ETS exposure in the workplace. Perceptions and reactions by employees in 114 work sites. Working Well Research Group [corrected]

J Occup Environ Med. 1995 Sep;37(9):1086-92.

Abstract

Employees are often exposed to and bothered by environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) in the workplace; however, little is known about correlates of workers' perceptions of their exposure. In this study, 20,801 employees in 114 work sites in the United States were surveyed; variables related to perceptions of exposure and being bothered by ETS were entered into regression models. Many of the workplaces had total or partial restrictions on smoking in the workplace; however, over half of the respondents (52.4%) reported they were exposed to ETS at work. Smoking policy, smoking status, age, gender, living with a smoker, and occupation contributed to models for perceived exposure and being bothered by tobacco smoke. Work site smoking restrictions seem to have an impact on employee attitudes concerning exposure to ETS. About 35% of employees were bothered regularly by smokiness at their workplaces, which made their working conditions both uncomfortable and exposed them to an unsafe working environment.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Air Pollutants, Occupational / adverse effects*
  • Attitude to Health*
  • Female
  • Health Promotion
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Organizational Policy
  • Prospective Studies
  • Smoking Cessation / psychology
  • Tobacco Smoke Pollution / adverse effects*
  • Tobacco Smoke Pollution / prevention & control
  • Treatment Outcome
  • United States
  • Workplace*

Substances

  • Air Pollutants, Occupational
  • Tobacco Smoke Pollution