18 replies to this topic

[CBMQA]

Hi I'm undertaking a review of our company GMP procedures and are looking to update our smoking restrictions in line with more recent developments. We have been asked to also include reference to e-cigarettes and vaping so I am looking for some guidance or thoughts around whether this should be treated exactly the same as normal cigarettes in a workplace or do we need some sort of other policy or wording. Any advice or comment please?

 

8.7     Smoking

 

8.7.1   Smoking is prohibited in all GMP compliant and Non-GMP compliant areas inside the factory premises.

 

8.7.2   Employees and Visitors may only smoke outside of the factory premises in the designated outside smoking area (DOSA).

 

8.7.3   Cigarette butts must be fully extinguished before being disposed in the receptacles provided.

[mgourley]

Simply include "including e-cigarettes/vaping devices" and you are good.

 

Marshall

[Brendan Triplett]

Hey there,

 

Yes, treat it as you would a regular cigarette.  The product contains tobacco and contaminants.  We treat them like all tobacco and even go so far as to mention chewing tobacco and other types of tobacco products.  it just isn't worth the risk.  I agree with above, add it to your current policies by simply adding it in: 

 

8.7.1   Smoking, to include e-cigarettes and vaping, is prohibited in all GMP compliant and Non-GMP compliant areas inside the factory premises.

 

Cheers!

[Nikki R]

we also treat them as cigarettes, so no smoting, vaping or e ciggs on site.

[jcieslowski]

I also include chewing tobacco 

[FSQA]

To support your inclusion, here is a brief overview by CDC (for general population):

 

https://www.cdc.gov/...cigarettes.html

 

Key Point (per cGMP perspective):

 

The e-cigarette aerosol that users breathe from the device and exhale can contain harmful and potentially harmful substances, including:

• Nicotine
• Ultrafine particles that can be inhaled deep into the lungs
• Flavoring such as diacetyl, a chemical linked to a serious lung disease
• Volatile organic compounds
• Cancer-causing chemicals
• Heavy metals such as nickel, tin, and lead1

[pHruit]

The product contains tobacco and contaminants. 

Just to clarify this - e-cigarettes generally do not contain tobacco.
Many contain nicotine although zero nicotine variants are gaining popularity as they're becoming a hobby in their own right.

 

Fully agree with everyone's comments about treating them as per cigarettes though. I use a vape as it allowed me to quit after 20 years of smoking, but wrote the policy update that means I get to stand outside in the rain with the smokers

The liquids they use are an uncontrolled chemical (in a factory sense), the devices have lots of small parts, glass chambers etc. If we hadn't banned them under the smoking policy they'd already be excluded both under brittle materials requirements and our electronic devices policy...

[Brendan Triplett]

pHruit,

 

good catch.  it would not make sense for them to contain tobacco.  I think that I meant to say nicotine, which in its own sense may not be inherent in every single case when it comes to e-cigarettes.  againf, good catch on that one!

 

Cheers!

[pHruit]

No problem Brendan.

Useful to have the right info for if/when people start challenging you on it - we're starting to see general recommendations that ecigs should be treated differently to cigarettes, bans lifted on use in restaurants and on public transport etc to encourage more people to move away from smoking, and I've  had the "but it's not smoking so why can't I do it inside?" debate with the warehouse ops manager and several of the production team on multiple occasions.

It's a bit academic though as wouldn't matter if it only emitted pure oxygen and rainbows - unknown liquids that may or may not contain toxic material, uncontrolled glass containers, small electronic gizmos etc are not sensible things to permit in a food manufacturing environment...

[Brendan Triplett]

I see what you are saying here.  It almost seems as thought he fact that they create smoke and may contain nicotine is almost a side issue.  They become a glass and brittle plastic material that could break apart, is uncontrolled and could contaminate the product.  I don't see any good way around allowing them into a facility.

[Nikki R]

That was our thinking on the matter, they are not only a smoking device but a glass breakage / foreign body risk. 

