save lives, save money: make your business smoke-free€¦ · the most cost-effective benefit you...

Save Lives, Save Money Make Your Business Smoke-Free

Suggested citation:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Save Lives, Save Money: Make Your

Business Smoke-Free. Atlanta, Georgia: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease

Prevention and Health Promotion, Office on Smoking and Health, June 2006.

If you could have a safer workplace, a cleaner workplace, a healthier workplace, a more productive workplace—and it wouldn’t cost you a dime...

Would you?

If you could save thousands of dollars a year...

Would you?

Making your business smoke-free can do all that, and more.

�

Why Go Smoke-Free?

It’s good for your bottom line.

• Goingsmoke-freelowerstheriskoffiresandaccidentalinjuries,1,2,3whichcanreduceyourinsurancecosts.Smoke-freebusinesseshavenegotiatedforlowerfireandpropertyinsurancepremiums,withsomebusinesseswinningreductionsof25–30percent.4

• Goingsmoke-freereducescleaningandmaintenancecosts.5,6TheBuildingOwnersandManagersAssociation,anationaltradegroup,reportsthatindoorsmokingincreasescleaningcostsandstates“secondhandsmokedoesnotbelonginbuildings.”7

• Goingsmoke-freereducespotentiallegalliability.Nonsmokersharmedbysecondhandsmokeatworkhavewonlawsuitsanddisabilityclaimsagainsttheiremployersunderavarietyoflegalremedies.8,9

Unigard Insurance (Seattle, WA) saved $500 a month after going smoke-free when its maintenance contractor reduced its monthly fee because staff no longer had to clean ashtrays, dust desks, and clean carpets or furniture as often.10

It’s good for your workers’ health—and that’s good for your bottom line too.

• Everyonebenefitswhentheairisclearedofsecondhandsmoke—evensmokers,someofwhomwillquitoratleastcutback.11,12Workersbecomehealthier,andhealthierworkersmisslesswork,aremoreproductive,andhavelowerhealthcarecosts.13,14,15,16

�

• TheAmericanProductivityAudit,anationalsurveyofover29,000workers,foundthattobaccousewasaleadingcauseofworkerlostproductiontime—greaterthanalcoholabuseorfamilyemergencies.Quittingsmoking,orevenjustcuttingback,improvesaworker’sproductivity.17

• Onelargecompanyfoundthattheiremployeeswhosmokedhadmorehospitaladmissions(124vs.76admissionsper1,000workers)andahigheraverageinsuredpaymentforhealthcare($1,145vs.$762)thantheirnonsmokingemployeesinan11-monthperiod.18

Want to know more?

Gotowww.cdc.gov/tobaccoformoreinformationabouthowsmoke-freepoliciessaveemployersmoneywhileimprovingemployees’health.

Think of a lit cigarette as a miniature toxic waste

dump. Secondhand smoke contains more than

50 cancer-causing chemicals.19 The toxins in

secondhand smoke can cause heart disease

and lung cancer in nonsmokers.20 Breathing

secondhand smoke for even a short time could

have immediate effects on your blood and

blood vessels, potentially increasing the risk of a

heart attack.21,22,23,24

�

What Are Your Options?

Whenitcomestosecondhandsmoke,half-measureslikedesignatedsmokingroomswon’tgetyouwhereyouwanttogo.Becausethereisnosafelevelofsecondhandsmoke25,only100percentsmoke-freepoliciesfullyprotectworkers’health.26,27Thesepoliciesalsoofferthegreatestsupporttosmokerstryingtoquit.28,29,30,31Smoke-freepoliciescantakeoneoftwoforms:

100 percent smoke-free in all indoor areas, including company vehicles.Smokingisrestrictedwithinspecifiedfeetofentrances,windows,andventilationintakestopreventsmokefromdriftingbackintothebuilding.

100 percent smoke-free in all indoor and outdoor areas.Smokersmustleavecompanypropertytosmoke.Thisisoftencalledasmoke-freecampuspolicy.

Yourwrittensmoke-freepolicyshouldbeginbystatingyourgoaltocreateasafe,healthyworkplaceforallworkers:

• Mentionthedocumentedhealthrisksofsecondhandsmoke.

• Beclearandsimpleaboutwheresmokingisprohibited.Avoidexceptionstothepolicy(forinstance,don’tallowsmokinginprivateofficesorproductionareas).

• Voiceyourcommitmenttohelpsmokerswhowanttoquit.

• Designthepolicytotreatallworkersfairly,regardlessoftitleorsmokingstatus.

