How to Promote a Smoke-Free Environment

Smoking can be harmful to your health.

Smoking has a negative effect on smokers and those around them. According to the American Heart Association, smoking is the most preventable cause of death in the United States. People who inhale cigarette smoke have a higher risk of developing disorders like pulmonary artery disease. Promote a smoke-free environment to make your workplace healthier for all employees. Educate your workers on the reasons why smoking is a negative habit in the process.

Instructions

1. Send out a memo or email to all employees notifying them that your workplace is going to become a smoke-free environment. Give them the date that this will be occurring and let them know where smoking will be permitted near the building.

2. Schedule a speaker to address your employees about the dangers of smoking. Some doctors and nurses are able to come in with an actual smoker's lung that shows the effects of years of smoking on the human body.

3. Put up signs reminding people that smoking is not permitted. A simple red sign with a white circle containing a picture of a cigarette with a line through it can jog an employee's memory when they're getting ready to light up.

4. Make pamphlets available with information on resources for smokers who want to quit.

5. Give incentives for smokers who are trying to quit. Conduct a raffle and let an employee put his name in once for each day he doesn't smoke. At the end of the week, raffle off movie tickets or a gift certificate to a local restaurant.

References

• American Heart Association: Cigarette Smoke and Cardiovascular Disease
• European Commission: Proposal for a Council Recommendation on Smoke-Free Environments
• Global Smokefree Partnership: Designing a 100% Smoke-Free Workplace Policy