Workplace Smoking Policy: An Occupational Health Nurse's Perspective

Abstract

Several topics which relate to workplace smoking are revealed through a literature review and pertinent occupational health nursing skills (e.g. assessment, communication, planning) which may be used for an effective occupational health nurse's (OHN's) response to the worksite smoking issue are presented. The health hazards of voluntary and involuntary cigarette smoking, status of American smoking habits, related economic concerns, involved legal issues, and possible barriers to effective company nonsmoking policies are cited. Some examples of smoking restriction or prohibition policies, several appropriate resources, and viable strategies which can be used by the OHN to facilitate the formulation of worksite smoking policy are discussed. The imperative involvement of the OHN in the establishment of workplace smoking restriction or prohibition policy is emphasized.

References

American Association of Occupational Health Nurses. (1977). A guide for establishing an occupational health nursing service. New York: Author.

American Cancer Society (1982). Fifty most often asked questions about smoking and health … and the answers. A.C.S.

American Cancer Society (1986, Spring). CPS II yields first data. CPS II Newsletter, 4(1), 1–2.

American Cancer Society. (1986, Spring). Encouraging smoking trends shown by preliminary CPS II findings. CPS II Newsletter, 4(1), 3

American Cancer Society, Inc. (1981). Make cancer control your business. New York: Author.

American Cancer Society, Inc. (1985). Model policy for smoking in the workplace. New York: Author.

American Cancer Society, Inc. (1986). 1986 cancer facts & figures. New York: Author.

American Heart Association. (1985). Heart at Work. Dallas, Texas: Author.

Bureau of National Affairs. (1986). ASPA-BNA Survey No. 50: Smoking in the workplace. Bulletin to Management, 37(24), Part II.

10.

Clark

, & Shapiro

(1981, January 26). Second hand smoke and lung cancer. Newsweek, p. 63.

11.

Hammond

E.C.

, & Selikoff

I.J.

(1981). Commentary: Passive smoking and lung cancer with comments on two new papers. Environmental Research, 24(2), 444–452.

12.

Kent

D.C.

, & Cenci

(1982). Smoking and the workplace: Tobacco smoke health hazards to the involuntary smoker. Journal of Occupational Medicine, 24(6), 469–471.

13.

Lowenberg

(1983, July). Smoking at the workplace: Legal issues. In American Lung Association, More facts & features for nonsmokers & smokers. New York: American Lung Association.

14.

Marwick

(1985). Effects of “passive smoking” lead nonsmokers to step up campaign. Journal of the American Medical Association, 253(20), 2937–2939.

15.

Nagle

(1986, July 1). Director of Human Resources Westlake Community Hospital Melrose Park, Illinois. Unpublished interview regarding Westlake's hiring policy which requires employees to be non-smokers.

16.

Orleans

C.S.

, & Shipley

R.H.

(1982). Worksite smoking cessation initiatives: Review and recommendations. Addictive Behaviors, 7, 1–16.

17.

Public Law 91-596, section 5, a, 1. (1970). Occupational Health Act of 1970 (1984 0-446-366). Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.

18.

Time. (1986, July 21). Put out that butt, soldier, p. 31.

19.

U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare. (1977). The smoking digest. Bethesda, MD: National Cancer Institute.

20.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (1980). Promoting health/preventing disease: Objectives for the nation. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.

21.

U.S. Department of Labor Assistant Secretary for Policy, Evaluation and Research. (1980). An interim report to congress on occupational diseases. Washington, DC: Author.