Secondhand smoke. More than annoying. A public health emergency.

Tobacco-free worksites

A tobacco-free environment helps create a safe, healthy workplace. Nonsmoking employees are no longer exposed to the harmful effects of secondhand smoke and smoking employees are motivated to quit or cut back. There are many resources to assist companies considering a tobacco-free worksite policy. 

Thinking About a Tobacco-Free Worksite
Impelmenting a Tobacco-Free Worksite
Evaluating a Tobacco-Free Worksite

Thinking About a Tobacco-Free Worksite

• Developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the guides: “Implementing a Tobacco-Free Campus Initiative in Your Workplace” and "Save Lives, Save Money: Make Your Business Smoke-free" walk companies through the steps to becoming tobacco free

• Benefits of a Tobacco-Free Workplace: Lists the benefits of going tobacco-free for both employers and employees

• Business Costs: From Americans for Non-Smokers Rights, data about how going smoke-free affects a buisness's bottom line, including productivity and maintenance costs

• Company Tobacco Liability Worksheet: Use this template to figure out your company's tobacco liabilities, based on claims for conditions related to toabcco use.

• Legal issues:
  Smokers: Kentucky state law protects smokers. Read the text of the statute.
  Non-smokers: Employers may be liable for exposing employees and customers to smoke. Read a summary of these potential liabities, from Americans for Non-Smokers Rights

• Employee survey: Ask employees about their tobacco use and attitudes towards tobacco policies

• Model policy: From Americans for Non-Smokers Rights, sets out the reasons for a smoke-free workplace and then provides management with the means to declare their business smoke-free

• Timeline: Month-by-month guide to making your workplace smoke-free, developed by the Global Smoke-free Partnership

Implementing a Tobacco-Free Worksite

• Strategies for Promoting and Implementing a Tobacco-Free Workplace: A step-by-step guide to tobacco-free policy creation and promotion, from the American Cancer Society

• Implementation Checklist: From the Global Smoke-free Partnership, this checklist provides steps for follow during the time leading up to policy impelentation, for day-of-implementation, and after implementation

• Request a no smoking sign for your workplace (three maximum). View the sign. To request a sign, contact Michelle Eversole.

• Smoking Cessation Resource Guide: A compliation of local smoking cessation resources, compiled by the Tobacco Prevention Coalition of Northern Kentucky

• Frequently Asked Questions: As you prepare to implement your policy, anticipate common questions and concerns

Evaluating a Tobacco-Free Worksite

• Survey for human resources: Tool for management to evaluate compliance with tobacco-free policy and use of smoking cessation resources

• Survey for employees: Assess your employees' awareness and perceived impact of the tobacco-free policy

For questions, or additional assistance with implementing a tobacco-free policy at your worksite, contact Michelle Eversole

Next: Smoke-free living