How Safe Are Vapes? Horror Glasgow Fire Highlights Product Safety Risks

Okay, it’s time to address the elephant in the room. Vape safety. Horror stories of “popcorn lung” were already in the zeitgeist, and after the devastating fire in Glasgow, reportedly started in a vape shop, the dangers of lithium batteries were highlighted, too.

Unfortunately, in this day and age, the spread of misinformation and speculation erupts at dangerous rates. We must look at the facts here, what we do know for sure and what can be done to prevent or minimise harm.

While marketed as a safer alternative to smoking, vaping devices introduce distinct hazards, particularly involving lithium-ion batteries, unregulated products, and serious health consequences. Increasingly, these risks are translating into litigation, compensation claims, and regulatory scrutiny.

Lithium-ion batteries: A hidden fire and explosion risk

At the core of most vaping devices lies a lithium-ion battery, a powerful but volatile energy source. When functioning correctly, these batteries are generally safe. However, when damaged, poorly manufactured, or improperly used, they can fail catastrophically.

Lithium-ion batteries can enter a process known as thermal runaway, where internal temperatures rise uncontrollably, leading to fire or explosion. This may be triggered by:

  • Overcharging or use of incompatible chargers
  • Physical damage (dropping, crushing, puncturing)
  • Manufacturing defects
  • Exposure to extreme heat

When failure occurs, the consequences are severe: intense fires, explosions, and the release of toxic gases. In fact, UK fire services attended 399 vape-related fires in 2024, more than quadrupling since 2020. Waste360 reports that over 1.3 million single-use vapes are thrown away weekly, creating significant risks when they are crushed in waste.

Improper disposal of vapes has created a secondary public safety issue:

  • Over 840,000 vapes were found in waste streams in just four months in the UK.
  • Fires in waste facilities and bin lorries are increasingly common.
  • Toxic fumes from battery fires pose respiratory risks to workers and the public.

From a legal standpoint, liability may extend beyond manufacturers to employers, waste operators, and even consumers in certain circumstances.

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Image show seven vapes on a sky-blue surface. The vape pens are arranged alongside each other in the bottom right corner, and are each a different colour; one black, one yellow, one purple, one red, one blue, one orange and one red. All vapes have black mouthpieces aside from the purple vape, which has a matching purple mouthpiece.

Recent aircraft fire forces emergency response

In March 2026, a commercial flight was forced into an emergency response after a vape device began emitting smoke mid-flight. Crew intervention prevented escalation, but the incident highlights how a single device can endanger dozens of passengers.

You should never dispose of your vape in general waste. Many retailers offer take-back services for disposable vapes, where you can drop your vapes into a special bin. You can check your postcode to find recycling points in shops near you.

The role of unregulated and counterfeit products

One of the most troubling aspects of vaping is the prevalence of poorly regulated or counterfeit products.

  • Lack of safety standards: Not all devices comply with recognised certifications (e.g., CE marking).
  • Substandard batteries: Cheaper products often use lower-quality cells prone to failure.
  • Design flaws: Missing safety features such as temperature control or overcharge protection.
  • Unknown ingredients: E-liquids may contain harmful or undeclared substances.

Unregulated products significantly increase the likelihood of injury and complicate liability. Identifying the manufacturer or importer can be difficult, particularly where products are sold illegally or online. When a product lacks traceability, injured parties may face barriers when trying to claim compensation. And retailers face the risk of being found negligent and responsible.

Health risks associated with vaping

Vaping carries a range of health risks that are increasingly recognised in personal injury claims.

  • Respiratory and Lung Injury
  • EVALI (E-cigarette or Vaping Product Use-Associated Lung Injury) can cause severe and sometimes fatal lung damage. 
  • Chronic exposure may lead to asthma exacerbation, bronchitis, and long-term breathing impairment. 
  • Toxic Exposure
  • Heating e-liquids can produce harmful chemicals, including carbonyl compounds linked to lung disease. 
  • Nicotine poisoning remains a risk, particularly for children.
  • Exposure to heavy metals and additives can have systemic health effects.

If packaging is not regulated and/or appropriate warnings are not communicated to vape users then manufacturers are risking putting people in harm. 

Liability and claims

When presented with a Personal Injury case related to a vape, solicitors would consider –

Potential Defendants

  • Manufacturers (defective design or production)
  • Importers and distributors
  • Retailers (particularly where selling non-compliant products)

Common Causes of Action

  • Product liability (strict liability for defective products)
  • Negligence
  • Breach of statutory duty

Evidence

  • The device and battery remnants
  • Proof of purchase and product origin
  • Medical evidence of injury
  • Expert engineering reports

Vaping is often perceived as a lower-risk alternative to smoking, yet from a personal injury perspective, it presents a complex and growing field of harm. Lithium-ion battery failures, unregulated products, and emerging health risks combine to create significant dangers for users and the wider public.

Where safety standards are inadequate or ignored, liability will follow. For consumers, awareness and caution are essential. For manufacturers and retailers, compliance is not optional; it is a legal obligation.

Head of Personal Injury at Watermans, Susanne McGraw, shared:

“Vapes were introduced to the market as a safer alternative to cigarettes, but as time goes on, concerns are being raised about their safety both in terms of the product itself and the effect on people’s health. The public needs to be aware of the risks of inhaling the chemicals in vape products and remind themselves that, whilst they are deemed to pose less of a risk to their health, there is still a risk.”

Professional headshot of Watermans Head of Personal Injury Susanne McGraw, smiling in front of a sky-blue background. Susanne is wearing a black blouse.

Susanne continued:

"Vapes are very much at risk of being replicated cheaply, and so users should always go to somewhere that is reputable. Be aware of cheap versions being sold that may not be subject to stringent testing, which could cause injury to them or damage. Tighter restrictions and more regulations are required to ensure the safety of everyone using and in the vicinity of these products.”

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Our personal injury claims expert

“Making a claim for compensation can be such a daunting process for people, so I try to make it as straightforward and easy to understand as I can for them.”

Susanne McGraw, Head of Personal Injury