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Tobacco-Free Workplace

Maintain a comprehensive tobacco-free workplace policy

The tobacco-free policy must apply to the entire workplace – both indoors and outdoors and must apply to all US-based employees, temporary workers, contractors and visitors. Gold Standard employers may not have any designated areas for the use of any form of tobacco.

Sample tobacco-free workplace policy

Sample tobacco-free enforcement language

Forms of tobacco and smokeless tobacco

  • Cigarettes, Cigars, Pipes
  • Smokeless tobacco, also called chewing tobacco, oral tobacco, spit or spitting tobacco, dip, chew, snuff, snus, twist, plug, and dissolvable tobacco products
  • Electronic cigarettes, also called “e-cigarettes,” or “Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems” (ENDS)

Best Practices

Tobacco Free Worksites
BD

Tobacco Free Worksites

BD's purpose is "advancing the world of health" and we are committed to providing a tobacco free work environment to support the health and vitality of our associates. Since 2011, BD has embraced the "Five Pillars" of the Gold Standard and is proud to provide a tobacco-free worksite for all US associates. As part of that commitment, we are excited to announce that in November 2016, we transitioned all 17 US CareFusion worksites to a tobacco-free work environment. (CareFusion was acquired by BD in March of 2015.)

All "designated...

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Articles of Interest

American Lung Association's 'State of Tobacco Control' Report Finds States, Federal Government Failed to Act to Prevent, Reduce Tobacco Use
American Lung Association
CDC: 1 in 5 U.S. Workers Use Tobacco Products | Construction, food-service workers most likely to smoke cigarettes
Boyle, Susan
MedPage Today

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Research & Evidence

The Health Consequences of Smoking—50 Years of Progress. A Report of the Surgeon General.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office on Smoking and Health
Low cigarette consumption and risk of coronary heart disease and stroke: meta-analysis of 141 cohort studies in 55 study reports
Hackshaw, Allan; Joan K. Morris; Sadie Boniface; Jin-Ling Tang, Dušan Milenković,
The BMJ

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Frequently Asked Questions

Pillar 1: Tobacco-Free Workplace

Why do e-cigarettes have to be prohibited within a tobacco-free workplace policy?

We’ve taken a strong stance on e-cigarettes as part of our tobacco-free workplace requirements for Gold Standard employers.  E-cigarettes are flavored vaporizing devices that provide nicotine dosing, which means they can lead to nicotine addiction.  Despite the fact that they do not contain tobacco, and the adverse health effects of e-cigarettes are not yet proven (unlike the well-documented adverse health effects of tobacco products), they are explicitly not permitted at Gold Standard workplaces for a number of reasons:

  1. Some people argue that e-cigarettes may be effective in helping people stop smoking tobacco products. However, they are not regulated by the FDA, are often produced outside the U.S., and they contain a range of additional substances that are being studied for toxicity for their users and for others nearby. Therefore, e-cigarettes are not proven to be safe as a tobacco-cessation aid. 
  2. E-cigarette manufacturers are aggressively marketing these products, and there is significant concern that e-cigarettes could make smoking overall more socially acceptable as well as serving as an introduction to smoking regular cigarettes.
  3. Other Electronic Nicotine Delivery Devices (ENDs) are now entering the marketplace as well, and all of those devices are also prohibited at Gold Standard workplaces. Other ENDs may not look like electronic cigarettes, but they similarly deliver nicotine into the user.
Why do e-cigarettes have to be prohibited within a tobacco-free workplace policy?

We’ve taken a strong stance on e-cigarettes as part of our tobacco-free workplace requirements for Gold Standard employers.  E-cigarettes are flavored vaporizing devices that provide nicotine dosing, which means they can lead to nicotine addiction.  Despite the fact that they do not contain tobacco, and the adverse health effects of e-cigarettes are not yet proven (unlike the well-documented adverse health effects of tobacco products), they are explicitly not permitted at Gold Standard workplaces for a number of reasons:

  1. Some people argue that e-cigarettes may be effective in helping people stop smoking tobacco products. However, they are not regulated by the FDA, are often produced outside the U.S., and they contain a range of additional substances that are being studied for toxicity for their users and for others nearby. Therefore, e-cigarettes are not proven to be safe as a tobacco-cessation aid. 
  2. E-cigarette manufacturers are aggressively marketing these products, and there is significant concern that e-cigarettes could make smoking overall more socially acceptable as well as serving as an introduction to smoking regular cigarettes.
  3. Other Electronic Nicotine Delivery Devices (ENDs) are now entering the marketplace as well, and all of those devices are also prohibited at Gold Standard workplaces. Other ENDs may not look like electronic cigarettes, but they similarly deliver nicotine into the user.
Does the tobacco-free workplace policy have to apply to all employees?

Yes, it must apply to all US-based employees, at all sites and facilities, whether they are owned, leased or shared. All current employees should be notified of the tobacco-free policy, and prospective employees should be made aware of the tobacco-free policy during the job interview process. Temporary/ contract personnel as well as visitors to company sites should also be informed of the tobacco-free policy. Gold Standard organizations promote an integrated, positive message, incorporating the notion that “we care about your health” and “here are the programs and support we’re offering to help you stop using tobacco”.

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Brochures/Reference

State of OK Executive Order 2013-43
State of Oklahoma Executive Order 2013-43

Executive Order prohibiting the use of electronic cigarette or vaping device on any and all properties owned, leased or contracted for use by the State of Oklahoma, including but not limited to all buildings, land and vehicles owned, leased or contracted for use by agencies or instrumentalities of the State of Oklahoma.

State of OK Executive Order 2012-01
State of Oklahoma Executive Order 2012-01

Executive Order prohibits the use of any tobacco product on any and all properties owned, leased or contracted for use by the State of Oklahoma, including but not limited to all buildings, land and vehicles owned, leased or contracted for use by agencies or instrumentalities of the State of Oklahoma. The goal of this Executive Order isto provide for a healthier work environment, encourage healthier lifestyle choices for state  employees and protect visitors to state property. 

Adopting Tobacco-free Policies on Campus
Adopting Tobacco-free Policies on Campuses

This guide is designed to assist with the creation of effective and enforceable tobacco-free policies for higher-education institutions.

Tobacco-Free Campus Implementation Guide
Tobacco-Free Campus Policy Implementation Guide

A resource designed to help college students adopt and implement a 100% tobacco-free campus policy

State of CO Executive Order B 2018 011
State of Colorado Executive Order B 2018 011

Amending Executive Order D 0036 90 Regarding Smoking in State Buildings and Further Directing State Agencies to Take Action to Limit the Use of Tobacco Products, Vaping 
Products, and E-Cigarettes by Youth

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External Resources

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Toolkits & Guides for Tobacco-Free College Campuses
Tobacco Free College Campus Initiative

The goal of this toolkit is to provide you with the resources and tools to help you institute a successful tobacco- or smoke-free campus policy; in other words, to make the changes you want to see on your campus.

Breathe Easy: Buckeyes are Tobacco Free
Additional Resources

The Ohio State University Tobacco Free Home Page

Improve Indoor Air Quality
American Lung Association

Maintaining healthy indoor air quality is an important step for all of your employee’s health. Regardless of whether you work in an industrial, service or office setting, common allergens and irritants may be closer than you realize.

Creating a Smoke-free Workplace
American Cancer Society

A smoke-free workplace is good for everyone. Get tips for creating a healthier environment in your workplace.

Employers concerned about their employees may be able to improve their health and help them be more productive by creating tobacco-free workplaces. Many state and local governments now require workplaces to be smoke-free. Making your workplace completely tobacco-free can have an even greater impact. Both tobacco user and non-user employees may be helped by such policies.

Save Lives, Save Money: Make Your Business Smoke-Free
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

This brochure provides information on exposure to secondhand smoke in the workplace and the benefits to employers once a smoke-free workplace has been implemented.

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