More companies ban smoking at work
All health care districts declare workplaces smoke-free
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An increasing trend at Finnish workplaces is to go smoke-free. Exact numbers are not available, but more and more companies are banning all smoking during working hours.
In a recent study on the health behaviour of adult Finns, the National Public Health Institute shows that up to half of Finns work in a company where nobody smokes on the job.
A smoke-free workplace means that smoking is banned at the job, and that no smoking areas are available nearby. The ban does not extend to the employees’ private lives.
Many employers provide incentives for employees who want to stop smoking, including paying for part of tobacco addiction treatment.
Aarne Hallama, CEO of Scandic and Hilton hotels in Finland, says that only three of the chain’s hotels allow smoking by employees during working hours, and he expects them to ban smoking within the year. The number of smoking rooms are also to be reduced.
Pekkaniska Oy, which rents out construction equipment is renowned for its programme to encourage employees to kick the habit, offering monetary incentives for those who succeed.
At the food manufacturers Ingman and Fazer, a smoke-free environment is a legal requirement for reasons of food safety. Some of the branch offices of the OP Bank, as well as the insurance offices of Pohjola and Sampo are smoke free, as is the Ilkka communications group in Ostrobothnia.
The City of Iisalmi in the east of Finland implemented a non-smoking policy at municipal workplaces as part of a campaign to reduce absenteeism due to illness by one third.
Jyrki Hollmén of the Confederation of Finnish Industry (EK) notes that small workplaces are most likely to stray away from smoking regulations. Smoking is also more common at male-dominated workplaces, and in jobs where work takes place out of doors.
Marja Lounasmaa of the Federation of Public and Private Sector Employees (JYTY) does not look kindly on the idea of totally banning smoking by employees at work, saying that it excessively interferes with employees’ freedom of choice.
“Guidance through gentle means to being smoke-free”, is how Mikko Männikkö, head shop steward of the Union of Health and Social Care Professionals (Tehy) at the Vaasa Health Care District describes the non-smoking policy there. Smoking areas are to be set up near the Vaasa hospital, and for safety reasons, smoking areas for the secure psychiatric ward will be included within the perimeter.
A smoke-free workplace can actually mean many different things, notes Heikki Punnonen of the Finnish Association of Local and Regional Authorities. “It is unlikely for there ever to be a completely smoke-free society.”
Pekka Puska, Director-General of the National Public Health institute says that Finland has good possibilities to become a smoke-free society. Raising the tax on tobacco would be an important step in his view.
In the South Ostrobothnia Hospital District, the number of smokers has declined by two per cent in the past five years, and about 100 employees have stopped smoking completely.
Tobacco withdrawal nurse Reetta-Maija Luhta says that support is the key word. When a nurse who has received help in stopping smoking can pass on the advice to patients as well.
At smoke-free hospitals, material that promotes a smoke free status is available to patients. Sale of tobacco products has ended at most cafeterias and canteens.
Helsingin Sanomat
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| 3.4.2008 - TODAY |
 More companies ban smoking at work |
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