Building a smoke-free workplace

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 regular inhalation of smoke.cigarettepassive workplace. With over 7,000 chemicals in productscigarette, 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 require that there must be a posting of regulations prohibiting smoking in places with a lot of people passing by in the agency. Illustrative photo

Criteria for building a smoke-free workplace:

1. There are posted smoking bans.cigarettein a high traffic area in the office.

2. No smoking signs must be posted in meeting rooms, offices, dining rooms, hallways, stairwells and other public areas in the agency where smoking is prohibited. No smoking signs must be clear and 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 helps reduce the risk of illness and death due to passive exposure to tobacco smoke among workers, thereby helping to reduce direct and indirect medical costs for workers and employers for the examination and treatment of diseases related to tobacco use.

+ Workers are healthier and use less sick time - smokers get sick more often and use three times as many sick days as non-smokers.

+ Get more done- A smoker typically takes four 10-minute breaks a day, which translates to less work per month per year than a non-smoker.

• Workers who are bothered by smokers will not be exposed to secondhand smoke - There is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke and it can aggravate health conditions such as asthma

+ Contribute to successful smoking cessation - when colleagues are trying to quit smoking but there are no constant reminders, or encouragement, or when there are other people smoking around./.