Smokeless Tobacco Use and US Employment Sectors: 1987-2005

Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine whether increasing workplace smoking restrictions lead to increases in the proportion of workers using smokeless tobacco.

Research Design and Methods: Data were obtained from the 1997-2005 National health Interview Survey (NHIS), an annual population-based survey. Employed respondents greater than 18 reported their occupation and grouped into occupational classifications. Smokeless tobacco use was assessed in years multiple years (n=3,635,403).

Results: Of the US population who were employed, 3.53% of workers were smokeless tobacco users. There were no statistically significant upward or downward trends in smokeless tobacco rates among US workers; however, prevalence rates of smokeless tobacco users between worker categories showed significant differences, with higher rates for farm workers (10.51%) and blue collar workers (7.26%) relative to service (2.37%) and white collar (1.96%) workers. Workers who were employed in occupations where smoking was restricted had lower rates of smokeless tobacco use compared to workers who could smoke at work. Blue collar workers without smoking restrictions at work were most likely to use smokeless tobacco (6.93%) than blue collar workers with smoking restrictions (4.87%). The worker group least likely to use smokeless tobacco products was white collar workers with and without smoking restrictions (1.16% and 1.23%, respectively).

Conclusions: The present study found large differences in the use of smokeless tobacco across worker groups, with higher rates of smokeless tobacco use among farm and blue collar workers. Also, workers were not switching to smokeless tobacco products in response to workplace smoking restrictions.