Free toolbox talk · Health · 10 min

Smoking and Vaping on Jobsites

Construction and general industry · Ver en español

Talking points

  1. Smoking and vaping are ignition sources. They are prohibited near flammable liquids, gases, combustible materials, and in any area posted 'No Smoking.'
  2. Designated smoking areas must be established away from combustible storage, fuel, and flammable vapor-producing operations. Use proper cigarette butt receptacles — never discard on the ground.
  3. Smoking in areas with lead, silica, asbestos, or other contaminants transfers those substances from your hands to your mouth. Always wash hands thoroughly before smoking.
  4. E-cigarettes and vape devices contain lithium batteries that can malfunction, overheat, or explode — especially in hot environments like vehicle dashboards or near heat sources.
  5. Beyond fire and contamination risk, smoking on the job impairs lung function, reduces physical endurance, and slows wound healing — all relevant to construction work.

Ask the crew

Where is the designated smoking area on this site — and is it far enough from combustible materials and contaminant areas?

Standards this talk is built on

A toolbox talk is a short safety briefing. It supports the training a standard requires; it does not replace it.

Run this talk with your crew and keep the record

In Jobsite, workers sign in on their phones in English or Spanish, and you keep who attended, when, and where, with every other talk your crew has had.

Using an AI assistant? Jobsite's free MCP server serves this library, with OSHA rule text, no sign-in: https://jobsitecerts.com/api/mcp/public (/mcp)

Sign-in sheet

Print this page to collect signatures, or run the talk in Jobsite and workers sign in on their phones.

NameSignatureDate

© Jobsite. Free to read aloud, print and use in your own crew's safety meetings. Republishing, reselling or bulk-copying these talks is not permitted.