Workplace Smoking Rules in Washington

Employers covered. Employers with one or more employees.

Written policy requirements. Employer policy not specified.

Posting requirements. Signs either prohibiting or permitting smoking must be conspicuously posted.

No smoking areas. The Washington Clean Indoor Air Act prohibits smoking in public places, in any portion of a building or in any vehicle that is open to the public, including areas within 25 feet of doorways and ventilation openings, unless a lesser distance is approved, regardless of whether it is privately or publicly owned. Smoking areas may be designated in public places except in elevators, public transportation, reception areas of government-owned buildings, public meetings, classrooms of educational facilities, and seating areas of concert halls, theaters, and sports arenas.

Ban on smoking in offices. Smoking in all private and public offices is banned in Washington, except in clearly marked smoking rooms that are ventilated to the outdoors and that do not allow smoke to drift into other parts of the building. The smoking rooms must be rooms that nonsmokers do not have to enter for any reason. In addition, outdoor smoking must be regulated so that smoke does not enter the building through air intakes and doors. The rule does not presently cover industrial work sites, bars or restaurants.

Designated smoking areas. Even where a smoking area is designated, existing physical barriers and ventilation systems should be used to minimize the toxic effect of smoke in adjacent nonsmoking areas. Signs either prohibiting or permitting smoking must be conspicuously posted. The law is not intended to regulate smoking in privately enclosed workplaces within public places, even though the workplace may be visited by nonsmokers.