[ilonar]

I also have a similar problem in my company with someone who considers that e-cigarettes are allowed to be smoked (he is doing it in the office). I checked if there are any national recommendations/prohibitions. In the Netherlands the efect of the e-cigarette is still being researched, so the only recommendation is that the employer can allow or prohibit the use of the e-cigarettes. In BRC Food  is written that  "electronic cigarettes shall not be permitted to be used or brought into production or storage areas". So I assume that for the future probably all other GFSI standards will also introduce a sentence similar to this.  

[lengland]

Here's another spin on the whole e-cig issue no one has brought up yet.  I worked at a facility that banned the use of e-cigs because they could be used for "smoking" illegal substances, not just for nicotine. 

[CBMQA]

Firstly thank you to everyone for their comments and thoughts on this topic.

 

This topic has been of interest to us as it was raised by an auditor as we didn't have anything specifically written into our GMP procedure about e-cigarettes at that time.

 

To date it hadn't been something we had thought to specifically define as we had incorrectly assumed the use of these devices was covered under our smoking section within our GMP procedure and employee induction information.

 

We do not permit smoking within our facility including GMP and Non-GMP zones however in accordance with our state and federal laws we do currently permit smoking in a DOSA (designated outdoor smoking area) which is compliant with both our GMP and general health & safety regulations. This has been working to date with no issues with smoking in any other area of our facilities or outdoor areas.

 

The main issue is understanding if the use of e-cigarettes and vaping devices are in fact classified as smoking and hence if they should have been treated as such. We have also since discovered that our state government has some regulations in place that cover off on both e-cigarettes and vaping anyway so this would help in the case of someone challenging a complete ban on the use of these devces on our site.

 

We have amended our GMP procedure to cover off on e-cigarettes, vaping and chewing tobacco as per below:

 

8.7       Smoking

 

 

8.7.1   At all times smoking is prohibited in GMP Compliant and Non-GMP Compliant Zones including non-designated outside areas unless otherwise permitted in accordance with 8.7.3.

8.7.2   The use of e-cigarettes, vaping devices and chewing tobacco is not permitted on our site at any time.

8.7.3   Employees, Contractors and Visitors may only smoke cigarettes outside the factory premises in the designated outdoor smoking area (DOSA) or outside of the external property boundary lines.

8.7.4   Cigarette butts must be fully extinguished before being disposed in the receptacles provided.

8.7.5   No food or drink is to be consumed in the smoking area.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[mgourley]

Just a minor quibble:

8.7.2 does not permit use of these items on "our site"

8.7.3 allows them outside the factory but "technically" on site (i.e. property)

 

Marshall

 

8.7.2   The use of e-cigarettes, vaping devices and chewing tobacco is not permitted on our site at any time.

8.7.3   Employees, Contractors and Visitors may only smoke cigarettes outside the factory premises in the designated outdoor smoking area (DOSA) or outside of the external property boundary lines.

[Sobhana123]

hi. I am not understanding in this topic please tell me any one.

ISO Audit in Malaysia

[Bennet5]

Hi I'm undertaking a review of our company GMP procedures and are looking to update our smoking restrictions in line with more recent developments. We have been asked to also include reference to e-cigarettes and vaping so I am looking for some guidance or thoughts around whether this should be treated exactly the same as normal cigarettes in a workplace or do we need some sort of other policy or wording. Any advice or comment please

 

Honestly, I'm not a smoker or a vaper. But I can say for sure. When I walk along the street and someone smokes on the go and I should smell that smoke.  that's awful for me. But when someone vapes on the street it not so irritating for me as it has a much more pleasant smell. It's my personal attitude. Of course, that's not that good too. It would be better for that person to stop somewhere. to smoke or to vape and then continue the way. At least. other people would not be forced to feel that smoke. 
I was reading on Vapingdaily about the places where smoking is not allowed. Here's the article itself https://vapingdaily....-public-spaces/
Quite interesting information here

[chrcia]

Yes absolutely treat them the same as a cigarette

[Sobhana123]

hi. No idea for in this topic please tell me any one.

ISO 9001 Consultant in Malaysia