Vermont Prohibits Use of Electronic Cigarettes in the Workplace
Workplace Prohibition Effective July 1, 2016
A new law in Vermont prohibits using electronic cigarettes in any workplace.
Prohibitions
- Under the new law, the possession of lighted tobacco products or use of tobacco substitutes is prohibited in any workplace.
- "Tobacco substitutes" are products—including electronic cigarettes or other electronic or battery-powered devices—that contain and are designed to deliver nicotine or other substances into the body through inhaling vapor and that have not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for tobacco cessation or other medical purposes. Products that have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for tobacco cessation or other medical purposes are not considered to be tobacco substitutes.
- "Workplace" means an enclosed structure where employees perform services for an employer, including restaurants, bars, and other establishments in which food or drinks, or both, are served.
- In the case of an employer who assigns employees to departments, divisions, or similar organizational units, "workplace" means the enclosed portion of a structure to which the employee is assigned.
Exception for Vaping Lounges
The prohibition on using tobacco substitutes in a workplace does not apply to a business that does not sell food or beverages but is established for the sole purpose of providing a setting for patrons to purchase and use tobacco substitutes and related paraphernalia (i.e., vaping lounges).
These provisions take effect July 1, 2016. Click here to read the text of the law.
To review other laws specific to Vermont, visit the State Laws section, click on Vermont, and choose your topic of interest from the left-hand navigation menu.
If you have questions on how this might affect your business, call us today at 877-352-2121.
Source: Hilb Group Human Resources
