Understanding the Florida Vaping Ban on Indoor Workplaces

Did you know that there’s now a ban on vaping in indoor workplaces in Florida? Make sure you know how the rules work and what you can expect if someone violates this rule. The law has been in place for several months already. 

Since the no vaping in the workplace law in Florida went into effect in summer 2019, government agencies and researchers have increased their interest in the possible dangers associated with vaping and e-cigarettes. 

The vaping ban was an extension to the 1985 Florida Clean Indoor Air Act. That law has been amended a few times since it was originally passed. Tobacco smoking has already been banned in indoor workplaces dating back to 2003. 

What Happens to Someone Who Violates This Law? 

Anyone who violates this ban faces potential penalties. The maximum penalty is a fine of $25, 50 hours of community service, and the need to successfully complete a school-approved anti-tobacco program. There are many younger people using e-cigarettes. With the potential for side effects with vaping related illnesses and the possible penalties, some people might choose not to vape anymore altogether. 

The new law allows people to continue vaping in private residences that are never used for any commercial purpose. In addition, vaping is still allowed at retail vaping shops, facilities rented or owned by a membership association, certain rooms in hotels, or stand-alone bars. 

What Counts as Vaping Under the Law? 

Vaping is defined under the new law as exhaling or inhaling vapor to a device that generates vapor or a device that actively transmits vapor through a chemical, electronic, or mechanical means. 

Just having the vaping device, however, does not mean that a person is violating Florida’s ban on vaping in indoor workplaces. The vapor must be consumed by the person in the form of aerosolized or vaporized nicotine. 

It falls to the proprietor of the indoor enclosed workplace to develop a policy related to the vaping and smoking prohibitions. 

Is Vaping Dangerous? 

Some advocates who supposed the law, which was also supported by a majority of the public, believe that the law will help to change the overall culture around the practice of smoking. 

Experts believe that the use of e-cigarettes could normalize the act of smoking and tobacco use overall, even though users of e-cigarettes claim that most vaping consumers are transitioning away from regular tobacco.

The truth, however, is that many people who are vaping have not been introduced to cigarettes first. Vaping presents special dangers for teenagers, who are a big portion of the vaping market. In the same summer that the Florida vaping ban on indoor workplaces went into effect, numerous people in many states around the country suffered from lung injuries and related illnesses.

The CDC began to research what all these vaping illnesses had in common. Some of that data showed that the most common illnesses were related to vaping products that contained THC, but the research on this process is still ongoing. 

It’s believed that the developing adolescent brain could be harmed by a serious vaping habit. Some e-cigarette devices like JUUL have been tied to very high levels of nicotine, meaning that a new user could develop an addiction sooner than expected. 

As of September 2019, more than 530 cases of serious lung injuries had been recorded by the government, many of which led to the patient staying in the hospital. 

Are There Dangers to Secondhand Vaping Inhalation?

Many of the laws relating to the banning of smoking indoors have a lot to do with providing clean air quality for all people. There are some indications that even being around a person who is vaping could expose people to risks. 

The study that led to this finding was from the U.S. National Youth Tobacco Survey, which found that around one-third of middle and high school students were exposed to some kind of vaping aerosol in 2018. That was a big increase from the previous period when only one out of four students had been exposed to vaping. 

Some of the most common issues associated with vaping exposure include respiratory problems and issues related to the constriction of blood vessels. This is because of the chemical composition and the particles in the aerosol. Some people have throat, airway, and eye irritation just being around vaping devices. 

Personal Injury Attorneys Miami

Have more questions about the Florida ban in vaping in indoor workplaces? Contact the dedicated personal injury lawyers at Berman Law Group today at 561-660-9995 to discuss your rights under the law and the best way to move forward. 

The Berman Law Group
3351 NW Boca Raton Blvd
Boca Raton, FL 33431
(561) 660-9995

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