�

Myth #1: Ventilation Is a Solution.Eventhemostadvancedventilationsystemcannoteliminatesecondhandsmokeoritshealthrisks.32TheAmericanSocietyofHeating,Refrigerating,andAirConditioningEngineersstates:“Atpresent,theonlymeansofeffectivelyeliminatinghealthriskassociatedwithindoorexposure[tosecondhandsmoke]istobansmokingactivity.”33

Myth #2: Smoke-Free Policies Are Hard to Manage.Veryfewworkerssaythatsomeoneviolatedasmoke-freepolicyattheirworkplace.34Infact,mostsmokerscometosupportsmoke-freepoliciesafterthey’vehadthechancetoexperienceone.35,36,37

“Compliance is easy. We haven’t had problems with our smoke-free policy—that includes the sales and customer service reps in our office building, the workers at our warehouse, and our drivers.” Director of Human Resources, Pet Food Experts, Inc.38

Want to know more?

Gotowww.cdc.gov/tobaccoformodelworkplacepoliciesandlinkstoorganizationsthatcanhelpyougetstarted.

�

Ready To Make Your Business Smoke-Free?

Giveyourselfatleast6monthsto1yeartoplanforthenewpolicy,enoughtimetotakethefollowingsteps:

Set up a task force to oversee the process.Includetopmanagementandworkers(unionrepresentatives,ifapplicable);includenonsmokers,smokers,andformersmokers.

Gather informationtoeducatethetaskforceand,eventually,theentireworkforce.Surveyyourworkersabouttheirknowledgeandconcernssoyoucanaddressthembeforeyourpolicygoesintoeffect.

Write the policy.Keepitclearandsimple;themorestraightforwardthepolicyis,theeasieritistounderstandandenforce.Setupanenforcement

policythatisconsistentwithotherpersonnelpoliciesanddisciplinaryprocedures.Thenumberofallowedbreaksshouldbeaddressedunderyourcompany’sgeneralbreakpolicyandshouldapplytoallworkers,smokersandnonsmokersalike.

Announce the policyseveralmonthsbeforethestartdatewithaletterfromtheownerorchiefexecutiveofficer.Trainmanagersonhowtohandleworkerorcustomerconcerns,questions,andinfractions,iftheyoccur.Educateworkersaboutthereasonsforthepolicybyusingresourceslikepaycheckinserts,posters,orcompanynewsletters.

Offer help to workers who want to quit smoking.Planinadvancehowyouwilldothis.Forideas,seepage10.

�

Get ready for the policy start date.Post“nosmoking”signs,removeashtraysandtobaccovendingmachines,andplacereceptaclesforsmokingmaterialsatthedesignateddistanceoutsideentrances(orremovereceptaclesentirelyifyouareadoptingasmoke-freecampuspolicy).Holdakick-offeventonthedaythepolicystarts.

Monitor the policy.Haveapointpersonintopmanagementwhotrackshowthepolicyisgoing.Managersshouldreportquestions,concerns,orinfractionstothisperson.

Offset Paperback in Pennsylvania dismantled their smoking room and passed out mints in wrapping imprinted with the universal no-smoking sign the day their smoke-free policy went into effect.39

Want to know more?

Gotowww.cdc.gov/tobaccoforstep-by-steprecommendationstoplanyourpolicy,resourcesonworkingwithunions,andsamplematerialstohelpsurveyandeducateyourworkers.

If your workers are represented by a union,

work closely with the union to create your

smoke-free policy. Find out if workers have

a right to smoke in the workplace under the

existing contract. Understand how the collective

bargaining process may affect development and

enforcement of a smoking policy. Remember,

worker health and safety is a key union concern,

and a natural fit with a smoke-free policy.

10

What About Workers Who Smoke?

Adoptingasmoke-freepolicyisnotpassingjudgmentonsmokersanditdoesn’tmeanworkerswhosmokeareunwelcome.Providingcessationassistancetosmokerswhotrytoquitasaresultofthepolicycanincreaseacceptanceofthepolicy.Itisalsothebestwaytomakesurethatyourbusinessmaximizesthepotentialhealthbenefits,andcostsavings,ofyoursmoke-freepolicy.

Ifyouprovidehealthinsuranceorhealthmaintenanceorganization(HMO)coverage,checktoseeifyourpolicycoverscessationservices(includingcounselingandmedication).Ifitdoesn’t,lookintoaddingcoverageforcessation

servicestoyourpolicy;thisisthemostcost-effectivebenefityoucanofferyourworkers.40

Otherthingsyoucandotoincreasesmokers’chancesofquittinginclude:

• Distributealistoflocalcessationprograms.

• Providefreeself-helpmaterials.

• Organizefreeonsitesupportgroups.

