Smoke-free workplace policy
This template is designed to assist you in developing a smoke-free workplace policy.
As each workplace is unique, this document is intended as a guide only. You can select
which strategies best suit your workplace or come up with your own.
For further information on developing a workplace health and wellbeing policy, refer to
the WorkHealth Healthy Workplace Kit (online at workhealth.vic.gov.au or hard copy).
The impact of smoking in the workplace
Under the Tobacco Act 1987, smoking is prohibited in most enclosed workplaces1. In the workplace, smoking can contribute to a
reduction in productivity and increased sick leave among workers that smoke. Smoking in the workplace is also a fire hazard2. This
policy aims to help minimise worker exposure to tobacco smoke while in the workplace.
Tobacco smoking is the leading single cause of preventable death and illness in Australia3.
Smoking affects each system of the body in some way, causing reduced oxygen carried in the blood, decreased lung function and
narrowing of airways and blood vessels4,5. Smoking can cause lung disease, cancer, heart attack and stroke2.
Environmental tobacco smoke (passive smoking) can affect smokers and non-smokers alike. Irritation of the eyes, nose, throat and
lungs from environmental tobacco smoke can be particularly harmful to those with asthma or other respiratory conditions6.
Mission statement
<Insert organisation name>:
• will support workers quit attempts
• will protect workers, contractors and visitors from environmental tobacco smoke (passive smoking)
• will inform workers about the health risks associated with smoking
Objectives and strategies
The strategies in this table are examples only. Pick and choose what’s right for your workplace, and/or add your own. More ideas
are available at workhealth.vic.gov.au
Objective: Minimise smoking in the workplace
Strategies
• Clearly mark smoke-free areas with signs. Smoke-free areas should include bathrooms, lunchrooms and meeting rooms. You
may consider inclusion of company vehicles. Ensure that at all work-related events, especially those with families in attendance,
are non-smoking events.
• Workers are encouraged to refrain from smoking while wearing any form of company uniform or branding.
• Provide support wherever possible to workers wishing to quit smoking. This may include providing subsidised or free quit
smoking programs or subsidised nicotine replacement therapy (eg. patches)
Smoke-free workplace policy
Objectives and strategies
Objective: Minimise exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (passive smoking)
Strategies
• Designated smoking areas should be positioned away from main entrances, thoroughfares, air conditioning intake vents and
enclosed spaces to ensure that smoke doesn’t drift into workplaces.
• Provide bins designed for cigarette butts to avoid littering and fire hazards.
Objective: To increase awareness among workers of the health risks of smoking.
Strategies
• Provide information (posters and brochures) within the workplace. For a range of quit smoking resources, visit quit.org.au
• Promote quit smoking tools such as the Quit Coach through email reminders, company newsletters or in designated smoking
areas. For more information visit quitcoach.org.au
Responsibility/scope
All workers, management, volunteers and contractors have a shared responsibility to support <insert organisation name>’s
smoke-free workplace policy.
Workers/volunteers/contractors have a responsibility to:
• Read and fully understand the smoke-free workplace policy
• Comply with this policy at all times while on work-related duties and at any time while representing <insert organisation name>
• Inform a manager if they believe that this policy has not been followed.
Managers have a responsibility to:
• Ensure that all workers, contractors and volunteers are made aware of this policy when inducted
• Create and support a workplace culture that is supportive of workers who wish to quit smoking
• Review and monitor the policy.
Communication:
•
•
•
•
All workers will have the opportunity to read and discuss this policy during induction
Policies are to be easily accessible by all members of the organisation
Workers will be empowered to actively contribute and provide feedback during all stages of policy development and review
Workers must be notified of all changes to the workplace policy.
Smoke-free workplace policy
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Review & Monitoring
• The <insert organisation name> smoke-free workplace policy will be reviewed six months from implementation and every 12
months thereafter.
• The <insert committee &/or role title> has responsibility for leading the review of this policy. (E.g. OHS committee, healthy
workplace committee, senior management, health and safety representative or a human resources representative). The process
for reviewing the policy includes:
– Assess implementation to date and determine if all objectives have been met
– Provide each worker with the opportunity to give feedback
– Nominate a worker from each area of the organisation to be a representative during the review process
– All feedback and suggestions will be considered by the committee/individual reviewing the policy
– Proposed changes will be presented to all workers to achieve consensus
– Management will endorse the finalised policy and make copies available to employees.
This smoke-free
workplace policy has
been reviewed in
accordance with all
guidelines
Signature:
Management position:
Date:
Date of next review:
Further information on smoke-free workplaces:
• Quit Victoria: quit.org.au
• Victorian Government Health Information. Tobacco Reforms: http://www.health.vic.gov.au/tobaccoreforms/index.htm
• Ridolfo B, Stevenson C, 1998, ‘The quantification of drug caused mortality and morbidity in Australia, 1998’. Australian Institute of
Health and Welfare. Category Number PHE 29. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (Drug Statistics Series no 7), 2001.
Other sample smokefree workplace policies:
• Quit Victoria, 2002, ‘Going Smokefree…it works for me: A Guide for Workplaces’: http://www.quit.org.au/downloads/workplacekit.
pdf
• Cancer Council NSW, ‘Cancer Smart Policies’: http://www.cancercouncil.com.au/editorial.asp?pageid=2234
References:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Victorian Government Tobacco Act 1987
Quit Victoria, 2002, ‘Going Smokefree…it works for me: A Guide for Workplaces’, viewed April 14 2010 from http://www.quit.
org.au/downloads/workplacekit.pdf
Better Health Channel, 2009, ‘Smoking Tobacco is Deadly’, viewed on May 7 2010 from http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/
bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Smoking_tobacco_is_deadly?OpenDocument
Better Health Channel, 2010, ‘Smoking-effects on your body’, viewed on May 7 2010 from http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/
bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Smoking_effects_on_your_body?OpenDocument
Quit Victoria, 2005, ‘Smoking and your body’, viewed on May 7 2010 from http://www.quit.org.au/browse.
asp?ContainerID=smoking_and_body
Better Health Channel, 2010, ‘Passive Smoking’, viewed on May 4 2010 from http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/
bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Passive_smoking?OpenDocument
Smoke-free workplace policy
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