Coworkers smoking vapes around me/in office

[captainshortie]

So ALL of my coworkers smoke vapes/ecigs. They smoke it in the office and just everywhere tbh.

Am I within my rights to ask them to be considerate and not smoke in the office?

For now I guess its okay because the one window in the office is open and theres a fan om because its been so hot. But come sept/october itll be cold! (Especially up north where I am)

Its just its all I can smell and smoke is smoke isnt it? And you wouldnt smoke a cigarette around me so whats the difference?
I donr want my baby breathing in the chemicals.
Does anyone understand what I mean and how I might bring it up to my boss?

Surely there's a policy on this at work you can refer to? I would bring it up with your boss or HR?

I dont know, i swear when they first came out years ago you werent allowed to smoke them in the offices but now it seems the world and his wife use them so just "the norm"
Surerly they should have enough respect for my desicion that I dont want it around me? I mean I am growing a tiny human and dont even like painting my nails because of the fumes, i shove toilet roll up my nose!

But it’s not smoke it’s steam

Do you ask people not to spray air fresheners too?

No definitely not ok. You should ask them to stop as the potential health risks are stillnot fully known.

Your employer has a duty to protect you during your pregnancy. Definitely complain and also ask those near you not to vape. Tell them it triggers your pregnancy nausea or something.

@Maidsrus Thanks for your supportive comment.

@JasmineByTheSea & @rememberatime thank you ladies, ive been meaning to bring it up for a while now but dont want to be finiky you know?
He knows I dont like it anyway as whenever I walk through a cloud of smoke I waft it awat but he says "Well you walked into that one!"
Dont think he knows how to handle a pregnant staff member...

Funny OP, I was thinking this only yesterday. My SIL and BIL were heavy smokers but in order for her to TTC they are now vaping. Anyway, they were doing it at a family BBQ with my DDs nearby and one, actually, on SILs lap. I asked her not to and got the whole “it’s just steam” argument and I guess logically it is but it just doesn’t feel right to be doing it basically into a kids face. I don’t know what the risks are but if didn’t sit right with me.

@ReggieKrayDoYouKnowMyName exactly! It doesnt sit right with me, And I just think people should respect people around them and their circumstances you know?

It doesn’t seem right that all your co-workers vape in the office. Certainly no one is allowed to do it in our office or on site anywhere. If it’s triggering nausea etc due to the smell then I think you should bring it up with HR. However from what I’ve read, breathing in second hand vapour isn’t harmful and there’s no evidence to show that it is. But being pregnant myself I still wouldn’t want to be inhaling it due to the yucky smell etc

@Gobletoffire I never thought you could either but now everyone does it, some smells are worse than others Ill admit that, but I just dont want to be smelling it anymore, Theres nothing to say its exactly healthy for pregnant ladies or unborn babies so Id natually assume it was unhealthy until proven otherwise.

I don't know where you live but im in Dublin and here it is illegal to smoke normal cigarettes or vapes in a work environment.

Definitely bring it up with HR. Unfortunately i wouldn't count on people respecting the fact your pregnant. I find alot (not all) of smoker's to be very selfish people. You'll definitely get people rolling their eyes because its 'just vape'.

Vape fumes are not just steam. They are chemical infused and are not harm-free

Its just its all I can smell and smoke is smoke isnt it?

No it's steam.

I mean I am growing a tiny human and dont even like painting my nails because of the fumes, i shove toilet roll up my nose!

You need to chill out a bit.

@captainshortie I do understand what you’re saying, but just because it isn’t said to be healthy doesn’t automatically mean it’s harmful. I don’t think it will harm your baby in any way at all. I think it’s a case of it being uncomfortable for you and not helping your symptoms that’s the issue.

You've just got a dose of the 'im pregnants' OP. But you're within your rights to ask them not to do it even if you weren't pregnant. The clouds of steam can be annoying inside.

Maybe leave the pregnant angle out of it so you're tsken seriously and not dismissed as the only pregnant person in the world thing.

I thought it was illegal to vape in buildings? I thought it was classed the same as smoking?

I use my vape quite regularly (stops me from smoking...) and I'd never use it around a pregnant woman/children. I just thought it was common sense?

I'd say something. Some people may think that you're being precious, but I think it's better for your own peace of mind. I just think that because vapes aren't properly regulated yet, we don't 100% know what's in them. Better safe than sorry and all that

I wouldn’t be happy at all in your position OP. I don’t understand how it can possibly be ‘just steam’ when you are exhaling because your lungs can’t possibly filter out all the nicotine and flavourings, they must still be present in the exhaled water vapour, the same way exhaled cigarette smoke still has all the bad stuff in it. Vapes might not be as bad, but they still aren’t great imo, especially in an enclosed space. I’d take it up with HR op, you weren’t allowed to smoke them inside in the pub I worked in due to laws about smoking in the work place, it may be being tolerated but I’m pretty sure the law is on your side.

My OH vapes but agrees not to do it in the house or around LO.
I can't stand the smell at the best of times, and I can taste it on the odd occasions he has been smoking inside.

I'm 33 weeks of now.

Frankly we have very little idea what is in the stuff and are already exposed to so much polution, I don't think it's unreasonable to limit it as much as we can.

I am genuinely shocked at people vaping I side at work
It's just not done where I work (nhs) by pts or staff. Also not allowed to charge them on site either...

It is NOT just steam, it's full of nicotine which is toxic. Not acceptable to expose anyone to, let alone an unborn baby.

*I'm 33 weeks now with #2

It's not unlawful to vape in public buildings and workplaces. It is really grim though.

Thank you (some of you) for understanding and being supportive. Im trying to contain my high risk pregnancy as much as i can to just being about my weight.
Dont want fumes, toxins etc etc added to it. I know I sound crazy but to keep me at peace this is what I want to do.
I just wanted to know if other people thought the same. Ill bring it up in the morning with him. Some of the clouds are worse than others as are the smells, I would just PERSONALLY regard it on the same length as smoking an actual ciggy and to not do it around my pregnant coworker or another coworker who didnt smoke.
Just standard respect and common decensy if you ask me.

I sympathise and I'm pretty shocked at some of the ignorant comments on here.
It isn't illegal but that doesn't make it right. Ultimately it's down to your employer although they do have to follow some guidelines. There is no evidence that second hand e cigarette smoke is harmful... but they are also not positive that it is not. I certainly wouldn't want to be breathing in that stuff all day long! You should speak to HR and express your concerns. They will need to tread carefully as vaping is encouraged as a far healthier alternative than smoking - however, as a pregnant woman in the workplace, you are also protected and they have to be careful. Coming to some sort or compromise with HR might be a good way of approaching it - ie designated vaping or non vaping areas...
Might be worth looking through this too: www.gov.uk/government/news/vaping-in-public-places-advice-for-employers-and-organisations

Good luck! I do sympathise. I can't stand smoking or vaping (but at least the latter is the lesser of two evils I guess)...

My work has a policy where smoking or vaping is only allowed in certain areas outside. I didn't think it was allowed inside in enclosed places.