Poll: Tenn. voters support smoke-free workplace law
oublished December 12, 2006, Knoxville Channel WATE 6

NASHVILLE (WATE) -- A public opinion poll released Tuesday shows overwhelming support for smoke-free workplaces among Tennessee's registered voters.

Seventy-eight percent of the respondents felt people should not be exposed to secondhand smoke in the workplace. That's according to a press release from the American Cancer Society's branch in Knoxville.

Seventy-three percent who responded indicate they either strongly or somewhat support a smoke-free law that would make all workplaces in the state smoke-free.

"We found the results to be consistent across the state," said Ernie Oakleaf , owner of Opinion Research Associates, Inc., the Little Rock based firm that conducted the survey. "Survey respondents also felt exposure to secondhand smoke represents a health risk."

The survey also showed that 95 percent of respondents recognize secondhand smoke as a serious or moderate health hazard.

Six hundred registered voters in Tennessee were asked a series of questions about secondhand smoke in the workplace.

"These results show that registered voters throughout the state clearly understand the need for a smoke-free law to protect public health," said John Chiaramonte, spokesman for the American Cancer Society.

The poll results have a 95 percent level of confidence and a margin of error of +/- 4.1 percentage points.

The American Cancer Society's Web site lists some benefits of smoke-free workplaces:

For employees

• A smoke-free environment helps create a safe, healthy workplace.
• Workers bothered by smoke will not be exposed to it at the worksite.
• Smokers who want to quit may have more incentives.
• Smokers may appreciate a clear company policy about smoking at work.
• Managers are relieved when a process for dealing with smoking is clearly defined.

For employers

• Direct healthcare costs to the company may be reduced.
• An effort to address the effect of smoking on the health of employees' and their families shows the company cares. Employees may be absent less due to smoking related illnesses.
• Maintenance costs go down when smoke, matches, and cigarette butts are eliminated in facilities.
• Office equipment, carpets and furniture lasts longer.
• The risk of fires is lower.
• It may be possible to negotiate lower health, life, and disability insurance coverage as employee smoking is reduced.

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