One less cigarette, one healthier day at work
A smoke-free office environment not only helps protect each person’s lungs, but also fosters a positive working spirit, increases productivity and reduces the burden of disease. One less cigarette today means one more healthy day for yourself and your colleagues tomorrow.
The World Health Organization has clear evidence: There is no safe threshold for exposure to secondhand smoke. The International Labor Organization estimates that each year about 200,000 workers die from regularly breathing secondhand smoke at work.
With more than 7,000 chemicals in tobacco products, of which 69 are carcinogenic, tobacco use is the cause of more than 25 dangerous diseases for both smokers and non-smokers who regularly inhale cigarette smoke such as: lung cancer, cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Criteria for building a smoke-free workplace
1. There are posted regulations prohibiting smoking in high traffic areas within the agency.
2. No smoking signs must be posted in meeting rooms, offices, dining rooms, hallways, stairs and other public areas in the agency. There are regulations prohibiting smoking. No smoking signs must be clear and must be posted or placed in easily visible locations.
3. Have a plan for tobacco harm prevention activities.
4. Organize and implement activities to prevent the harmful effects of tobacco.
5. There is no buying, selling or advertising of tobacco products on the premises.
6. No smoking related items such as ashtrays, lighters in meeting rooms, offices, etc.
7. Do not accept direct or indirect support or sponsorship from tobacco companies or organizations related to tobacco companies in any form.
8. Include no-smoking content in the competition criteria for officials and civil servants.
9. No smoking or cigarette butts in non-smoking areas of the agency or unit.
The benefits of a smoke-free work environment
A smoke-free work environment reduces the risk of illness and death from passive exposure to tobacco smoke among workers, thereby reducing direct and indirect medical costs for workers and employers for the treatment of tobacco-related diseases.
Workers are healthier and use less sick time. Smokers get sick more often and use three times as many sick days as non-smokers.
Workers get more done. A smoker typically takes four 10-minute breaks a day, which translates to less work time per month per year than a non-smoker.
Workers who are bothered by smokers will not be exposed to secondhand smoke. It is important to remember that there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke and it can aggravate health conditions such as asthma.
