September 13, 2002—Employees in blue-collar and service occupations are at higher risk than other types of workers for exposure to tobacco smoke on the job, but new approaches to help workers quit smoking offer promise for reducing this risk, according to findings from a national workshop reported in a new publication by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
Work, Smoking, and Health: A NIOSH Scientific Workshop, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2002-148, includes proceedings, findings, and recommendations from a workshop of research leaders from labor, industry, government, and academia, convened by NIOSH in June 2000.
According to research presented at the workshop and reported in the new document, blue-collar and service employees are more likely than others to be exposed to tobacco smoke on the job because:
- They report that they smoke more and quit smoking less than other workers, even as overall national smoking rates and per capita tobacco consumption have declined.
- They are less likely than others to work in establishments where smoke-free policies have been set.
- Traditional smoking-cessation programs in the workplace have had only limited success. However, some studies suggest that better results may come from integrating smoking cessation and other health-promotion programs with occupational safety and health programs, the workshop reported.
The report notes some gaps in existing knowledge, include the prevalence of smoking in such relatively unstudied worker populations as migrant workers and teen employees. The report is available from NIOSH. Printed copies will be available from the NIOSH toll-free information number at 800/35-NIOSH (1-800-356-4674).
