“I need a cigarette now”, we hear colleagues saying at work. Some workplaces have specified a smoking area, while others still have not done this step in several countries. While some people think it’s disrespectful or inappropriate to smoke at the workplace, other people oppose their opinion, and see that it is their right to do whatever they want at work. Between smoking as a personal choice, and on the other hand smoking as a “harmful” actions against people around us (passive smoking).
Why do people smoke in the first place? Psychologists list a number of reasons, ranging from social image to the idea that one might think the cigarette would make him/her “squeeze” all the thoughts out on the paper/screen. Smoking in the workplace might be a problem for some people, who might take it to the extremes and change their job to continue with their “passion” as they call it; smoking.
In the last 10 years mostly, countries have been issuing laws banning smoking in many places, including the workplace. Smoke-free legislation was introduced in England in 2007, banning smoking in nearly all enclosed workplaces and public spaces, following similar bans in Scotland and Wales. Local authorities are responsible for enforcing the legislation.
The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, for example, mentions that all Canadian jurisdictions, have a formal law or regulation that restricts smoking in the workplace. Smoking is completely prohibited in workplaces in Ontario, Nova Scotia, Quebec, Manitoba, New Brunswick and British Columbia. Some provinces allow a separately ventilated room to be built in the workplace.
Apart from health concerns, there are other reasons for banning smoking in the workplace. It has been estimated by the Conference Board of Canada that on the average each employee who smokes costs the employer $3,396 a year (as reported by Health Canada, 2008). These costs are attributed to increased absenteeism, lower productivity, unscheduled smoke breaks, maintenance of smoking areas, property damage, and health and fire insurance costs.
Studies have shown that smoke-free environments also make for increased productivity, better morale, and lower cleaning costs.
In Lebanon however, LAW no. 174 Tobacco Control and Regulation of Tobacco Products’ Manufacturing, Packaging and Advertising, as amended by the Administration and Justice Committee, and signed by PM Najib Mikati on August 29 2011, states that ” “Workplace”: shall mean any place used collectively by people while performing their remunerated or benevolent duties, including all related places used by workers collectively, such as corridors, elevators, stairs, stairwells, lobbies, joint facilities, cafeterias, toilets, lounges, lunchrooms, outbuildings including roofs, as well as vehicles used within working hours”.
In Article 5, item a, however, it states that “Smoking, lighting a tobacco product or using such a product is prohibited in all enclosed public places, workplaces and means of public transportation. The aforementioned prohibition shall take effect in restaurants, nightclubs or any other tourism or entertainment place, one year after this law takes effect”.
It is very important to ban or regulate smoking through laws, but at the same time, it is extremely important that passive smoking ends, and smokers perform their “passion” or “need” or whatever they wish to call it without harming anyone around them.
