A smoke-free workplace is more than just a good idea. It’s an achievable and cost-effective way to reduce exposure to secondhand smoke and the other many harmful chemicals found in cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and other tobacco products.
It’s also the best way to help protect the health of everyone around you. A smoke-free workplace can help reduce your risk of heart disease, lung cancer, stroke, and other illnesses and diseases.
Smoke-free laws are good for everyone.
- Smokers Secondhand smoke can damage your health in many ways.
- Kids and young people Secondhand smoke exposure is more dangerous for them than it is for adults.
- People with COPD Secondhand smoke can cause shortness of breath and heartburn, even if you don’t normally have symptoms.
- Pets Breathing in secondhand smoke can affect your pet’s health and lead to lung disease.
- People with lung disease Secondhand smoke can cause lung damage and make it harder for you to breathe.
If you work in a smoke-free workplace, you’ll help protect your own health and the health of the people around you.
Smoke-free workplace laws are the law in all 50 states. In addition, 18 states have laws that require employers to provide and enforce smoke-free workplaces.
How you enforce workplace laws will depend on where you live. Some states have strict regulations that employers must follow, while others have less stringent requirements.
In general, the more stringent the law, the more stringent the requirement to have a smoke-free workplace.
Here are some examples of what you might find in your state:
- California: There are no formal requirements for employers to have a smoke-free workplace. Employers must provide a clear, direct, and conspicuous place to smoke. They must also keep the workplace clear of any other smoke.
- New York: There is a required smoking section in each building where employees can be exposed to secondhand smoke. No secondhand smoke is allowed in these rooms, but employees can smoke in other parts of the building.
- Texas: Smoking is prohibited in all workplaces. This includes restaurants, bars, theaters, retail shops, and offices.
- Louisiana: Secondhand smoke is prohibited in every workplace and in all public places.
- Massachusetts: The law requires that all workplaces have a designated smoking section where smoking is not allowed.
- Ohio: No smoking in all workplaces.
- New Hampshire: No smoking in any workplace.
- Connecticut: No smoking in any workplace.
- Rhode Island: No smoking in any workplace.
- Washington: No smoking in any workplace.
- Colorado: No smoking in any workplace.
- Pennsylvania: No smoking in any workplace.
- Indiana: No smoking in any workplace.
- Missouri: No smoking in any workplace.
- Kentucky: No smoking in any workplace.
- Maine: No smoking in any workplace.
- Montana: No smoking in any workplace.
- West Virginia: No smoking in any workplace.
- Iowa: No smoking in any workplace.
Where you live can also affect how you enforce the law. For example, some states have a zero-tolerance policy for smoking in public places, while others limit where you can smoke.
As you can see, smoke-free workplace laws vary widely from state to state.
What about workplace smoke-free rooms?
Many states have laws that require employers to provide designated smoking rooms in which employees can be exposed to secondhand smoke. These rooms are often called “smoking rooms” or “smoking areas.”
Most of these laws apply to restaurants, retail shops, and other workplaces where smoking is permitted.
In some states, however, employers may be required to provide a smoke-free area in any workplace that has a designated smoking room.
If you’re an employer and you work in a state that requires you to provide a designated smoking area, you can use the same strategy you’d use for a designated smoking room.
Keep in mind that any smoking in a designated smoking area is still illegal. For example, if you have a designated smoking room in a restaurant, you can’t smoke in the restaurant itself.
How effective have smoke-free laws been?
Studies have shown that smoke-free laws have been effective in protecting the health of employees, particularly in states that have more stringent laws.
Take a look at these examples of studies that show the benefits of smoke-free laws.
Smoke-free laws and health in the workplace
Studies have found that smoke-free laws have helped protect the health of employees.
Studies have also found that smoke-free laws are more effective than other forms of workplace regulation in protecting the health of employees.
Here are some other examples of studies on smoke-free laws and health.
Smoke-free laws and health in restaurants
Studies have found that smoke-free laws in restaurants have helped protect the health of employees.
Study 1: Smokers were more likely to report being ill after eating in a restaurant where smoking was permitted.
Study 2: Smokers were more likely to report having a sore throat after eating in a restaurant where smoking was allowed.
Study 3: Smokers were more likely to report a sore throat after eating in a restaurant where smoking was not permitted.
Study 4: Smokers were more likely to report a sore throat after eating in a restaurant where smoking was prohibited.
Smoke-free laws and health in retail shops
Studies have found that smoke-free laws in retail shops have helped protect the health of employees.
Study 1: Exposure to secondhand smoke reduced the quality of life of employees who worked in a retail shop that did not have a designated smoking area.
Study 2: Exposure to secondhand smoke in a retail shop reduced the quality of life of employees who worked in a retail shop that did not have a designated smoking room.
The bottom line
Smoke-free laws help protect employees from secondhand smoke.
Employers should follow the laws that apply in any workplace where smoking is permitted. If you work at a restaurant, you should make sure that no smoke is allowed anywhere on the premises.
If you work in a store, you should make sure that there’s a designated smoking room for employees.
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