Focus On: Smoking
A Health Hazardous Habit
The message is everywhere and the evidence is clear. Smoking is harmful. Despite this, Canadians are still lighting up
The Cost of Smoking to a Workplace
Increased absenteeism, decreased productivity, increased life insurance premiums and smoking area costs are just some of the costs associated with employees who smoke. What are you doing to encourage your smokers to butt out? Have you thought about the cost of doing nothing?
- It is estimated that 40 minutes/day is lost to the smoking ritual each day/smoker. Each smoker in a workplace will cost their employer an average of $3,396/year in decreased productivity, increased absenteeism, increased life insurance premiums and smoking area costs (Conference Board of Canada, 2006).
- Smokers cost company health plans twice as much as non-smokers (The Canadian Lung Association).
- Approximately 1.8 million working Ontarians are exposed to environmental tobacco smoke (The Ontario Tobacco Research Unit - PDF 165KB, 2 pages).
- The average smoker takes 2 fifteen minute smoke breaks while at work. That's equivalent to 18 days/year (The Canadian Lung Association).
- In Ontario, $2.6 billion in lost productivity can be attributed to tobacco related diseases (Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care).
Shiftwork & Smoking
Circadian Technologies, an international researching and consulting firm specializing in shiftwork, has found that shiftworkers are not only more likely to smoke, they smoke more than double the rate of their daytime counterparts. Couple this with the fact that shiftworkers have higher rates of health problems and cost their employer in terms of absenteeism, benefits costs, turnover, etc.
When employees are provided with information on how to manage the challenges of working shiftwork, improvements in turnover, absenteeism, morale and in problems related to fatigue result (Kerin & Aguirre, 2004). Aguirre notes that as much as $16 USD can be saved for every dollar invested in just one measure to mitigate the health problems of shiftworkers (Circandian Technologies, 2003).
The Smoke-Free Ontario Act
The Smoke-Free Ontario Act becomes effective on May 31, 2006
In June of 2005, the provincial government of Ontario passed new tobacco control legislation called the Smoke-Free Ontario Act. This legislation overruled the Region of Peel’s Smoke-free By-law when it came into effect on May 31, 2006. This new legislation required workplaces to make some changes and changed Ontario employer’s obligations.
This legislation prohibits smoking in any enclosed public place or enclosed workplace in Ontario as of May 31, 2006; including restaurants, bars, bingo halls, schools, private clubs, sports arenas, entertainment venues, work vehicles and licensed private home-based day cares.
Designated smoking rooms (DSRs) are not to be permitted in any enclosed public place or enclosed workplace in Ontario as of May 31, 2006.
The Smoke-Free Ontario Act requires that employers ensure these environments remain smoke-free by enforcing the compliance of everyone within the enclosed area.
Some of the key responsibilities of employers include the duty to:
- ensure that employees and the public are aware that smoking is prohibited within the enclosed workplace
- ensure that employees and the public do not smoke within the enclosed workplace
- remove ashtrays from the enclosed workplace
- post “No Smoking” signs at all entrances, exits, washrooms and other appropriate locations within the enclosed workplace
Signage is available from Peel Health. You can get these FREE signs by visiting one of the signage distribution locations (PDF 131KB, 1page) or download your own copy by visiting the Ontario Ministry of Health Promotion website. Please contact the Region of Peel - Public Health at 905-799-7700 for more information.
How will the Law be Enforced?
Tobacco Enforcement Officers and Public Health Inspectors from the Region of
Peel are responsible for enforcement of the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, and will investigate complaints of non-compliance under the Act.
Employees who report non-compliant employers are legally protected from reprisal by their employers under the Smoke-Free Ontario Act.
Please refer to the Fact Sheet for Workplaces (PDF 70KB, 1page) to learn more about what the Act means for you. For more information, please visit the Ontario Ministry of Health Promotion website or contact the Region of Peel - Public Health at 905-799-7700 (Toll Free from Caledon at 905-584-2216) or visit www.smokefree-peelregion.ca.
Facts and Stats
- More than 48,000 Canadians die annually due to smoking (Healthy Ontario).
- Smoking-related disease kills more Canadians than alcohol, car crashes, suicide and murder combined (Centre for Addiction
and Mental Health).
- Smoke-related illnesses cost the Ontario health care system more than $1.7 billion annually (Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care).
- There are more than 4,000 chemicals in second-hand smoke and at least 50 of these initiate, promote or cause cancer (Health Canada).
- Second-hand smoke is the most common and harmful form of indoor air pollution. Despite this, in about 25% of Canadian households, at least one person in smoking inside daily or almost daily (Ontario Medical Association – PDF 788KB, 5 of 19).
- Smokers have heart disease rates 70% higher than non-smokers (Health Canada)
Additional Resources
Addition information on tobacco and smoking is available on this website. Here are some other websites to consider for additional information:
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