Resources Library – Smoke-Free Environments – Workplaces

Smoke-Free Environments – Workplaces

Ensuring all workplaces are smoke-free is not just important for employee wellness; it is required by law! New Brunswick’s Smoke-Free Places Act was first introduced in October 2004, banning smoking in all enclosed public spaces and indoor workplaces. Today, it is illegal to smoke and vape any type of substance in an indoor workplace as well as certain outdoor spaces, such as next to public buildings like workplaces.

Employers can encourage wellness at work in a variety of ways, including promoting and enforcing their smoke-free workplace. However, a comprehensive 100% smoke-free workplace goes beyond simply ensuring employees respect the no smoking and no vaping policy indoors. Employers will see numerous benefits in terms of employee health & wellness, as well as satisfaction and productivity at work, by implementing the following additional measures:

• Realizing that smoking and vaping product use is not a bad habit, it is an addiction. People who have an addiction to nicotine need encouragement and support to quit – and their chances of success triple if they are followed by a dedicated health care professional.* Employers can educate themselves and their employees on the addictive properties of nicotine and the various tools and smoking cessation resources available in the community. Smokers need encouragement, support, and access to the right resources to quit – not shaming!  (Source: Helping a Loved One Quit Smoking – NBATC)
• Offering free nicotine replacement therapies at work for employees to manage cravings, as well covering the costs of smoking cessation aids for employees who want to quit smoking, referring those employees to free counselling and support to increase their chances of success, and offering incentives to support employee wellness in general.
• If their property is quite large, choosing to adopt a 100% smoke-free outdoor environment policy on the entirety of the work property (and thus enforcing a smoke-free zone that goes beyond the required 9m zone next to of doorways, windows and air intakes of the building). Having a 100% smoke-free outdoor environment policy means absolutely no designated smoking areas allowed at all on the property, including inside cars in parking lots. Employees will enjoy no longer being exposed to second-hand smoke in the parking lot or on their way into work. Having a 100% smoke-free outdoor environment policy will also make the property cleaner (fewer cigarette butts) as well as help employees who are quitting smoking succeed since they will be less exposed to triggers. Many former smokers who work in businesses, institutions and organizations that have implemented a 100% smoke-free outdoor environment policy also report that this policy motivated them to finally take the extra steps needed to succeed at quitting smoking!

Employers who choose to adopt this approach should ensure that smoking cessation supports are offered to employees to ensure adherence to the policy. Smoke and Vape Free NB (SVFNB) believes we all win when we can live, work, and play in 100% smoke-free environments! We encourage employers and employees to be Wellness Champions by working together to implement a comprehensive 100% smoke-free policy – both indoors and outdoors! Contact us for help and support!

Legislation & Policies

The New Brunswick Smoke-Free Places Act prohibits smoking and vaping tobacco, cannabis and all other substances in all indoor workplaces. The Smoke-Free Places Act also prohibits smoking and vaping in a variety of outdoor public environments. All employers should ensure that their workplace also respects these outdoor smoke-free designated areas, where applicable. See our Smoke-Free Environments page for the complete list. One of the designated smoke-free zones that ALL workplace buildings need to consider is the following:

• No smoking/no vaping within nine metres of doorways, windows and air intakes of enclosed public places and indoor workplaces.

Reporting Smoking and Vaping Violations

See our Smoke-Free Environments page.

Signage

See our Smoke-Free Environments page for information on signage requirements, as well as downloadable signs and templates. (link to Smoke-Free Environments quick find page from the website)

Dangers of Exposure to Second and Third-Hand Smoke

See our Smoke-Free Environments page for information on the importance of smoke-free environments and the dangers of second and third-hand smoke.

Of particular interest:

• Smoke Is Smoke! – New Brunswick Anti-Tobacco Coalition (2019)
• Outdoor Spaces: Smoke-Free for All – New Brunswick Anti-Tobacco Coalition (2015)
• The Tobacco Atlas: Second-Hand Smoke

Resources for a Smoke-Free Workplace

Funding & Grants

Funding and grants available for tobacco and vaping product use prevention, integrating smoking cessation in your workplace and making your workplace smoke-free are listed on our Funding & Grants page.

Learning Opportunities

Are you an employer, community leader, health care professional, or policymaker? Recommended resources to consult are listed on our Smoke-Free Environments page for you to learn more about:

• statistics on smoking rates and exposure to second-hand and third-hand smoke;
• public health information on smoking and vaping; and
• aligning your efforts with those already underway nationally and provincially.

Smoke-Free Workplace Success Stories