J Occup Environ Med. 2015 Mar;57(3):334-343.

Guidance to Employers on Integrating E-Cigarettes/Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems Into Tobacco Worksite Policy.

Whitsel LP1, Benowitz N, Bhatnagar A, Bullen C, Goldstein F, Matthias-Gray L, Grossmeier J, Harris J, Isaac F, Loeppke R, Manley M,Moseley K, Niemiec T, OʼBrien V, Palma-Davis L, Pronk N, Pshock J, Stave GM, Terry P.

Author information

• 1From the American Heart Association (Dr Whitsel), Washington, DC; University of California (Dr Benowitz), San Francisco; The University of Louisville (Dr Bhatnagar), Louisville, Ky; University of Auckland (Dr Bullen), Auckland, New Zealand; Population Health Alliance (Mr Goldstein), Washington, DC; University of Michigan (Ms Matthias-Gray and Ms Palma-Davis), Ann Arbor; Health Enhancement Research Organization (Dr Grossmeier), Edina, Minn; Performance pH (Mr Harris), Holland, Ohio; Johnson & Johnson (Dr Isaac); US Preventive Medicine/American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (Dr Loeppke), Elk Grove Village, Ill; American College of Preventive Medicine (Dr Manley), Washington, DC; Health Enhancement Research Organization, Population Health Alliance (Ms Moseley), Edina, Minn; ArcelorMittal/American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (Dr Niemiec), Elk Grove Village, Ill; Interactive Health (Mr O'Brien); HealthPartners/Harvard University (Dr Pronk); Bravo Wellness (Mr Pshock), Cleveland, Ohio; Prevention Partners/American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine/Duke University (Dr Stave), Durham, NC; and StayWell Health Management (Dr Terry), Saint Paul, Minn.

Abstract

In recent years, new products have entered the marketplace that complicate decisions about tobacco control policies and prevention in the workplace. These products, called electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) or electronic nicotine delivery systems, most often deliver nicotine as an aerosol for inhalation, without combustion of tobacco. This new mode of nicotine delivery raises several questions about the safety of the product for the user, the effects of secondhand exposure, how the public use of these products should be handled within tobacco-free and smoke-free air policies, and how their use affects tobacco cessation programs, wellness incentives, and other initiatives to prevent and control tobacco use. In this article, we provide a background on e-cigarettes and then outline key policy recommendations for employers on how the use of these new devices should be managed within worksite tobacco prevention programs and control policies.