Tobacco-Free Campuses: Tobacco Cessation Programs at Work

Marci Nelson, BS, CHESMarci Nelson, BS, CHES

Tobacco Prevention and Control ProgramTobacco Prevention and Control Program

Utah Department of HealthUtah Department of Health

marcinelson@utah.govmarcinelson@utah.gov

(801) 538-7002(801) 538-7002

Objectives Present the benefits of a tobacco-free workplace

Provide information on available cessation services

Discuss seven key steps in developing and implementing a tobacco-free policy

Discuss strategies in enforcing and maintaining a tobacco-free policy

Tobacco Health Effects

Long-term Heart disease Stroke Lung function Cancers Ulcer Infertility

Short-term Respiratory illness Decreased lung capacity High blood pressure &

cholesterol Nervousness Mouth problems Reduced taste & smell

Responsible for more than 440,000 premature deaths each year in the United States.

Health Effects of Secondhand Smoke Stillbirth; miscarriage Premature Birth Cleft palates and lips Sudden Infant Death Infertility Tooth Decay

Cancer Bronchitis; pneumonia Asthma Upper Respiratory

Disease Ear Infections Coughs

Secondhand smoke affects loved ones & Secondhand smoke affects loved ones & is a powerful motivator to quit!is a powerful motivator to quit!

Keep Your Business Healthy: Utah Tobacco-Free Workplace Toolkit

http://www.tobaccofreeutah.org/shsworksitekit.pdf

1.1. Use your company’s health plan to help Use your company’s health plan to help employees and their families quit tobacco.employees and their families quit tobacco.

2.2. Encourage use of free tobacco cessation Encourage use of free tobacco cessation services such as the Utah Tobacco Quit Line services such as the Utah Tobacco Quit Line and Utah QuitNetand Utah QuitNet

3.3. Develop and maintain tobacco-free worksite Develop and maintain tobacco-free worksite policies.policies.

Perspectives from Three Perspectives from Three CompaniesCompanies

Neerings Plumbing & HeatingNeerings Plumbing & Heating

Industrial SupplyIndustrial Supply

Fresenius Medical CareFresenius Medical Care

Neerings Plumbing & HeatingNeerings Plumbing & Heating Family owned company since Family owned company since

19351935 Technicians are licensed Technicians are licensed

journeymen plumbers and/or journeymen plumbers and/or trained and educated in HVACtrained and educated in HVAC

35 employees35 employees Implemented tobacco-free policy Implemented tobacco-free policy

January 1, 2008January 1, 2008 Troy NeeringsTroy Neerings

(801) 467-3951(801) 467-3951troy@neeringsplumbing.comtroy@neeringsplumbing.com

Industrial SupplyIndustrial Supply

Serving mining industry since Serving mining industry since 19161916

Outfitters to construction and Outfitters to construction and industryindustry

165 employees at seven sites165 employees at seven sites Implemented smoke-free policy Implemented smoke-free policy

in 1983in 1983 Philip ThompsonPhilip Thompson

(801) 484-8644(801) 484-8644

Fresenius Medical CareFresenius Medical Care

Fresenius Medical Care – Fresenius Medical Care – production facilityproduction facility

Company is world’s largest Company is world’s largest dialysis products providerdialysis products provider

1,500 employees in Ogden1,500 employees in Ogden Implemented tobacco-free Implemented tobacco-free

policy July 1, 2007 policy July 1, 2007 Joe HudakJoe Hudak

(801) 626-4640(801) 626-4640joehudak@fmc-na.comjoehudak@fmc-na.com

Benefits of a Tobacco-free Workplace

Lower your costs Reduce your liability Protect your employees’ health Reduce absenteeism Increased productivity and morale

Step 1: Use Your Company’s Health Plan to Help Employees Quit

• Nearly 80% of adult smokers in Utah want Nearly 80% of adult smokers in Utah want to quit and 60% have made a quit attempt to quit and 60% have made a quit attempt in the past yearin the past year

• Most effective treatment includes Most effective treatment includes medication and coaching/counselingmedication and coaching/counseling

• Tobacco users are two to three times more Tobacco users are two to three times more likely to quit when have access to effective likely to quit when have access to effective servicesservices

Step 2: Encourage Use of Tobacco Cessation Services

Utah Tobacco Quit Line

• Professional counseling sessions by telephone

• Individualized Quit Plan

• NRT upon qualification (patch and gum)

• Quit Kits & information

Spanish Quit Line 1.877.629.1585

http://utahquitnet.comhttp://utahquitnet.com

Quitting guide

Medication guide

Expert counseling

Personalized quit plan

24-hour community support

Online NRT purchase

Lifetime membership!

Step 3: Develop and Maintain a Successful Tobacco-free Policy

Seven key elements:Seven key elements:

1. 1. Form a policy work groupForm a policy work group

2. 2. Involve union representatives if neededInvolve union representatives if needed

3. 3. Include all forms of tobaccoInclude all forms of tobacco

4. 4. Consider the extent of the policyConsider the extent of the policy

Step 3: Develop and Maintain a Successful Tobacco-free Policy

Seven key elements (cont.):Seven key elements (cont.):

5. 5. Communicate the policyCommunicate the policy

6. 6. Determine enforcement authorityDetermine enforcement authority

7. 7. Comply with the Utah Indoor Clean Air ActComply with the Utah Indoor Clean Air Act

#1 Form a Policy Work Group

Determine the types and numbers of managers and employees that are optimal for your company to develop the tobacco-free policy.

#2 Involve Union Representatives If Needed

Developing a tobacco-free policy addresses an area in which management and unions have in common – the safety and health of the employee.

#3 Include all Forms of Tobacco

All forms of tobacco (spit tobacco, cigars, pipes, etc.) are dangerous. Though some tobacco products may be less risky than others, all tobacco products are cancer-causing and addictive.

#4 Consider the Extent of the Policy

Your company’s policy can range from meeting minimum legal requirements (UICAA) to prohibiting tobacco anywhere on the worksite.

#5 Communicate the Policy

Employees need to be kept well informed about changes to company policy, changes to health plan coverage, and the availability of services to help them quit tobacco use.

Communication strategies:- Intranet- Payroll stuffers- Posters and displays- Employee orientation, staff, and meetings

#6 Determine Who Will Enforce the Policy

A well-written policy should be very clear on the consequences for violating the policy. Consequences should be similar to those for violations of similar types of organizational policies.

#7 Comply with the Utah Indoor Clean Air Act

.It is up to each business owner to ensure compliance with enforcing UICAA statute and rule requirements. For assistance, contact the Utah Department of Health at 1.877.220.3466.

Minimize the need for direct enforcement by carefully developing a plan to publicize the tobacco-free policy via employee meetings and signage.

Enforcing Your Tobacco-free Policy

Maintaining Your Tobacco-free Policy

Review policy periodically

Discuss and resolve any challenges

Revise policy as needed

Keep Your Business Healthy: Utah Tobacco-Free Workplace Toolkit

Attachments

Legal Implications of Secondhand Smoke

Tobacco Policy Checklist Employee Survey Sample Policies Tobacco Policy Issues and Solutions Local Health Department Contacts

ReviewThree Steps to Making Your Worksite Tobacco Free2. Use your company health plan3. Encourage use of tobacco cessation services4. Develop and maintain a tobacco-free policy

• Form a policy work group• Involve union representatives if needed• Include all forms of tobacco• Consider the extent of the policy• Communicate the policy• Determine enforcement authority• Comply with the Utah Indoor Clean Air Act

For more information, contact:Tobacco Free Resource Line: 1-877-220-3466

Questions?