Toolbox Talk – Smoking on Construction Sites

Smoking on construction sites is not just a matter of personal choice—it is a health, safety, and legal concern. South African regulations set strict requirements for where and how smoking may occur in the workplace to protect all workers from the harmful effects of tobacco smoke.

Why It Matters

• Exposure to secondhand smoke significantly increases health risks like lung cancer and heart disease—even for non-smokers.
• Construction sites are often semi-open spaces, making smoke migration a real hazard affecting everyone on site.

What Does South African Law Say?

• Smoking is prohibited indoors, including offices, enclosed areas, and work vehicles.
• Employers may choose to allow smoking but only in clearly designated areas that meet strict requirements:
  • Must not exceed 25% of total floor area
  • Must be separated by solid partitions with a clearly marked “SMOKING AREA” sign (2 cm high, 1.5 cm wide text on white background)
  • Must have ventilation that exhausts smoke directly outside without recirculation
  • Must display health warning signage:

“SMOKING OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS IS HARMFUL TO YOUR HEALTH…” with a quit helpline

• • Must ensure no under-18s are allowed in smoking areas
  • For outdoor smoking areas, they must be clearly demarcated, not near entrances, and avoid walkways or high-traffic zones
• Employers must provide a written smoking policy, applied within three months of starting operations or after the 1999 amendment came into force
• There is no obligation for employers to allow smoke breaks; any time taken for smoking can legally be unpaid or deducted

Construction Site – Best Practices

Designate Proper Smoking Areas

• Choose an outdoor spot, away from workflows and entrances (e.g., off-site or in a designated parking corner)
• Ensure signage, ventilation, and separation follow the legal standards outlined above.
• Smoking areas to be at least 10m from any building entrance, air intake, or window

Implement a Clear Smoking Policy

Include in your site policy:

• Smoking allowed only in designated areas.
• Smoking is never allowed in offices, vehicles, or near common areas.
• Smoke breaks are not extra entitlements—they must happen during allocated breaks (tea, lunch).

Health and Safety Signage

• Post mandatory notices in the smoking area with health warnings and the quitline.
• Place “No Smoking” signs in all prohibited zones (offices, site hulls, communal areas).

Protect Non-Smokers

• Ensure non-smokers are physically distanced from smoke.
• Identify and remove any exposure risks from semi-enclosed zones (e.g., balconies, portacabins).

Communicate and Enforce

• Talk through the policy at toolbox talks—make it clear that compliance is mandatory.

Consistent enforcement ensures safety and fairness—and avoids workplace tensions or even claims of a hostile environment.

Download the full Toolbox Talk document on Smoking on Construction Sites below:

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