Making Your Business Tobacco Free

Transcription

1 Making Your Business Tobacco Free May 19, 2016 Adrienne Rollins, MPA CPS Tobacco Use Prevention Manager Oklahoma State Department of Health

2 Objectives: Tobacco-Free Policy Good for Business Participants will understand the burden tobacco plays in business; Participants will understand reasons beyond public health that support implementation of strong tobacco-free policies; Participants will learn critical components to include in a tobacco-free policy.

3 Oklahoma s Health Status 3 rd highest rate of death due to heart disease 4 th highest rate of death due to stroke Highest rate of death due to chronic lower respiratory disease 4 th highest rate of death due to diabetes

4 Burden of Tobacco Smoking remains the number one preventable cause of disease and death in the United States. Cigarette smoking causes about 1 of every 5 deaths in the United States each year. Tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke impose an enormous economic burden upon the government, taxpayers, business owners, and individuals through health care costs and lost productivity. Smoking-caused productivity losses in Oklahoma equal $2.1 billion

5 Tobacco-Free Policy Policies change social norms by changing the environment, motivating people to quit, discouraging youth and young adults from experimenting with tobacco products, and reducing healthcare costs. Most tobacco users want to quit according to multiple data sources. The majority of tobacco users have made a quit attempt in the past six months by passing a policy you are supporting employees cessation efforts. Policies increase the number of tobacco users who quit by a median of 3.8 percent.

6 How much is it costing us as a state? In the commercially insured population, smokers are 3.45 times more expensive than non-smokers. Oklahoma s annual health care costs caused by smoking are $1.62 billion, including $264 million in Medicaid costs.

7 What is the Cost to Businesses? Smokers can cost their employers more than $5,800 annually in lost productivity due to sick days and smoke breaks, lower productivity related to nicotine addiction Medically high risk employees are medically high cost employees; they use more healthcare and generate higher claim costs than low risk peers.

8 Additional Costs to Businesses Decreased Productivity Increased Absenteeism Increased Presenteeism Low Morale Low Recruitment & Retention

9 Talking Points-Economic Impact An American Productivity Audit found that tobacco use was a leading cause of worker lost production time more than alcohol abuse or family emergencies. 1 The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that each smoker costs about $1,760 in lost productivity. 3 Oklahoma s productivity loss from smoking: $1.73 billion. 2 Oklahoma s smoking-related healthcare expenditures: $1.62 billion. 2

10 Talking Points-Health Implications Nonsmokers exposed to secondhand smoke have an increased risk of developing lung cancer percent higher than those without exposure to secondhand smoke. 4 More than 7,000 chemicals in secondhand smoke. Hundreds are toxic and about 70 can cause cancer. 5 The only means of effectively eliminating health risks associated with indoor exposure is to ban smoking activity. 6

11 Tobacco-Free Workplace Where to begin? The Center for the Advancement of Wellness CDC Toolkit: co/

12 Assessment Management support is key to a successful tobacco-free policy. Items to discuss: The level of appropriateness of a tobacco-free worksite policy for the business Desired elements in the policy, including communication and enforcement Options for cessation Considerations for budget in regard to implementation

13 Assessment Form a committee to assist: Current policies in place Find out what tobacco cessation services are available through insurance or other Gauge level of readiness from employees Identify any potential barriers & ways to address those barriers Determine education needed

14 Developing a Tobacco-Free Policy Clearly define: Policy requirements/objectives Enforcement of the policy Who the policy applies to When it is in effect Where it is in effect Who is responsible for informing staff/visitors Keep the policy simple, yet strong

15 Policy Elements Model Policy Prohibits use of all forms of tobacco on all worksite owned/operated property (indoors & outdoors) at all times Policy applies to all employees, vendors, contractors and visitors Prohibits the use of tobacco in worksite vehicles Prohibits the use of tobacco at off-site worksitesponsored meetings or events Prohibits the use of tobacco in personal vehicles while on property

16 Cessation Services Benefits of offering cessation support in conjunction with a tobacco-free policy: Reinforce to tobacco users that the company is genuinely concerned about their health Demonstrate the company s commitment to supporting employees trying to quit tobacco Improve employee health Lower tobacco-related health care costs

17 Cessation Benefits 7 FDA- approved tobacco cessation products 5 Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) products: Patch, Gum, Nasal Spray, Inhalers, and Lozenges, as well as 2 Prescription Medications: Chantix and Wellbutrin 3 Types of Counseling: Individual, Group and Phone Provide incentives to promote quitting or for non-smokers

18 Promote the Helpline No Judgement, Just Help 24 hours, 7 days a week Individualized Services (Counseling, NRT, web, text, education) Web or Phone Registration

19 Communication is KEY 1 st step to implementing Begin promotion at least 2 months prior (prefer 6 months) Consider scheduling the policy implementation to coincide with another public opportunity (i.e. Great American Smoke-Out in November, World No Tobacco Day in May, New Year s) Send periodic reminders to employees leading up to the policy effect date One final announcement should be made from top management

20 Implementation Support the environment Remove smoking shelters/cigarette butt receptacles Install TF signage Enforcement Communication from management Supervisor/security training on enforcement procedures, handling complaints, and conflict management

21 Implementation Monitor the policy Noncompliance Areas of confusion Employee comments Make adjustments where necessary

22 Assessment Conduct an evaluation Keep it simple Decide what questions you/management would like to answer (Ex. Are employees aware? Are they satisfied? QUITLINE utilization numbers?) Evaluate periodically

23 TF Policy Myths If I have a properly-vented smoking room, my nonsmoking workers are protected from second-hand smoke. Smoke-free policies are hard to manage.

24 Questions? Adrienne Rollins, MPA Tobacco Use Prevention Manager