Closing the gaps in smokefree protections

While legislation of smokefree workplaces has increased over the past several decades, significant gaps in protections exist. Only 11 states and the District of Columbia currently have strong 100% smokefree workplace laws that include restaurants and bars, compared to 35 states with laws that allow smoking in some types of workplaces, and four states that have no law whatsoever. At the local level, 2,600 municipalities have local laws that restrict where smoking is allowed; however, only 251 (<10%) have strong 100% laws that include restaurants and bars. Gaming facilities, hotels, construction sites, and small businesses are most frequently exempted from state and local smokefree workplace laws. At both the state and local level, it is critical that laws provide universal coverage to all workers in all types of workplaces to prevent illness or death related to SHS.

The disparity in workplace coverage by income level and industry type is vast. Less than half of service, hospitality, and blue-collar workers nationally are protected by smokefree workplace laws or policies compared to 75% of white-collar workers. Additionally, a recent study found that despite the growing decline of exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) in the workplace, black male workers, construction/manufacturing sector workers, and blue-collar and service workers are among those that have the highest serum cotinine levels (metabolized nicotine and a biomarker for SHS exposure) in U.S. worker groups.

This presentation will discuss and illustrate gaps in smokefree protections, and suggest strategies for closing existing gaps including strengthening of existing, but weaker laws.