As a business owner, do you allow your employees to use e-cigarettes or vaping devices in your workplace? If you do, you might want to consider establishing some guidelines so that everyone stays safe.
You might have heard the news about vaping device batteries exploding in the pants pockets and even the faces of users, causing moderate to serious injury. Naturally, smokers are wary and want to know more. As an employer, if you allow your employees to vape in your workplace, you owe it to yourself and your non-smoking employees to learn all you can, too.
Do you need to worry about exploding batteries? Will you be next or have you fallen victim to believing another myth? Here’s what you need to know about safer vaping.
Insist on US-Made Vaporizers
Many vaping-related products are manufactured in China, but US-made vaporizers are readily available. Vaporizers made in the USA are manufactured under tighter regulations that ensure a higher quality product. When you allow only American-made vaporizers in your workplace, you’ll know that those products adhere to specific standards of quality.
Allow Only Recognized Vaporizer Brands in Your Workplace
Users should be sure that they’re somewhat familiar with the brand of vaporizer they buy. Otherwise, they could be purchasing a device made with cheap components that could easily malfunction.
Encourage your employees who smoke to do their research before they buy and to invest in brands they recognize, such as those featured regularly in ads and magazines and those highlighted on smoking-related websites.
For example, Kangertech box mods is a well known brand. Other brands to look for include Volcano, White Cloud, and Great Lakes Vapor.
Require that Smokers Read and Follow Product Instructions
While it may seem like an obvious suggestion, remind your employees who smoke to read and follow their device’s instructions, especially when they’re using new equipment for the first time.
Avoid Overheating the Device
Some smokers may be prone to pressing the button on their vaporizer for a long time, which results in overheating. Don’t press the button for more than a few seconds. Moreover, pressing the ignition switch for longer periods will shorten the life of the appliance.
Alert all employees to be wary of a burning smell if anyone is vaping near them. If a vaporizer becomes overheated, place it in a safe area away from flammable materials and allow it to cool down.
Keep E-Cigarettes and Vaporizers Away from Water
E-cigarettes and vaping devices are not made for wet conditions. While you may get away with lightly splashing certain models, avoid getting e-cigarettes and vaping devices wet.
Neither should you insert any wet or oily solutions into one of these appliances.
Between sessions, use dry cotton-tipped swabs instead of a moistened cloth to clean them.
Don’t Charge an E-Cigarette or Vaporizer for Long Periods of Time
Avoid charging your device for long periods of time. Just as vaporizers can overheat when the button is depressed for long periods, so, too, can overcharging create a safety hazard.
Advise your employees not to leave a vaping device that’s being charged unattended. Not only could they risk shortening the life of their device, such a situation could even cause an explosion.
Use Only a Charger Intended for the Specific Device
The average person owns many electronic devices, and it’s likely a charger for one device could appear to work in charging another.
However, you should always be cautious when interchanging chargers. For example, only use a charger that’s specifically made to charge the vaping device you’re charging.
Moreover, you should never use a charger just because it works and seems to fit. The risks include fire, malfunction of the device, even damage to the wall socket the charger is plugged into.
Clear the Clutter from Wall Sockets and Power Strips
And while we’re on the subject, let’s address a common unsafe practice that you probably already discourage in your workplace.
Clear clutter away from all wall sockets and power strips as well as whatever device you’re charging, not only vaping devices. It’s best practice regarding fire safety.
Read more about the safe use of power strips and extension cords here.
Provide Specified Areas Where Employees Can Vape
Finally, you need to consider the the non-smokers who work for you as well as your employees who vape. Therefore, designate specific areas where your employees can vape, whether indoors or in a sheltered outdoor area. Since state and local jurisdictions have begun enacting laws to prohibit vaping indoors, this step might already be a requirement for you.
In short, if you’re going to allow your employees to vape at work, make their safe use a high priority.
About the Author
Linda Ferguson enjoys getting her knowledge out to the world through her writing. She writes on a wide range of topics, mostly for lifestyle blogs.