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Smoke-Free Workplace Vehicles - It's The Law

This page was reviewed or revised on Tuesday, January 24, 2012 12:02 PM

Sarnia, ON – The Smoke-Free Ontario Act protects employees from the hazards of second-hand smoke by prohibiting smoking in all enclosed workplaces, including work vehicles.

Donna Schmidtmeyer, Supervisor, County of Lambton Community Health Services Department, says employers must comply with the law by posting "No Smoking" signs in all work vehicles.

"The signs must be posted in a location where it is visible to employees, such as a window or on the dashboard," explains Schmidtmeyer. "It is illegal to use built-in ashtrays or to keep any container being used as an ashtray, such as a coffee cup or pop can, in a workplace vehicle."

A workplace vehicle, a vehicle used by an employer or employee to conduct any type of work, is an enclosed workplace under the Smoke-Free Ontario Act (SFOA). This means smoking is prohibited in workplace vehicles 24 hours a day, seven (7) days a week, the same way smoking is prohibited inside an office building. Smoking in a workplace vehicle is also prohibited after working hours, regardless if there are passengers in the vehicle.

Fines for smoking in a workplace vehicle range from $250 to $5000, while fines for employers who do not ensure work vehicles are smoke-free range from $300 to $300,000.

Call the Lambton Tobacco Hotline at 519 383-3810 or 1-800 667-1839 ext. 3810 to request free signage for workplace vehicles.

For more information about the Smoke-Free Ontario Act call 519 383-3810, toll free 1-800-667-1839 ext. 3810 or visit www.lambtonhealth.on.ca.

For more information about Lambton County, visit www.lambtononline.ca.

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Contact:

Donna Schmidtmeyer
Supervisor, Ontario Tobacco Strategy
County of Lambton
Telephone: 519 344-2062 ext. 2206
Email: donna.schmidtmeyer@county-lambton.on.ca