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Home>Services>Public Health Services>Your Health>Smoke-Free Workplaces
Under the Tobacco Act 1987, it is now an offence to smoke in any enclosed workplace. Before the ban, more than 30% of Victoria’s workforce was exposed to second hand tobacco smoke in their workplace. Tobacco kills almost 5,000 Victorians annually and costs the community over $5 billion in terms of social and economic costs each year.
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| Employers, employees, voluntary workers and customers and members of the public are not permitted to smoke in offices, work sheds, staff rooms, lunchrooms, cafeterias, restrooms, work vehicles, temporary structures or any other part of a working space that is enclosed. Smoking is permitted outside as long as the area of the workplace is not enclosed; however, some workplaces may have company policies that prohibit smoking in outdoor areas. There are some exemptions from this law that are listed on page 4 in the Smoke-free workplaces guide.
Occupiers (employers and/or manager) are liable to be penalised if smoking occurs in the workplace. Employees are also liable to be penalised if they smoke in the workplace. The person who smokes may receive a fine or be prosecuted, as may the occupier who is in charge at the time of the offence.
Please contact the Department of Human Services via the Tobacco Information Line on 1300 136 775 if persons are smoking in your workplace.
If you would like a No Smoking sign, please contact the Environmental Health Team on (03) 5522 2246 or email Bree Porter.
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