very roughly (depending on ventilation, device type, and e-liquid) being in a room with a smoker for 1 hour is equivalent, in terms of chemical exposure, to being in a room with a vaper for 10–20 hours.

The particles present are less dense with fewer harmful compounds but may cause mild throat or eye irritation.

I would write to HR and ask what their policy is about this. He may well have the right to vape but you should also have the right to work in an office that doesn't affect your health. Personally I would really hate it and wouldn't be able to work there.

Healthcare Act 2006 bans smoking in workplaces.
Unfortunately, this hasn't been updated to reflect vapes but they should have a policy which can account for this.

Employers have a duty of care for the health, safety and welfare of their employees and you could argue that your health is being negatively affected by vaping in the work environment.

I'm amazed it's been allowed to continue - it should have been stopped the minute he pulled out his vape first time! It's like returning to the 80's!

Them NHS are slow to adapt and it can take yrs for them to catch up and take onboard emerging evidence.

I'd have a complaint in within a second of the vape touching his lips. I HATE smoking and vaping is awful too. I've seen people doing it in supermarkets and have colleagues who will do it inside when they think no one is looking. Absolutely no way - you should raise it with your manager. They may say it's medicinal but if you are having to inhale what is coming out of those stupid things, that is not on.

Vaping should be treated exactly the same as smoking a cigarette/cigar, in my opinion. Smoking is banned in enclosed workplaces, and has been since 2007. However, there is no law regarding vaping inside for businesses, it's up to the individual business to decide. You really need to find out company policies regarding this. Personally, I think businesses should treat vaping the same as smoking, both produce plumes of smoke. Unfortunately, there's not the research to know if breathing in passive vape smoke over a period of time is harmful, but it wouldn't surprise me if it was. I couldn't work in an environment like this, my lungs were damaged due to Septicemia, and breathing the smoke in (regardless if vape or cigarette), would make me unwell. It's a disgusting environment for you to have to work in, and your employer shouldn't allow it.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5c2f5412e5274a6599225de8/PHE-advice-on-use-of-e-cigarettes-in-public-places-and-workplaces.PDF

Vaping does not produce smoke.