"The decision was taken following an incident on one of our platforms when an e-cigarette overheated while it was charging," a spokeswoman told STV News.

"We are aware that other operators have taken a similar stance and the safety and health risks have also been highlighted by Oil and Gas UK."

Regular tobacco-based cigarettes are still allowed within designated safe locations with at least one Talisman employee venting about the ban.

"The amount of people I've seen offshore using an e-cigarette is huge," the unnamed worker told STV News.

"I would even go as far to say there are just as many people smoking real cigarettes as using e-cigarettes. Banning them is ridiculous. Now everyone will just end up back on the real ones."

Talisman reportedly told its staff that some e-cigs sold in the UK were in contravention of safety regulations and that none of them have been "officially approved or controlled for use as a nicotine replacement in the UK".

Offshore industry group Oil & Gas UK has reportedly been requested for advice on e-cigarettes by employers across the industry.