Tackling Smoking Issues at Work: How Can We Create a Healthier Environment?

How to get rid of smoking problems at the workplace?

To address smoking issues in the workplace, it's essential to establish clear policies and guidelines regarding smoking on company premises. This includes designated smoking areas, restrictions on smoking near entrances, and enforcement of no-smoking policies. Additionally, offering smoking cessation programs or resources to employees who wish to quit smoking can be beneficial. By creating a supportive environment and promoting healthy habits, organizations can effectively tackle smoking problems at work.

Hmm, Big Problem.. 🙄

Better paste a notice clearly stating that smoking inside the premises is prohibited and impose a fine if found guilty of the same.

Regards,
Amit Seth.

You can post a notice saying, "Please do not smoke," and you can designate a smoking zone outside the office.

Regards,
Raj

Well said, Raj.

We can have a smoking zone so that the problem will be avoided.

Regards,
Gops :lol:

Multi-pronged strategy needs to be implemented:

a) Smoking/substance cessation programs need to be started.

b) If you have a large building, it makes sense to have a pantry fitted with extra exhaust to double as a smoking corner.

c) Stay away from hypocrisy, for example, having a no-smoking policy while the CEO and top management smoke freely in a corner.

Surya

Hi,

I volunteer for an NGO called Core Cancer Foundation, which primarily works in the field of eradicating the menace of tobacco. We conduct workshops in north India to spread awareness in schools, corporations, and slums. Our panel of doctors gives presentations in the corporate sector on the issue absolutely free of cost, and we also conduct quizzes, debates, and other programs for schools.

If you or anyone would like to have a workshop or talk in your organization, kindly contact me.

Regards, Ajit

Hmm...

My colleagues and I smoke, and our company has a no-smoking policy inside its building. So, what do we smokers do? We comply and go to a designated smoking area to puff our lives away. Hehehehehhehee.

Designate a place for smoking, inform, and enforce your non-smoking policy. Penalize those who do not comply. However, if you have employees who are hard-headed and do not want to follow rules and regulations, then you have another issue on your hands. Good luck!

Initially, I thought it is all about smoking problems in respect of colleagueship/interpersonal relationships! From the response of others, I altered my understanding.

Anyway, smoking is to be definitely avoided in workplaces, especially premises with a centralized AC system. We should not pave the way for passive smoking as it is very dangerous.

In our organization (which has a centralized AC System), we do not encourage smoking in the office rooms. People would go to toilets where a high-power exhaust fan would suck the tobacco-filled air. We strictly follow this.

At the same time, catchy petty hoardings will be very useful, and the words should be positive like "THANKS FOR NOT SMOKING," "YOU MAKE OTHERS HAPPY AND HEALTHY WHEN NOT SMOKING - PLEASE REMAIN NON-SMOKING." Negative wordings like "DO NOT SMOKE," etc., will seldom fetch desired results as our brains never process negative instructions.

Frequent training programs on giving up smoking can be arranged, maybe with family members as a part of employee welfare activities. There are no born smokers - they train their minds initially to accept tobacco (in any form). So, there is every possibility to retrain the mind to desist from smoking.

Video programs on the evils of smoking will be very useful as visual presentation directly enters the subconscious mind.

Counselors and Hypnotherapists like me can be helpful for the people who really want to give up smoking. Employ/engage them.

All the best, my friend.

Ganesh Ramanchandran

Create an "EXCLUSIVE SMOKING ZONE" in your company and ensure the Smoking Zone contains the following quotes printed in bold:

* Hang Tough, Don't Puff!
* Smokers Don't Get To Smoke. They have to smoke.
* Don't Despair. Breathe the Air.

[C] 60 Reasons For Not Smoking

From Blair's QuitSmokingSupport Newsletter, www.QuitSmokingSupport.com

60 reasons for NOT smoking!

* Personal health:
* Increases the risk of lung cancer
* Increases the risk of emphysema
* Increases the risk of cardiovascular disease
* Increases the risk of breast cancer
* Increases the risk of cancer of mouth, esophagus, and other forms of bronchial cancer
* Increases the risk of all forms of cancer not mentioned above
* Increases the risk of stroke
* Increases the risk of pneumonia
* Increases the risk of bronchitis
* Increases the risk of diseases of the eye (e.g., Graves' disease)
* Increases the risk of back complaints
* Increases the risk of ear complaints
* Increases the risk of vascular constriction
* Increases the risk of respiratory disease
* Affects breathing quality
* Affects the operation of the immune system
* Causes deterioration of general physical condition
* Increases the chance of impotence (erection problems)
* Increases the chance of infertility
* Reduces the capacity of the blood to take in oxygen
* Increases the risk of dental illness

* Health of others:
* Increases the chance of miscarriage or damage to the fetus
* Lower birth weight of children
* Lower mental capacity (IQ) of children
* Increased chance of SIDS (cot death) when the parents smoke
* Increased chance of other causes of infant death
* Affects the health of children
* Affects the health of others in the environment
* Sore eyes and eye diseases of others as a result of tobacco smoke
* Increases the chance of contamination during sexual contact (semen, fingers)
* Increases the chance of disease due to drinking contaminated breast milk

* Quality of life:
* Physical addiction
* Psychological addiction
* Social addiction
* Loss of sense of smell
* Loss of sense of taste
* Limitation of the possibility of maintaining a relationship

* Personal hygiene:
* Body odors
* Breath odors
* Evil smelling clothes
* Yellow, unattractive hands
* Bye, white teeth!
* Premature aging of skin leading to an older appearance

* Domestic aspects:
* Stale air indoors
* Increased fire risk
* Dirty walls and ceilings
* Dirty furniture, fittings, and household goods
* Filthy, smelly ashtrays
* Chance of poisoning children due to swallowing cigarette butts

* Social:
* Inconveniences others in the vicinity
* Handicap in social dealings
* More difficult to get a job
* More difficult to get a partner
* Bad example to growing children

* General:
* Constant fear of running out of cigarettes
* Often having to look for means of lighting cigarettes
* Often having to look for places where it's possible and allowed to smoke
* Accidents caused by smoking in cars
* Becoming a slave to the profit motive of the tobacco industry
* and Oh! the enormous cost!

"Smoking injures your health - No smoking insures your health"

Tobacco is a dirty weed. I like it.
It satisfies no normal need. I like it.
It makes you thin, it makes you lean,
It takes the hair right off your bean
It's the worst darn stuff I've ever seen.
I like it.

The best way to stop smoking is to just stop - no ifs, ands, or butts. ~Edith Zittler

The public health authorities never mention the main reason many Americans have for smoking heavily, which is that smoking is a fairly sure, fairly honorable form of suicide. ~Kurt Vonnegut

It's all one thing - both tend into one scope -
To live upon Tobacco and on Hope,
The one's but smoke, the other is but wind.
~Sir Robert Aytoun of Kincaldie, "Sonnet on Tobacco"

The cigarette does the smoking - you're just the sucker. ~Author Unknown

Hi,

It is a good point to be discussed. I want the "No Smoking Policy" to be implemented in the office, but this can only happen with the support of management. In the case of higher management members being part of the smoking team and if they are the ones who resist this, then I would suggest we should have a "Smoking Zone" that should be kept open for some period of time only.

Hope this might help you out to some extent.

Regards,
Amith R.