Substance Use and Work

Tobacco Use in the Workplace

At a glance

Tobacco cigarette smoking is driven in large part by nicotine addiction. It remains a leading cause of preventable disease, disability, and death in the U.S. While the number of workers who smoke or are exposed to secondhand smoke at work has declined, exposure and health risks continue in workplaces.

A tobacco-free campus sign hanging on a stone wall.

Tobacco smoking and working adults

A hand holding a lit cigarette with cigarette smoke flowing upward.
Smoking tobacco remains a preventable health hazard.

Tobacco cigarette smoking is a leading cause of illness and death in the U.S. A recent study showed an estimated one in five working adults (33 million; 22%) used some form of tobacco. Cigarettes were the most commonly used tobacco product. The study showed cigarette smoking was highest among the following groups:

  • Workers with less than a high school education (24%)
  • Workers with no health insurance (26%)
  • Workers living below the federal poverty level (23%)
  • Workers aged 18–24 years (16%)

Cigarette smoking by workers was highest in the following industries and occupations:

Industries

  • Accommodation and Food Service (24%)
  • Construction (23%)
  • Administrative and Support & Waste Management and Remediation Services (22%)

Occupations

  • Construction and Extraction (26%)
  • Food Preparation and Serving Related (25%)
  • Production (24%)

When looked at by gender, 17% of working mend smoked cigarettes compared to 14% of working women.

Electronic vaping products

Three different vape products line up.
Various vape products.

Using emerging tobacco products, including hookah and electronic vaping products (EVPs) such as e-cigarettes, has increased in recent years. During 2017-2018, an estimated 5 million (3%) U.S. workers used e-cigarettes and was higher among workers than non-workers.

E-cigarette use was highest among workers in the following industries and occupations:

Industries

  • Accommodation and food services (7%)
  • Transportation and warehousing (5%)
  • Retail trade (5%)

Occupations

  • Food preparation and serving (7%)
  • Transportation and material moving (6%)
  • Protective service (5%)

As of March 2023, 17 states have passed laws that specifically prohibit using e-cigarettes in workplaces. Employers can enact policies that restrict smoking and using tobacco products at work. In a survey of U.S. employees, nearly half of respondents (48%) reported their employer had a written policy addressing e-cigarette use. The majority (74%) supported e-cigarette-free workplaces, including the majority of current e-cigarette users (54%).

Secondhand smoke

In 2015, an estimated 20% of nonsmoking workers reported some exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke at work. Frequent exposure was reported to be 10% (twice a week or more).

Non-smokers reporting highest exposures:

  • Repair and maintenance workers (45%)
  • Transportation workers (39%)

Potential health risks to users or bystanders exposed to secondhand smoke from EVPs are still under investigation.

Smokeless tobacco

A hand holding snus with a can of snuff sitting under.
Snus (small pouches) and snuff (loose) are smokeless forms of tobacco.

Smokeless tobacco includes:

  • Chewing tobacco
  • Dip
  • Snuff
  • Snus

A study on workers using smokeless tobacco showed the following industries and occupations as being the highest:

Industries

  • Mining (14%)
  • Utilities (9%)
  • Construction (8%)

Occupations

  • Installation, Maintenance, and Repair (10%)
  • Construction and Extraction (9%)
  • Farming, Fishing, and Forestry (9%)

Because the tobacco is not smoked, many perceive it as being safer than smoking. However, smokeless tobacco still contains highly addictive nicotine and many of the same harmful chemicals found in cigarettes. Smokeless tobacco can cause:

  • Mouth cancer
  • Esophageal cancer
  • Oral disease

Smokeless tobacco use may also increase the risk of death from heart disease and stroke.

Workplace smoke-free policies

Workplace smoking legislation has been adopted by 27 states and the District of Columbia. It requires non-hospitality workplaces, restaurants, and bars to be completely smoke-free. These statewide comprehensive smoke-free laws protect 59% of the U.S. population. The laws are in addition to local comprehensive smoke-free laws.

Intervention and cessation program resources

Worker health and well-being is vital for establishing a healthy and safe workforce. Addressing the risks of smoking and tobacco use in the workplace and providing cessation programs can improve overall health of individuals.

Promote health through workplace tobacco policies!‎

Current Intelligence Bulletin 67: Promoting Health and Preventing Disease and Injury Through Workplace Tobacco Policies is aimed at preventing occupational illness related to tobacco use and secondhand smoke. This report recommends that all workplaces become tobacco-free, and employers make tobacco cessation programs available to workers.

The following resources provide information on intervention and cessation programs and guidance for employers and employees.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Workplace Health Promotion - Workplace programs and policies to help reduce health risks and improve the quality of life for workers.

Smoking & Tobacco Use - Guidance for tobacco users that includes information on nicotine dependence, the health benefits of quitting, and ways to quit.

Quit Smoking - CDC's website provides smoking cessation information and resources for state tobacco control programs and public health professionals.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Smokefree.gov - Guidance provided by the National Institutes of Health – National Cancer Institute for smoke-free support and information.

American Lung Association

Quit Smoking - The American Lung Association provides extensive information on smoking facts, how to quit, and freedom from smoking.

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Content Source:
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health