Focusing in on smoking and vaping concerns

30 September 2024

Our reporting analysts take a closer look at concerns we’ve received about smoking and vaping over the past few years.

Someone smoking 600x400

In the first quarter of 2023/24, there was a slight uptick in CIRAS reports about smoking and vaping in working environments. This trend has not continued into the second quarter of the year, with no new smoking-related reports since period 3 (end of June).

Smoking concerns graph

Types of concerns

We have listened to reporters raising concerns about passengers and staff smoking or vaping in unsuitable places, creating an unpleasant environment for those around them. These concerns are from various sectors, including rail, bus, and supply chain. The locations mentioned, where people have been smoking, include in and around railway and bus stations, on trains, in depots, and trackside.

Why our reporters are concerned

We hear reporters say that they are concerned about the risks of passive smoking and vaping to their health and the health of others in the work environment, whether colleagues or the public. They have shared with us that having to work where people smoke and vape can be stressful and impact their mental health. The increased risk of verbal and physical assault associated with confronting people who are smoking or vaping is also on their minds.

Reporters also raise concerns with us that smoking near flammable materials and work equipment could cause a fire or explosion. For example, one report included a concern about staff smoking near welding gas canisters and another report was about staff smoking near oil and cleaning fluids.

How our members have responded to the concerns

Here are some of the ways our members have responded to CIRAS reports that include concerns about smoking or vaping, to reduce associated risks.

Briefings

Members have rebriefed staff on company smoking and vaping policies and arrangements, including reminding staff of the help available to smokers through their wellbeing channels.

Signage

Displaying ‘no smoking/vaping’ signs discourages smoking and vaping in inappropriate areas. This includes signs in stations and in company vehicles.

Announcements

One response has been to play announcements across railway station platforms every 15 minutes, informing passengers not to smoke or vape at the station.

Checks

There have been increased management visits and walkarounds to check for non-compliance with smoking policies.

Moving a cigarette bin

Relocating a cigarette bin away from a station entrance deters colleagues and customers from gathering to smoke there.

Lessons learned by some of our members who received CIRAS reports about smoking or vaping

As part of the CIRAS process, we give members the opportunity to reflect on what they have learnt from receiving the CIRAS report. Here are some of the lessons responders to our reports have shared.

Concern: train depot

A reporter raised a concern about fire safety risk at a train depot due to staff smoking in the fuelling area.

Outcome

All employees and contractors were debriefed within 24 hours of the report, and a further brief outlining the smoking arrangements at the facility was issued and signed.

Lesson learnt

The company learnt it had to review smoking and vaping arrangements, with a view to stopping smoking at the facility, in line with its transformation programme.

Concern: bus stand

A reporter raised a concern about bus drivers smoking at a bus stand.

Investigation

The company organised a site meeting with representatives from each of the bus operating companies that use both the bus station and the layover areas, to discuss the concerns, and to highlight the health and safety impact caused by smoking in non-designated areas.

Outcome

The actions taken were:

increased frequency of bus station controller site visits
a site meeting with bus operators, to discuss the issue
action plan agreed at the meeting
the bus companies committed to sending out a regular communications to their drivers and to have regular on-site meetings with Transport for London to monitor the ongoing situation.

Lesson learnt

Prominent ‘no smoking’ signage is not enough on its own to stop people smoking.

Feedback from reporters to CIRAS

Reporters with concerns about smoking and vaping are generally satisfied with the response they receive.

‘I feel that the company has listened to my concerns and that they understand why I raised them. I feel that they will put measures in place to prevent this issue from happening in the future.’
‘Thank you so much for dealing with this issue. I couldn’t ask for anything more.’
‘It’s great to see that the company has been proactive.’

Raise your concerns

If you are concerned about smoking or vaping at work, we do encourage you to report this through your internal, company channels. This is usually the quickest way to resolve issues.

We’re here to listen when you prefer to report safety concerns with your identity protected, if you feel you can't use internal reporting channels, or if you've tried to without success.

Raise a concern