Sign our Smoke Free Workplace Resolution

Not all Vermont workers are protected from secondhand smoke. Currently, a loophole exists in the Smokefree Workplace act that still allows enclosed indoor smoking rooms at Vermont businesses and even allows smoking in unenclosed areas under certain circumstances.

Please sign our resolution to let legislators know you want to close this loophole.

Resolution to Eliminate Smoking in All Indoor Workplaces
Coalition for a Tobacco Free Vermont


Based on the following facts:
• Secondhand smoke is the third leading cause of preventable death and kills 53,000 non-smokers in the U.S. each year. It causes cancer, heart disease, strokes and many other illnesses. Secondhand smoke also exacerbates other medical conditions such as asthma, emphysema, heart failure and anemia.

• In 1987, Vermont led the nation when it passed the Smoke Free Workplace Act making most indoor worksites smoke free. Yet, the Act fails to protect all Vermont workers because it includes exemptions that allow smoking in designated enclosed areas as well as some unenclosed areas.

• Twenty three states have since passed laws that protect that health and safety of all workers by requiring 100% smoke free workplaces. Vermont’s law is outdated.

• 100% smoke free policies are the only effective way to eliminate secondhand smoke in the workplace. Smoke free workplaces can reduce employers’ legal responsibility, create safer working environments, improve workers’ health, enhance corporate image, and reduce tobacco-related health care costs.

• Smoke-free policies result in healthier employees. Employers with smoke-free policies see a decreased absenteeism among non-smoking employees.

• Prohibiting smoking in the workplace helps smokers who want to quit be successful. 10-20% of smokers quit as a result of smoke free legislation in their workplace.

• Smoke-free policies will decrease costs for businesses and taxpayers. Smoking-related illnesses result in $197 million in productivity losses in Vermont each year. Smokers’ healthcare costs are higher than those of nonsmokers -- $2,284 per year per smoker; lost work time due to smoking breaks translates into $2,574 per year; and smokers’ increased absenteeism translates into an extra $466 per year – for a total cost of employee tobacco use of $5,324 per year, per smoker.

• There is no ventilation system that will prevent secondhand smoke from permeating nonsmoking areas. Separately ventilated smoking rooms offer no protection for employees who work in those rooms and may even exacerbate their situation by concentrating all the smoking in one place.

• Eliminating the exemptions in the Smoke Free Workplace Act will extend protection from secondhand smoke exposure to ALL workers and afford ALL workers the right to breathe clean air at work.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the undersigned organization endorses:
o Strengthening the Smoke Free Workplace Act by prohibiting smoking in all indoor workplaces.

Additionally, the undersigned organization agrees to:
o Inform its members and, if possible, the general public of its endorsement of this Resolution; and
o Inform the Governor and members of the Legislature of its endorsement of this Resolution, to the extent permitted by law, and urge its constituency to do so; and
o Permit the Coalition for a Tobacco Free Vermont to publicize this Resolution and its signers with the Vermont Legislature and general public.

Organization: __________________________________ Authorized signature: __________________________
Contact Person: ________________________________ Number of Members: __________________________
Phone: _______________________________________ Email: ______________________________________
Address: __________________________________________________________________________________

Please return to: Tina Zuk, Coalition for a Tobacco Free Vermont, 99 Liberty Lane, Colchester, VT 05446
Fax to: 802-872-6399 or email to: tinalzuk@yahoo.com