[Tobacco and work]

Abstract

Introduction: Health indicators published over more than 15 years in France show differences in the prevalence of smoking in relation to activity status and socio-professional categories. However, the relationship between smoking and work is not limited to this.

Background: Smoking by employees is traditionally regarded as entailing additional costs for businesses, but the actual costs of smoking in the workplace are difficult to assess. Co-exposure to tobacco and the toxic substances encountered in work areas carries an increased risk of developing lung disease, broncho-pulmonary cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in particular. The workplace can also be an area of exposure to passive smoking that affects employees unequally. In France, the use of tobacco and e-cigarettes in the workplace has been regulated since 2006 and 2016, respectively.

Outlook: Workplace smoking cessation programs and smoking bans seem to encourage cessation of smoking. Smoking cessation advice by occupational physicians could work in the same manner. Subjects exposed to occupational carcinogens and tobacco could benefit from low-dose CT screening after a trial period to validate this approach.

Conclusion: Workplaces can be areas for the prevention and cessation of smoking.

Keywords: Lieu de travail; Occupational health; Politique d’interdiction du tabac; Santé au travail; Smoke-free policy; Smoking; Tabac; Tabagisme; Tobacco; Workplace.