• Offerfreeorreimbursedcessationprogramsonsiteorthroughlocalproviders.

11

ManyStateshosttoll-freequitlinesthatofferfreehelp:Smokerscancall1–800–QUITNOW(1–800–784–8669)tobeconnectedtothequitlineservingtheirarea.TheWebsitewww.smokefree.govalsohasquittips,information,andotherfreeresources.

“Helping smokers who want to quit is the most important thing we did to make our smoke-free policy work. We held an onsite cessation program run by the local health department; we also invited many local cessation providers to come to our business for a health fair to promote their programs.” Labor Relations Manager, Just Born, Inc.41

Want to know more?

Gotowww.cdc.gov/tobaccoformoreideasonhowtohelpsmokingworkersquit,includinglinkstofreeself-helpmaterialsandotherresources.

Don’t be afraid to bring up the issue of quitting.

Seventy percent of smokers say they want to quit.42

12

Over 70 percentofindoorworkersalreadyareenjoyingthebenefitsofasmoke-freeworkplace.43Thefollowingarejustafewofthemanycompaniesthathavegonesmoke-free(thosewithan*haveasmoke-freecampuspolicy):44

AT&TBASFCorporationBechtelBFGoodrichTireManufacturing*BoeingBristol-MyersSquibbCalgon*Coca-ColaDowChemicalCompany*Dunkin’DonutsDupontChemicalCompanyEliLillyandCompany*FederalExpressGeneralMillsHainCelestialFoodsTheHomeDepot,Inc.IBMJohnson&JohnsonKennecottMining*

Go Smoke-Free, You’ll Be In Good Company!

InternationalTruckandEngineCorporation*Lowe’sCompanies,Inc.*MarcalPaperMills,Inc.MCICommunicationsMerck&CompanyNestlePurinaPetCareCompanyNike,Inc.*Proctor&GamblePrudentialFinancialScottPaperCompany*SharperImageStarbucksSubaruAutoAssemblyPlant(Indiana)TargetCorporationTexasInstruments,Inc.TysonFoodsUnionPacificVerizonWestinHotels

13

MorefactsandadviceareavailablefromtheCentersforDiseaseControlandPreventionatwww.cdc.gov/tobacco.

Toorderadditionalcopiesofthisbooklet,call:TollFree:1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636)InEnglish,enEspañol24hours/day,7days/weekTTY:1-888-232-6348

Additionalinformationisavailableat:www.surgeongeneral.gov.

Forinformationtohelpyouremployeesquitsmoking,gotowww.smokefree.gov.Toaccessatelephonequitlineserviceinyourarea,call1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669).

Please note:Ifyouwouldliketoreviewthereferencesforthispublication,youcandownloadareferencedversionbygoingtowww.cdc.gov/tobacco.

1�

1 U.S.DepartmentofHealthandHumanServices.Reducing Tobacco Use: A Report of the Surgeon General.Atlanta,GA:U.S.DepartmentofHealthandHumanServices,CentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention,NationalCenterforChronicDiseasePreventionandHealthPromotion,OfficeonSmokingandHealth,2000.

2 Hall,Jr.,JR.TheU.S.Smoking-MaterialFireProblem.Quincy,MA:NationalFireProtectionAssociation,November2004.http://www.nfpa.org/assets/files//PDF/ossmoking.pdf.AccessedFebruary27,2006.

3 Javitz,HS,Zbikowski,SM,Swan,GE,Jack,LM.Financialburdenoftobaccouse:anemployer’sperspective.Clinics in Occupational and Environmental Medicine2006;5(1):9–29.

4 HealthNowMA.HealthNow!andtheBusinessCommunity.http://www.healthnowma.org.AccessedMay13,2004.

5 Mudarri,DH.TheCostsandBenefitsofSmokingRestrictions:AnAssessmentoftheSmoke-FreeEnvironmentActof1993(H.R.3434).Washington,DC:EnvironmentalProtectionAgency,OfficeofRadiationandIndoorAir,IndoorAirDivision,1994.

6 Javitz,HS,Zbikowski,SM,Swan,GE,Jack,LM.Financialburdenoftobaccouse:anemployer’sperspective.Clinics in Occupational and Environmental Medicine2006;5(1):9–29.

7 BuildingOwnersandManagersAssociation.SmokingPositionPaper.Washington,DC:BuildingOwnersandManagersAssociation[nodate].http://www.boma.org/Advocacy/FederalLegislativeRegulatoryIssues/Environment/SmokingPositionPaper.htm.AccessedJanuary23,2006.

