A safe and healthy workplace

Camden-Clark’s decision to become a smoke-free facility later this year is really about providing a safe and healthy work environment for everyone.

CCMH, like many businesses, works hard to promote and maintain a safe working environment for employees, patients and visitors. And, while tobacco use is a personal choice, it is irresponsible for a healthcare institution to condone its practice in the face of the overwhelming health risks involved with its usage.

The dangers of smoking are no longer debatable and are quite sobering. According to the Centers for Disease Control:

•The risk of dying from lung cancer is more than 22 times higher among men who smoke cigarettes and about 12 times higher among women who smoke cigarettes compared with never smokers.

•Cigarette smoking increases the risk for many types of cancer, including cancers of the lip, oral cavity, pharynx, esophagus, pancreas, larynx (voice box), lung, uterine cervix, urinary bladder, and kidney.

•Smoking causes coronary heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States. Cigarette smokers are 2–4 times more likely to develop coronary heart disease than nonsmokers.

•Cigarette smoking approximately doubles a person's risk for stroke.

Moreover, smoking is unique among other unhealthy lifestyle choices since it poses a significant health risk to nonsmokers through secondhand smoke.

Studies indicate that there is no “safe” level of second-hand smoke…even brief exposure can be dangerous. According to a study by the California Environmental Protection Agency, secondhand smoke exposure causes approximately 3,400 lung cancer deaths and 22,700–69,600 heart disease deaths annually among adult nonsmokers in the United States. And, secondhand smoke exposure is responsible for 150,000–300,000 new cases of bronchitis and pneumonia in children aged less than 18 months. This results in 7,500–15,000 hospitalizations, annually.

Most important, more than 126 million nonsmoking Americans continue to be exposed to secondhand smoke in homes, vehicles, public places and especially in the workplace.

A smoke-free policy should not be viewed as an indictment of smokers. Rather than an attempt to restrict behavior, it is an effort to focus on lifestyle changes that can result in better health and safety for all. That’s why we’re providing plenty of time until the policy takes affect and will continue to support and offer smoking cessation classes.

Finally, I think it’s important and significant that Camden-Clark has joined with St. Joseph’s Hospital in this smoke-free endeavor. As the community looks to both hospitals for health guidance and information, the message will be clear: we’re both committed to providing a healthy environment for patients, visitors and employees and to making the Mid-Ohio Valley a happier and healthier place to live and work.