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Smoke-free Policies in the
Workplace
A study sponsored by the National Cancer Institute and
published in the October 21, 1997 issue of Tobacco Control1 provides a
comprehensive national estimate based on data collected from U.S. workers of the number of
indoor workers covered by workplace smoking policies. The study found that less than half
(46 percent) of all indoor workers have a smoke-free policy in their workplace. However,
there was a fourfold difference among occupational groups with respect to smoke-free
policies. An estimated 80 percent of health care employees (physicians, dentists,
veterinarians, etc.) are provided with smoke-free policies compared to only 21 percent of
food service employees (waiters, cooks, bartenders, etc.) Nearly 22 percent of the more
than 5 million Americans employed in the food service industry are teenagers.
- Slightly more than 80 percent of workers are covered by an official workplace smoking
policy; however, fewer than half are protected by smoking policies that prohibit smoking
in both the work area and public or common areas of the workplace.
- Of those workers who work indoors, an estimated 58 million Americans (40 million of whom
are nonsmokers) are not protected by a smoke-free workplace policy.
- The prevalence of having a smoke-free policy varied dramatically by sexmen (39.7
percent) and women (51 percent.)
- White-collar workers (53.7 percent) were more likely than service workers (34.8 percent)
and blue-collar workers (27.4 percent) to be covered by a smokefree policy.
- Only a third of workers age 15-19 are protected from the hazards of tobacco smoke in their
workplace by smoke-free policies. Of those workers age 20-24 only 41 percent are protected
by a smoke-free policy.
Reference
1. Gerlach, KK; Shopland, DR; Hartman, AM; Gibson, JT; Pechacek, TF. Workplace Smoking Policies in the United States: Results of a National
Survey of More than 100,000 workers. Tobacco Control 1997; 6:199-206.
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