BobLoblawsLawBlog
New Member
- Jurisdiction
- Washington
King County regulates vaping in workplaces the same as smoking, not allowed.
Tobacco laws and resources for tobacco retailers - King County
An employer in Seattle (King County) also has an official company policy on vaping, that it should be done outdoors and at least 25' away from doors, just like smoking. An employee (employee 1) at this company has witnessed other employees vaping inside the office building in conference rooms, shared space and private offices. Employee 1 has been sharing an office with another employee (employee 2) for a few weeks. Employee 2 vapes in this shared office while sitting at their desk. Employee 1 has asked employee 2 to stop vaping in the office multiple times. Employee 1 has reported this vaping to company management multiple times and the violations have continued. At some level of management, vaping in the office has been tolerated in this company. Management only sent out notice to employees that vaping indoors was not allowed until after employee 1's third complaint about employee 2 vaping in the shared office.
Employee 1 has felt ill effects from second hand vaping in the enclosed space of the shared office in particular, including lung irritation, elevated heart rate, jitters and inability to concentrate. Working from home has not been an option for employee 1 since management made it clear during the hiring process that working from home was not an option.
Other than reporting these violations to King County, is there any sort of suit that employee 1 can bring against the employer or employee 2? If so, what type of lawyer would handle something like this? Unless further study proves otherwise, it is unlikely there will be any lasting health effects from employee 1's short term exposure to second hand vaping, but is there any way to punish the employer for supporting a company culture of indoor vaping in violation of company policy and county law beyond whatever fines might come from reporting these violations to county government?
Tobacco laws and resources for tobacco retailers - King County
An employer in Seattle (King County) also has an official company policy on vaping, that it should be done outdoors and at least 25' away from doors, just like smoking. An employee (employee 1) at this company has witnessed other employees vaping inside the office building in conference rooms, shared space and private offices. Employee 1 has been sharing an office with another employee (employee 2) for a few weeks. Employee 2 vapes in this shared office while sitting at their desk. Employee 1 has asked employee 2 to stop vaping in the office multiple times. Employee 1 has reported this vaping to company management multiple times and the violations have continued. At some level of management, vaping in the office has been tolerated in this company. Management only sent out notice to employees that vaping indoors was not allowed until after employee 1's third complaint about employee 2 vaping in the shared office.
Employee 1 has felt ill effects from second hand vaping in the enclosed space of the shared office in particular, including lung irritation, elevated heart rate, jitters and inability to concentrate. Working from home has not been an option for employee 1 since management made it clear during the hiring process that working from home was not an option.
Other than reporting these violations to King County, is there any sort of suit that employee 1 can bring against the employer or employee 2? If so, what type of lawyer would handle something like this? Unless further study proves otherwise, it is unlikely there will be any lasting health effects from employee 1's short term exposure to second hand vaping, but is there any way to punish the employer for supporting a company culture of indoor vaping in violation of company policy and county law beyond whatever fines might come from reporting these violations to county government?
