Sailors in the Navy are about to lose access to their vaping devices, as a total ban on all electronic cigarettes and associated devices is set to come into force on 14th May.
According to an official statement released by the Navy, Fleet commanders will bring the ban into effect to “protect the safety and welfare of sailors”. It will also be implemented to protect all the vessels and aircraft used in the Navy. The statement further goes on to say the ban will remain active until further analysis into the use of vaping devices is completed.
While some people may think this is uncalled for, it would appear there have been cases where incidents have occurred that involved vaping devices. From late 2015, 15 incidents involving these e-cigs were reported to have occurred in the Navy. In one case, an electronic cigarette led to the cancellation of a flight by a naval aircraft, after smoke began to fill the cockpit.
Two other incidents were confirmed to have required firefighting equipment to deal with them. While the exact details of these incidents are unknown, it is possible some were due to problems occurring with the lithium-ion batteries that are used to power the e-cigs.
Temporary or permanent?
While the Navy currently says the ban on vaping devices on ships, submarines, and other Navy vessels and aircraft is temporary, there is the potential for it to become permanent. It all depends on the outcome of proper research into the use of the vaping equipment on ships and in other situations in the Navy.
It’s clear the risk of danger and a lack of health and safety could be to blame for this ban, and further research is clearly needed to see whether the ban will be kept in place, or whether a total ban will be necessary.
Fire risks on submarines or ships must clearly be evaluated, so there is as little risk of a fire occurring in this situation as possible. We must wait and see how long the additional research will take, and whether this ‘temporary ban’ will be extended to onshore locations, and indeed whether it may be extended to the other services, too.
What’s your opinion on the change? Do you think the Navy is right to ban vaping until it looks at how the incidents occurred, and whether they could have been prevented? Let us know your thoughts below.