References

1�

8 Sweda,E.Lawsuitsandsecondhandsmoke.Tobacco Control2004;13(supplementI):S161–166.http://tc.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/13/suppl_1/i61.AccessedFebruary27,2006.

9 U.S.DepartmentofHealthandHumanServices.Reducing Tobacco Use: A Report of the Surgeon General.Atlanta,GA:U.S.DepartmentofHealthandHumanServices,CentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention,NationalCenterforChronicDiseasePreventionandHealthPromotion,OfficeonSmokingandHealth,2000.

10CorrespondenceofMr.ThomasHill,VicePresident,AetnaBuildingMaintenanceCo.,toMr.EdSimone,UnigardInsuranceGroup.

11NationalCancerInstitute.Population Based Smoking Cessation: Proceedings of a Conference on What Works to Influence Cessation in the General Population.SmokingandTobaccoControlMonographNo.12.Bethesda,MD:U.S.DepartmentofHealthandHumanServices,PublicHealthService,NationalInstitutesofHealth,NationalCancerInstitute,2000.http://cancercontrol.cancer.gov/tcrb/monographs/12/.AccessedMarch20,2006.

12Fichtenberg,CM,Glantz,SA.Effectofsmoke-freeworkplacesonsmokingbehaviour:systematicreview.British Medical Journal2002;325:188–194.http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/contentfull/325/7357/188.AccessedFebruary27,2006.

13Ryan,J,Zwerling,C,Orav,EJ.Occupationalrisksassociatedwithcigarettesmoking:aprospectivestudy.American Journal of Public Health1992;82(1):29–32.http://www.ajph.org/cgi/content/abstract/82/1/29.AccessedFebruary27,2006.

1�

14Eisner,MD,Smith,AK,Blanc,PD.Bartenders’respiratoryhealthafterestablishmentofsmoke-freebarsandtaverns.Journal of the American Medical Association1998;280:1909–1914.http://www.tobaccoscam.ucsf.edu/pdf/9.1-Eisner.pdf.AccessedMay31,2006.

15Allwright,S,Paul,G,Greiner,B,Mullally,B,Pursel,L,Kelly,A,etal.Legislationforsmoke-freeworkplacesandhealthofbarworkersinIreland:beforeandafterstudy.British Medical Journal2005;331(7525):1117.http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/reprint/331/7525/1117.AccessedFebruary27,2006.

16Javitz,HS,Zbikowski,SM,Swan,GE,Jack,LM.Financialburdenoftobaccouse:anemployer’sperspective.Clinics in Occupational and Environmental Medicine2006;5(1):9-29.

17Stewart,WF,Ricci,JA,Chee,E,Morganstein,D.LostproductivityworktimecostsfromhealthconditionsintheUnitedStates:ResultsfromtheAmericanProductivityAudit.Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine2003;45(12):1234-1246.

18Penner,M,Penner,S.Excessinsuredhealthcarecostsfromtobacco-usingemployeesinalargegroupplan.Journal of Occupational Medicine1990;32:521–523.

19U.S.DepartmentofHealthandHumanServices.The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Secondhand Smoke: A Report of the Surgeon General.Atlanta,GA:U.S.DepartmentofHealthandHumanServices,CentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention,CoordinatingCenterforHealthPromotion,NationalCenterforChronicDiseasePreventionandHealthPromotion,OfficeonSmokingandHealth,2006.

20Ibid.21Ibid.22Otsuka,R,Watanabe,H,Hirata,Ketal.Acuteeffectsofpassive

smokingonthecoronarycirculationinhealthyyoungadults.Journal of the American Medical Association 2001;286:436–441.

1�

23Pechacek,TF,Babb,S.Commentary:Howacuteandreversiblearethecardiovascularrisksofsecondhandsmoke?British Medical Journal2004;328:980–983.

24Barnoya,J,Glantz,SA.Cardiovasculareffectsofsecondhandsmoke:nearlyaslargeassmoking.Circulation2005;111(20):2684–2698.http://www.tobaccoscam.ucsf.edu/pdf/Barnoya_SHS_Circulation.pdf.AccessedFebruary27,2006.


26Ibid.27Samet,J,Bohanon,Jr.,HR,Coultas,DB,Houston,T,PersilyA,Schoen,L,

etal.EnvironmentalTobaccoSmokePositionDocument.Atlanta,GA:AmericanSocietyofHeating,RefrigeratingandAir-ConditioningEngineers,June30,2005.http://www.ashrae.org/content/ASHRAE/ASHRAE/ArticleAltFormat/20058211239_347.pdf.AccessedFebruary27,2006.

