| Employers |
|
|
|
|
Why Go Smoke-Free?
Smoking takes a toll on employee health, whether they are the smoker or are a nonsmoker
exposed to secondhand smoke on the job. Tobacco smoke contains hundreds of toxic
chemicals that poison the body and cause a variety of health problems such as:
♦ Cancers of the lung, mouth, and throat
♦ Heart disease
♦ Stroke
♦ Upper and lower respiratory infections
The United States loses over 438,000 people each year to smoking-related causes:
♦ 160,372 die from cancer
♦ 131,503 die from cardiovascular disease
♦ 102,632 die from respiratory disease
So how do these illnesses translate into cost for your business? Well, employees who are
exposed to tobacco smoke:
♦ Generate greater health-care costs
♦ Require higher insurance premium costs
♦ Have increased absenteeism
♦ Spend work time on smoking rituals
♦ Are at a greater risk of occupational injury
♦ Have higher disability
♦ Require more disciplinary action
This equals out to $1,760 in lost productivity and $1,623 in excess medical expenditures.
That’s a grand total of $3,383 lost per smoker per year! By going smoke-free, you provide
nonsmokers with a healthy environment to work in and give smokers the support they need to
quit (not to mention you save yourself thousands of dollars in the process!).
_______________________________________________________________
Going Smoke-Free: For Your Dime and Their Health
When it comes to secondhand smoke, half-measures like designated smoking rooms don’t cut
it. There is no safe level of secondhand smoke and only 100% smoke-free policies fully protect
workers’ health.
Smoke-free policies can take one of three forms:
♦ All indoor areas, including company vehicles, are 100% smoke-free. However, smoking is
restricted within specified feet of entrances, windows and ventilation intakes to prevent
smoke from drifting back into the building.
♦ All indoor and outdoor areas are 100% smoke-free. However, smoking is restricted to
designated smoking areas located on company property.
♦ All indoor and outdoor areas are 100% smoke-free. Smokers must leave company property
to smoke. This is often called a smoke-free campus policy.
________________________________________________________________
When Creating a Smoke-Free Policy…
Step One: State that your goal is to create a safe, healthy workplace for all workers.
Step Two: State the documented health risks of secondhand smoke.
Step Three: Be clear and simple about where smoking is prohibited. Try to avoid exceptions to
the policy.
Step Four: Voice your commitment to help smokers who want to quit.
Remember, the policy should be inclusive and treat all employees fairly regardless of title or
smoking status. Also, this will not happen overnight. Give yourself and your employees at least
six months to one year to plan for this new policy.
To request a complete toolkit that will help you make your business smoke-free, click here .
____________________________________________________________________________________
Employer Toolkit
Additional Resources
__________________________________________________________________
Indiana's Fight For A Smoke-Free Workplace.
WhiteLies.tv is proud to annouce "Take Note," a new initiative to recruit entertainers, musicians,
DJ's and all those who earn their living in secondhand smoke-filled environments not generally
protected by smoke-free ordinances. These volunteer advocates will push the message of smoke-
free bars, restaurants and entertanment venues.
According to the most recent Surgeon General's report, any amount of secondhand smoke is
hazardous to your health. So you can imagine the toll it's taking on you and other working day
after day, month after month.
For more information on "Take Note," or to see a list of our entainers and venue partners, visit
|
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
