This website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best experience. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to learn more.
This Website Uses Cookies
By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Learn More
This website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best experience. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to learn more.
ISHN logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
ISHN logo
  • Home
  • Magazine
    • Current Issue
    • Digital Editions
    • Archives
    • Buyer's Guide
    • Subscribe
  • Topics
    • Environment
    • Environmental Health and Safety
    • Government Regulations
    • Health
    • Industrial Hygiene
    • Occupational Safety
    • PPE
    • Product Case Studies
    • Psychology
    • Safety Culture
    • Training
    • Transportation Safety
    • More Topics
  • Construction
  • Oil & Gas
  • Columns
    • Editorial Comments
    • Best Practices
    • Positive Cultures
    • Training Strategies
    • Closing Time
    • FR Protection
    • Thought Leadership
  • Products
  • Conventions
    • Convention Companion
  • Multimedia
    • eBooks
    • Infographics
    • Photo Galleries
    • ISHN Podcasts
    • Your Digital Mentor Podcasts
    • Videos
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • ISHN YouTube Videos
  • More
    • Awards
      • 2020 Readers' Choice Awards- Submit Products
    • eNewsletters
    • Events
    • ISHN Store
    • Product Case Studies
    • Product Innovations
    • Showrooms
    • Vendor News
  • Advertise
    • Contact
Home » New research on worker tobacco use
Health
A NIOSH Science Blog post

New research on worker tobacco use

smoking-2-900.jpg
November 20, 2017
Girija Syamlal
KEYWORDS disease prevention / smoking cessation / smoking health effects
Reprints

An estimated one in five working U.S. adults use some type of tobacco product according to new research from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) published in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Of the estimated 32.7 million working adults who used tobacco, an estimated 6.9 million use two or more tobacco products “every day” or “somedays.”

While cigarettes remain the most commonly used tobacco product, the use of multiple tobacco products has become common among current users of non-cigarette products. In order to document tobacco use among working adults, NIOSH researchers examined three years of data (2014-2016) from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS).

The results reveal the widespread use of tobacco. Among working adults (148 million), 15.4% used cigarettes, 5.8% used other combustible tobacco (such as cigars and hookahs), 3% used smokeless tobacco, and 3.6% used e-cigarettes. Additionally, an estimated 6.9 million workers (4.6%) currently use two or more of these tobacco products. Use of multiple tobacco products is associated with increased risk for nicotine addiction, dependence, and adverse health effects.

Additionally, 34.3% of workers in the construction industry and 37.2% of workers in installation, maintenance and repair occupations were current tobacco users. Working adults who used tobacco products, according to the study, were also more likely to be young, male, those living below the federal poverty level, and have no health insurance. When it came to use of multiple tobacco products, the same sociodemographic characteristics held true.

The study indicates that among working adults, tobacco use varied by industry and occupation as well as by product type and selected worker characteristics, which reinforces the need to focus prevention efforts to prevent and reduce all forms of tobacco use in the workplace. Science-based interventions and policies, when implemented in the workplace, can effectively reduce and eliminate smoking and use of other tobacco products and encourage those who want to quit.

According to the CDC, cigarette smoking remains the largest cause of preventable disease, disability and death in the United States. Tobacco use not only threatens employees’ health and well-being, but also results in decreased productivity, increased absenteeism and increased workplace maintenance costs. The CDC Foundation and CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health provides Tobacco Use: A threat to workplace health and productivity, which offers information to help employers learn how they can reduce tobacco use and increase the health and productivity of their workers. Research has shown that workers at worksites that adopted or maintained smoke-free policies were twice as likely to quit smoking as were those whose worksites did not implement such policies.

To learn more about tobacco use and worker safety, visit the NIOSH website and see related blogs:

  • Workplace Secondhand Smoke Exposure During Pregnancy: Who is protected?
  • Secondhand Smoke and Casino Dealers 
  • Tobacco in the Workplace 
  • Reducing Worker Exposure to ETS 
  • Warning: Surgeon General Finds that Cigarette Smoking Is Even More Dangerous to Your Health

Subscribe to ISHN Magazine

Girija Syamlal is an epidemiologist in the NIOSH Respiratory Health Division.

Related Articles

Most US adults believe pharmacies shouldn’t sell tobacco

New Tobacco Atlas details scale, harms of tobacco epidemic

One in five U.S. adults still used tobacco products in 2015

Related Events

Gas Detectors: The most common mistakes people make when using atmospheric monitors

Related Directories

Mastery Training Services

Magid

Subscribe For Free!
  • Digital Edition Subscriptions
  • ISHN eNewsletter & Other eNews Alerts
  • Online Registration
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Popular Stories

Today's News

2 young part-time UPS workers killed in California

Today's News

Steel worker injured at Indiana plant

crystal ball

Safety and health trends for 2020

Tesla

Report finds worker injuries are “routine” at Tesla’s Nevada plant

Lendlease

Humorous workplace safety campaign features mothers

ISHN Readers' Choice Awards 2020 product submissions


Events

March 7, 2019

Safety and Wellness: The Combination that Drives Engagement and Profitability

On Demand Attend this webinar for the keys to success, as well as mistakes to avoid, when targeting safety and wellness with a Recognition & Reward Program.

View All Submit An Event

ISHN Podcasts


ISHN Podcasts

ISHN Magazine

ISHN1219_cover.jpg

2019 December

Among the articles in the December 2019 issue of ISHN Magazine, we have expert insight on selecting the right respirator, a link to the 2020 Buyers’ & Resource Guide, 10 safety mistakes that can land you in a courtroom, and much more.
View More Create Account
  • Resources
    • List Rental
    • Safety A-Z
    • Custom Content & Marketing Services
    • Market Research
    • Web Exclusives
    • Privacy Policy
  • Want More
    • Connect
    • Subscribe
    • Survey And Sample

Copyright ©2019. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing