The “Sample Tobacco-free Workplace Policy” is dated 2013.
This is in the era of “tobacco free” property. The property placed a shield around
“smoke free” areas. Thirdhand tobacco smoke (THS) had not risen to the regulatory
level of public consciousness.
Areas and properties remain in place. THS is left behind or
carried about with people. THS penetrates the assumed safe “tobacco free”
property.
The terms 100%, tobacco, smoke, and free have been combined
in several ways to distinguish advances in, and reasons for, tobacco control
beyond a source of taxes. Tobacco free, tobacco-free, and tobaccofree have
generally referred to workplaces, restaurants, and bars. They may apply to
assisted living and memory care as a “workplace”, and more recently, to
“multi-unit housing”.
Tobacco-free in 2013 did not include THS. The American Lung
Association (ALA) policy uses “complete” (without THS). I am using “complete”
with THS rather than “Final” or some other term signifying the end for a need
for new names.
Line and a half spacing is used to increase readability. A clean one page draft policy is located at
the end of this post in text and in an image. New, Original, and Deleted. Provision
Living has been inserted for EMPLOYER and ORGANIZATION NAME as this is where my
wife and I live in Columbia, MO.
I have learned that effective tobacco control legislation
starts from the bottom up. I have also obtained many meaningful insights into
how assisted living and memory care actually operate in the past 2.5 years. This
is a good place to start.
Definitions
Smoker: A person so ill (nicotine addicted) that a
nicotine adjustment must be made during the time spent on the property.
Smoke free: an area in which there is no smoking, but
which secondhand tobacco smoke can drift into. A “smoke free” sign signifies
smoking somewhere.
Secondhand tobacco smoke: the smoke that is inhaled by
non-smokers, is deposited everywhere, and can be carried about on hair,
clothes and bodies as thirdhand tobacco
smoke (THS) where it can become
re-airborne in restricted areas.
Tobacco-free: a property onto which no tobacco nicotine materials
can be brought, but which thirdhand tobacco smoke can be carried into.
THS Level 1: New hires using non-toxic nicotine
replacements, as needed, to adjust nicotine levels during their shift
(before arriving until after leaving the property).
THS Level 2: After quitting or 30 days, using non-toxic
replacements, as needed, to adjust nicotine levels all 24 hours of the day. [Protects worker, workplace, and family; reduces sick call ins.]
Smoker free: All occupants (employees and residents)
living and working on the property no longer smoke. [The ultimate goal of any
smoking cessation program.] In time, this status may be included in "tobacco-free", plus the effective date.
Stealth smoking: A facility is presented to the public as
an environment free of tobacco smoke and free of tobacco control signs, when in
fact, smoking is occurring and may even be accommodated. We found this a common
practice in assisted living facilities in MO and TX. It is one reason we selected Provision Living at Columbia.
Policies
OPTION 1 – COMPLETE TOBACCO-FREE
POLICY
No use of tobacco products
including cigarettes and “spit tobacco” or e-cigarettes is permitted within the
facilities or on the property of [Provision Living] at any time.
OPTION2 – COMPLETE TOBACCO-FREE IN DESIGNATED OUTDOOR AREAS ONLY POLICY
No use of tobacco products
including cigarettes and “spit tobacco” or e-cigarettes is permitted within the
facilities or on the property of [Provision Living] at any time. No third
hand tobacco smoke (THS) is permitted after probationary period.
THS is managed at three levels
on the property: THS 1 (on shift), THS 2 (24 hours), and Smoker Free (no
smokers) to accommodate hiring smokers into a caring, radiant person, family
type community that is mindful, of the stress involved in continuing and in curing an addictive
illness, and the freedom and benefit of being cured: a new non-smoker. At no
time is smoke generated on the property.
Procedure
1. Employees will be informed of
the [Provision Living] Tobacco-free Policy through signs posted
throughout properties owned and operated by [EMPLOYER] including company owned
vehicles during regular staff meetings prior to 30 days of being
effective.
[Smoking signs in an environment
free of tobacco smoke are a constant reminder for those quitting to think about
smoking as well as smokers getting ready to quit. These people need to feel how
good it is to be free from smoke for 9 hours.]
2. Visitors will be informed of the
[Provision Living] 100% Tobacco-free Policy by their hosts, the
meeting invite and email correspondence and signs posted throughout
the properties owned and operated by [ORGANIZATION NAME].
3. Provision
Living will help employees who want to quit smoking by helping them prepare
to quit, set a quit date, and access recommended smoking cessation programs
and materials. This includes a Freedom Team of never smokers, former
smokers, new hire quitting smokers and smoking cessation counselors. (Visit
www.lung.org/stop-smoking for
more information.)
4. Any violations of this policy
will be handled through the standard disciplinary procedure.
____________________________________
________________________
SIGNATURE CEO or PRESIDENT
DATE
American
Lung Association 2013 (fits on one page)
 |
| One Page Image |
Draft Provision Living Tobacco-free Policy
Draft
An
environment free of tobacco smoke helps create a safe and healthy living and
work place. Smoking, secondhand and third hand smoke are known to cause
serious lung diseases, heart disease, heart attacks, strokes and cancer.
Provision Living recognizes the hazards caused by tobacco use and exposure to
secondhand and third hand tobacco smoke. Our policy to provide an environment
for all employees, residents, and visitors was established to keep a safe and
healthy workplace environment; an ideal environment to break out of any
nicotine addiction. This policy covers the smoking of any tobacco product and
the use of oral tobacco products, “spit” tobacco and e-cigarettes, and it
applies to employees, residents, and non-employee visitors of Provision Living.
Policies
OPTION 1 –
TOBACCO-FREE POLICY
No
use of tobacco products including cigarettes and “spit tobacco” or e-cigarettes
is permitted within the facilities or on the property of Provision Living at
any time.
OPTION2 – COMPLETE TOBACCO-FREE POLICY
No
use of tobacco products including cigarettes and “spit tobacco” or e-cigarettes
is permitted within the facilities or on the property of Provision Living at
any time. No third hand tobacco smoke (THS) is permitted after probationary
period.
THS
is managed at three levels on the property: THS 1 (during shift), THS 2 (24
hours), and Smoker Free (no smokers), to accommodate hiring smokers into a
caring, radiant person, family type community that is mindful, of the stress
involved in continuing and in curing an addictive illness, and the freedom and
benefit of being cured: a new non-smoker. At no time is smoke generated on the
property.
Procedure
1. Employees will be
informed of the Provision Living Tobacco-free Policy during regular staff
meetings prior to 30 days of being effective.
2. Visitors will be informed
of the Provision Living Tobacco-free Policy by their hosts, the meeting invite
and email correspondence.
3. Provision Living will
help employees prepare to quit, to set a quit date, and to access recommended
smoking cessation programs and materials. This includes a Freedom Team of
never smokers, former smokers, new hire quitting smokers and smoking cessation
counselors. (Visit www.lung.org/stop-smoking
for more information.)
4. Any violations of this
policy will be handled through the standard disciplinary procedure.
____________________________________
________________________
SIGNATURE CEO or PRESIDENT
DATE
American Lung Association 2013, edited 25 May 2018
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