Smoke-Free Workplaces

Because of the known health risks of secondhand smoke, the Smoke-Free Ontario Act was enacted to protect everyone including smokers and non-smokers alike from exposure to secondhand smoke. These laws extend into the workplace, protecting all workers from secondhand smoke whether inside a building or inside a workplace vehicle.

In addition to protecting the health of all workers, smoke-free environments have additional benefits: ¹

• Saves money – Smokers who smoke tend to be absent more, take more breaks, and have higher life insurance premiums. There is also the cost of the designated smoking area if a shelter is built.
• Employee satisfaction – 90% of adults, both smokers and non-smokers, favour smoke-free environments.
• Avoiding litigation- By providing a smoke-free environment, employers can protect themselves from liability charges related to exposure to an identified workplace hazard.
• Complying with legislation – It is illegal to smoke inside an enclosed workplace or inside a workplace vehicle.

How we can help 

WebPage References

¹ Program Training and Consultation Centre, Clearing the Air in Workplaces, www.ptcc-cfc.on.ca