New York State Clean Indoor Air Act
Public and work places across New York State, including bars and restaurants, have been smokefree indoors since 2003. In 2017, the law was expanded to also prohibit the use of e-cigarettes. Clean Indoor Air Laws are not only effective in protecting workers from secondhand smoke exposure, but also reduce overall smoking rates and employer maintenance costs. Learn more about NY’s Clean Indoor Air Act here.
Employers can do even more to protect their employees!
It’s no secret why worksites that extend tobacco-free policies to their outdoor property are becoming the norm. Benefits include:
- Protecting employees, visitors and clients from the harmful and damaging effects of secondhand smoke exposure.
- Creating an environment that supports tobacco-free choices.
- Lowering absenteeism and increasing worker productivity.
- Reducing maintenance costs by eliminating tobacco product litter and fire hazards.
- Increasing curb appeal and reducing loitering.
- Being responsive to the majority of New Yorkers who notice and appreciate the improvements of tobacco-free environments.
Certain employers have the most to gain
Across the state, community partners have supported hundreds of organizations and businesses in achieving their tobacco-free goals, including many here in the Capital District. All employers that make their property tobacco-free will reap the benefits, but certain employers may have the most to gain.
- Businesses that have the highest rates of tobacco-using employees, such as those in the food service, construction and transportation industries.
- Community-based agencies providing services to populations that are disproportionately impacted by tobacco use, including people with low-SES, people with behavioral health issues, and members of the LGBTQ community.
- Businesses that provide family- and youth-friendly services.
- Municipalities because they have a special responsibility to make public services and programs accessible to all members of the community, including those with health conditions that can be exacerbated by exposure to secondhand smoke and e-cigarette emissions.
- Colleges and Universities typically have a large number of employees, heavily trafficked campuses, and a student population at particularly high-risk for nicotine addiction.
How Capital District Tobacco-Free Communities can help
CDTFC can provide hands-on help to employers located in Albany, Rensselaer and Schenectady counties.
- Telephone, email or in-person technical assistance, including presentations or information sessions.
- Sample policies, sample employee outreach materials, FAQs, and timelines.
- Assistance identifying and accessing local cessation services for your employees.
- No-cost tobacco-free signage for your property.
Learn More
Good Health is Good Business: A Tobacco-Free Workplace Policy Guide
The Workplace Policy Guide provides excellent guidance for transitioning to a tobacco-free workplace and we’re here to help you customize that guidance to your particular needs.
Be Safe, Be Kind Window Clings and Table Tents
Business owners know how to keep employees and customers safe from COVID-19—wash hands, keep distance, and wear a mask. Clearing the air of tobacco smoke and vape aerosols can help, too. Contact us for FREE window clings and table tents identifying your entryway and outdoor service areas as vape- and tobacco-free.
Tobacco-Free College Campuses in New York State
This brief guide provides information on the benefits of tobacco-free campuses, guidance for transitioning to a tobacco-free campus, and additional resources.
Take the first step. Contact Simona Fish at Simona.Fish@sphp.com.
To the left is a typical tobacco product display. If you don’t use tobacco, you may not even notice, but kids do. Kids see. Kids notice. Kids remember. In fact, kids are more than twice as likely as adults to notice and remember retail tobacco marketing.