Letter to the editor: Nonsmoking policies pay off for employers

|tab|

With the approach of Labor Day, when we celebrate the importance of working people in our local and national economic life, I want to commend Cal LeMon for his recent frank and informative column headlined "Effects of smoking drain business, society."|ret||ret||tab|

It was a clear and undeniable message that every employer in the Springfield community who doesn't already have a smoke-free workplace should take to heart in striving to achieve clean indoor air.|ret||ret||tab|

Here are some additional facts, passed along by Americans for Nonsmokers Rights, that should prompt employers to think more seriously about the benefits of a smoke-free workplace.|ret||ret||tab|

On average, smokers miss two more days per year due to sickness than do nonsmokers.|ret||ret||tab|

Businesses pay an average of $2,189 in workers' compensation costs for smokers compared with $176 for nonsmokers.|ret||ret||tab|

The average health insurance payment for smoking employees is $1,145 versus $762 for nonsmokers, according to the American Cancer Society.|ret||ret||tab|

Smoke-free restaurants can save about $190 per 1,000 square feet yearly in lower cleaning and maintenance costs, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.|ret||ret||tab|

In 1998, smoking materials caused 8,700 fires in nonresidential structures resulting in direct property damage of $60.5 million.|ret||ret||tab|

Fire insurance is commonly reduced 25 percent to 30 percent in smoke-free businesses.|ret||ret||tab|

Springfield is making strides as more and more employers recognize the value of the smoke-free workplace, but much more needs to be done to reach the ultimate goal of protecting for everyone the air we share.|ret||ret||tab|

One of the things the Missouri Partnership on Smoking or Health would like to do is start an honor roll of workplaces that already have an indoor no-smoking policy. |ret||ret||tab|

If you are one of those, give me a call at 417-883-4307.|ret||ret||tab|

|ret||ret||tab|

|ret||ret||tab|

Mike Schilling|ret||ret||tab|

Advocacy coordinator|ret||ret||tab|

Missouri Partnership on Smoking or Health|ret||ret||tab|

[[In-content Ad]]