Curious to know how to keep your employees safe?
As a business owner, you know that workplace safety is important. However, this is something that is rarely discussed.
20% of American workers smoke cigarettes, and how you deal with this can make or break your safety record.
Good news?
It’s easier than you might think to drastically reduce workplace hazards by creating designated smoking areas that will make everyone happy.
Let’s jump right in.
What you’ll discover:
- Why Do You Need Designated Smoking Zones?
- The Hidden Costs You’re Probably Missing
- The Perfect Designated Smoking Area
- Legal Requirements That Could Save You
- Making It Work For Your Business
Why Do You Need Designated Smoking Zones?
Providing proper smoking areas isn’t just about following the rules…
It’s about protecting your business from unnecessary safety risks. When your employees smoke in random places around the workplace, you are at a greater risk of fire hazards, exposure to second-hand smoke, higher insurance costs, and employee lawsuits.
Here’s the thing
Businesses that implement smoke-free workplace policies see a reduction of 25-30% in fire insurance costs. That’s real money you can save by having the proper policies in place.
Allowing employees to smoke in random locations is the same as saying “smoke wherever you want.” It’s chaotic, creates unhappy employees, and puts everyone at risk.
The Hidden Costs You’re Probably Missing
Poor smoking policies are costing you a lot more than you realize. Did you know that every employee who smokes costs their employer an average of $3,077 per year in lost productivity just because of smoke breaks?
And that’s not even the worst part.
Smokers take more time off work than non-smokers due to their 31% higher sick-leave rate. This leads to more absent employees, overtime costs, and more disruptions in your operations.
One more thing to consider
With the increasing costs of tobacco, more employees are looking for cheap smokes Canada options to try and make their personal budgets a little more manageable. When you provide proper designated smoking areas for employees, you are able to support all employees regardless of their tobacco preferences.
When you don’t have designated smoking areas, these smoking breaks happen randomly throughout the day and can be a massive disruption to workflow and create hazards on your job sites.
The Perfect Designated Smoking Area
Building the perfect smoking zone isn’t hard but here are a few things you need to get right.
The smoking area should be located at least 25 feet away from building entrances, windows, and air intake vents. The area should have proper ventilation or be completely outdoors with protection from the elements.
Here are some safety features to consider:
Install the proper ashtrays and disposal units. Seriously, you’d be surprised at how many workplace fires are caused by a carelessly discarded cigarette butt.
Put up clear signage. Post signs that clearly mark the designated smoking area and include any rules.
Add lighting for evening shifts to prevent accidents.
Legal Requirements That Could Save You
Did you know that the legal landscape of smoking in the workplace is constantly changing, and it’s not optional to stay compliant?
Here’s the deal. 28 states have comprehensive smoke-free workplace laws at this time. However, even if your state doesn’t, you still must follow the OSHA guidelines for workplace safety.
Key legal requirements you need to consider include:
Proper signage in both the smoking and non-smoking areas. Documentation of your smoking policy in your employee handbook. Supervisor training on how to enforce the policy.
Workers’ compensation considerations:
Employees who develop health problems due to secondhand smoke exposure can file for workers’ compensation. If you have designated smoking areas, it shows you’ve taken reasonable precautions to protect all employees.
Making It Work For Your Business
The truth is, providing designated smoking zones in your business is much easier than most people think. You don’t need to spend a fortune, completely redesign your workplace, or anything crazy like that.
Here’s where to start:
Survey your current smoking areas and locations. Where are your employees currently smoking? How far away are these places from the building entrances?
Try some of these simple steps:
Pick the best location based on your building layout and local wind patterns. Add the basic infrastructure like ashtrays, signage, and weather protection. Inform every employee about the company’s new policy. Begin consistent enforcement of the policy.
Remember this:
The goal here is not to make smoking impossible. It’s to make it safe and manageable for your business.
Getting Employee Buy-In
When you involve employees in the planning process of the designated smoking area, they are more likely to use it. Ask employees for their input on location, amenities, and rules.
Consider the timing of the roll-out. Implementing a new smoking policy during other workplace changes can lead to less resistance.
Provide support for employees who want to quit smoking. A lot of companies have seen a reduction in smoking rates after they have introduced cessation programs alongside the designated smoking areas.
The bottom line:
Employees are more likely to follow the rules when the rules make sense to them, and they are fairly enforced.
Measuring Success
You will know your designated smoking areas are a success when you see these things:
- Workplace fire incidents go down
- Complaints about second-hand smoke exposure go down
- Productivity during break times improves
- Insurance costs stabilize or go down
Consider tracking these metrics:
Number of smoking-related safety incidents each month. Employee complaints about smoke exposure. The average length of smoking breaks. Overall employee satisfaction with workplace policies.
Regular monitoring will help you tweak your approach and show employees the value of your investment.
Staying Ahead Of Changes
The workplace smoking landscape is always evolving, and here are the latest changes you need to know about.
E-cigarettes and vaping devices are creating new challenges. Businesses are now including these devices in their smoking area policies to avoid confusion.
Local ordinances change a lot, and what’s legal today might not be legal next year. You should always stay up-to-date on local regulations.
Future-proof your policy by:
Building some flexibility into your designated smoking areas so that they can easily adapt to new regulations. Training management on new trends in workplace smoking policies.
Remember:
A good smoking policy will protect your business, keep your employees happy, and demonstrate your commitment to workplace safety.
Getting Results Fast
Did you know that designated smoking zones aren’t just about compliance?
They’re about creating a safer and more productive environment for everyone in your workplace.
By creating proper smoking areas, you:
- Reduce fire hazards and insurance costs
- Protect your non-smoking employees from second-hand smoke
- Improve productivity by better managing break times
- Stay compliant with regulations that are constantly evolving
- Demonstrate to employees that you care about their needs and safety
The key to success is to just get started. You don’t need the perfect solutions from day one. You just need to start with some basic designated smoking areas and improve them over time as you figure out what works in your specific workplace.
Ready to get started? Try these quick action steps:
Pick a location for your designated smoking area this week. Add basic signage and ashtrays. Communicate the new policy to all employees. Monitor how people use it, and adjust as necessary.
The investment you make in proper smoking zones will pay for itself through lower insurance costs, fewer safety incidents, and happier employees.
Most importantly
It doesn’t matter if you’re anti-smoking or pro-smoking. What matters is that you’re smart about workplace safety and creating an environment where all employees can be productive and comfortable.
Start today, and you’ll see the benefits within weeks.