28NationalCancerInstitute.Population Based Smoking Cessation: Proceedings of a Conference on What Works to Influence Cessation in the General Population.SmokingandTobaccoControlMonographNo.12.Bethesda,MD:U.S.DepartmentofHealthandHumanServices,PublicHealthService,NationalInstitutesofHealth,NationalCancerInstitute,2000.http://cancercontrol.cancer.gov/tcrb/monographs/12/.AccessedMarch20,2006.

29Fichtenberg,CM,Glantz,SA.Effectofsmoke-freeworkplacesonsmokingbehaviour:systematicreview.British Medical Journal2002;325:188–194.http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/325/7357/188.AccessedFebruary27,2006.

1�

30Farrelly,MC,Evans,WN,Sfekas,AES.Theimpactofworkplacesmokingbans:Resultsfromanationalsurvey.Tobacco Control1999;8:272–277.http://tc.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/8/3/272.AccessedFebruary27,2006.

31Farkas,AJ,Gilpin,EA,Distefan,JM,Pierce,JP.Theeffectsofhouseholdandworkplacesmokingrestrictionsonquittingbehaviours.Tobacco Control1999;8:261–265.http://tc.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/8/3/261.AccessedFebruary27,2006.


33Samet,J,Bohanon,Jr.,HR,Coultas,DB,Houston,T,PersilyA,Schoen,L,etal.EnvironmentalTobaccoSmokePositionDocument.Atlanta,GA:AmericanSocietyofHeating,RefrigeratingandAir-ConditioningEngineers,June30,2005.http://www.ashrae.org/content/ASHRAE/ASHRAE/ArticleAltFormat/20058211239_347.pdf.AccessedFebruary27,2006.

34Shopland,DR,Anderson,CM,Burns,DM,Gerlach,KK.Disparitiesinsmoke-freeworkplacepoliciesamongfoodserviceworkers.Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine2004;46(4):347–356.

35Fong,GT,Hyland,A,Borland,R,Hammond,D,Hastings,G,McNeill,A,etal.Reductionsintobaccosmokepollutionandincreasesinsupportforsmoke-freepublicplacesfollowingtheimplementationofcomprehensivesmoke-freeworkplacelegislationintheRepublicofIreland:FindingsfromtheITCIreland/UKsurvey.Tobacco Control2006;15(supplement3):iii51–iii58.http://tc.bmjjournals.com/cgi/reprint/15/suppl_3/iii51.AccessedJune19,2006.

1�

36Colwell,B,Smith,D,Condon,K.Settlingthesmoke:PasodelNorteHealthFoundationstatusreportonadultsmokinginElPaso—2001.CollegeStation,TX:TexasA&MUniversitySystemHealthScienceCenter,SchoolofRuralPublicHealth,2002.http://www.pdnhf.org/documents/134SmokeResearch.pdf.

37Gilpin,EA,Pierce,JP.Changesinpopulationattitudesaboutwheresmokingshouldnotbeallowed:CaliforniaversustherestoftheUSA.Tobacco Control2004;13:38-44.

38InterviewofBethSammis,DirectorofHumanResources,PetFoodExperts,Inc.(Cumberland,RI),conductedbyRobinHobart,SocialandHealthServices,Ltd.,ContractortotheOfficeonSmokingandHealth;November2005.

39Learn-Andes,J.Companykickshabitandthensome.The Times Leader.Wilkes-Barre,PA.August20,2005.

40CentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention.Coverage for Tobacco Use Cessation Treatments.Atlanta,GA:U.S.DepartmentofHealthandHumanServices,CentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention,NationalCenterforChronicDiseasePreventionandHealthPromotion,OfficeonSmokingandHealth,2003.http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/educational_materials/cessation/ReimbursementBrochureFull.pdf.AccessedFebruary27,2006.

41InterviewwithCathyHouser,LaborRelationsManager,JustBorn,Inc.,conductedbyRobinHobart,SocialandHealthServices,Ltd.,ContractortotheCDCOfficeonSmokingandHealth;November2005.

42U.S.DepartmentofHealthandHumanServices.Reducing Tobacco Use: A Report of the Surgeon General.Atlanta,GA:U.S.DepartmentofHealthandHumanServices,CentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention,NationalCenterforChronicDiseasePreventionandHealthPromotion,OfficeonSmokingandHealth,2000.

20


44AmericansforNonsmokers’Rights.CorporateSmokefreePolicies;2006.http://www.no-smoke.org/goingsmokefree.php?id=452.AccessedMay19,2006.

Thislistwassupplementedbynewspaperclipsandpersonalcommunications.

save lives, save money: make your business smoke-free€¦ · the most cost-effective benefit you...

Documents