The Smoke-Free Ontario Act came into effect on May 31. The Act prohibits smoking in enclosed workplaces and enclosed public places in Ontario in order to protect workers and the public from the hazards of second-hand smoke. An enclosed workspace means the inside of a building, structure or vehicle. Landscape trucks, loading docks and trailers on construction sites are all considered enclosed work spaces. The ban on smoking in an enclosed workplace is in effect at all times, even during off-hours when people are not working. Under the Act, designated smoking rooms are also prohibited. An employer may accommodate employees by providing a smoking shelter outdoors, but the shelter can only consist of two walls and a roof. For details, visit www.Ontario.ca/smokefree.
