Tobacco-Free Workplace

Why a Tobacco-Free Workplace?

Costs to Employers
The costs of employee tobacco use to the employer are significant. Direct costs to the employer include healthcare costs associated with tobacco use. Indirect costs include lost productivity, absenteeism and recruitment and retraining costs resulting from death and disability related to tobacco use.

Tobacco-free workplaces can enhance productivity in two ways: by reducing the effects of secondhand smoke (SHS) on nonsmokers and by reducing excess smoking-related absenteeism among smokers who are motivated to quit as a result of the tobacco-free policy. Especially for small businesses that have employees who handle a variety of tasks, productivity can be greatly increased by reduced absenteeism.

A smoker who quits could save employers an estimated $960 in excess illness costs each year. Persons who quit smoking before age 65 are estimated to save from 40 percent to 67 percent of the lifetime excess medical costs of persons who continue to smoke.

Health Consequences of Tobacco Use and Secondhand Smoke (SHS)

Mortality and Morbidity
• Result in premature death
• Cause significant disease and disability

Cardiovascular Effects
•	Cause coronary heart disease (heart attack), cerebrovascular disease (stroke), and atherosclerotic peripheral vascular disease (increased risk of amputations)

Cancer
•	Causes lung, laryngeal, esophageal and bladder cancers, as well as cancer of the oral cavity (lip, tongue, mouth and pharynx); smokeless tobacco is also a cause of oral cancer
•	A contributing factor for pancreatic and renal cancers
•	Associated with gastric cancer

Lung Diseases
• Cause emphysema and chronic bronchitis

Women's Health Effects
• Cause intrauterine growth retardation, leading to low birth weight babies
• Contribute to cervical cancer
• A probable cause of unsuccessful pregnancies

Other Health Effects
• Addiction to nicotine
• Adverse interactions with occupational hazards that increase the risk of cancer
• Alteration of the actions and effects of prescription and nonprescription medications
• A probable cause of peptic ulcer disease

Health Consequences of Secondhand Smoke
• Causes lung cancer in adult nonsmokers
• Associated with higher death rates from cardiovascular disease in nonsmokers
• Associated with increased irritant effects, particularly eye irritation, among allergic persons
• Worsens asthma in adults

In children
• Associated with respiratory tract infections
• Increased prevalence of fluid in the middle ear
• A risk factor for developing asthma and associated with more frequent and severe asthma attacks
• Associated with increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
• Associated with increased risk of bacterial meningitis

Benefits of a Tobacco Free Workplace Economic Impact of Tobacco Use in the Workplace
•	Estimates of the annual excess illness costs per smoking employee are $960.
•	Smokers are absent from work 50 percent more often than nonsmokers, have twice as many on-the-job accidents, and are 50 percent more likely to be hospitalized than workers who do not smoke.
•	Recognizing that employees of smoke-free companies overall may be healthier year-round, many insurers are inclined to give those companies a break on premiums. Some fire and casualty companies, for example, will cut their premiums by 50 percent.
•	Smoking-attributable direct healthcare costs in Arkansas equal $748 million per year.
•	Smoking-caused productivity losses in Arkansas equal $1.24 billion per year.

Benefits of a Tobacco-Free Workplace

For the Employer:

A tobacco-free environment helps create a safe and healthy workplace. Direct healthcare costs to the company may be reduced. It may be possible to negotiate lower health, life, and disability coverage as employee tobacco use is reduced. The risk of fires is lower. Managers are relieved when a process for dealing with tobacco use in the workplace is clearly defined. Absenteeism is lower due to smoking-related illnesses. Maintenance costs go down when smoke, matches and cigarette butts are eliminated in facilities. Office equipment, carpets and furniture last longer.

For the Employee:

A tobacco-free environment helps create a safe and healthy workplace. A well-planned and carefully implemented effort by the employer to address the effects of tobacco use on employee health and the health of their families shows the company cares. Workers who are bothered by second-hand smoke will not be exposed to it at the worksite. Smokers appreciate a clear company policy about smoking at work.

To obtain a “Smoke-Free for Your Health” sticker for workplaces, contact the Arkansas Department of Health and Human Services at 1-800-235-0002. Source: Tobacco Prevention and Education Program, Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Health

Creating a Tobacco-Free Workplace

STEP One: Assess the Current Situation

STEP Two: Decide on a New Policy and Develop a Plan to Implement It

STEP Three: Communicate with Employees and Management

STEP Four: Announce and Manage the Policy

Tobacco Resources and Supporting Materials

Check out the information on some of the resources available for use in worksites.

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