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Exposure to secondhand smoke is a significant public health problem, causing 38,000 premature deaths annually in nonsmokers. The two major sources of exposure are the home and work. We analyzed occupational data from the Census Bureau's Current Population Survey for smoke-free policy trends among various categories of Texas workers. Nearly three quarters of white collar workers in the state are currently smoke free, but proportionately fewer blue collar and service workers enjoy this level of protection. Hispanics report lower rates of smoke-free policies than whites and African-Americans, and younger workers are less protected than older workers. Smoke-free policies increased 27% from 1992-93 through 1995-96 but only 5% over the next 6 years, indicating a significant slowing in the rate of adoption of such policies. Compliance with a smoke-free policy is not a significant workplace issue in Texas; only 2.7% of workers in 2001-02 reported that someone violated their company's smoke-free policy, down from 5.1% in 1992-93.

Background: Exposure to job-related secondhand smoke represents a significant, but entirely preventable occupational health risk to non-smoking workers. This article examines trends in smoke-free workplace policies in North Carolina. We also examine whether workers comply with such policies., Methods: Data from the Census Bureau's Current Population Survey were analyzed from 1992 through 2002. Trends for North Carolina workers are compared with workers nationally and trends are presented by age, race, gender, and type of worker., Results: North Carolina ranks 35th in the proportion of its workforce reporting a smoke-free place of employment. The proportion of workers reporting such a policy doubled between 1992 and 2002. Females were more likely to reporta smoke-free work environment (72.0%, CI +/- 2.6) than males (61.2%, CI +/- 4.6%). Blue-collar (55.6%, CI +/- 5.5) and service workers (61.2%, CI +/- 8.4), especially males, were less likely to report a smoke-free worksite than white-collar workers (73.4%, CI +/- 2.6). Compliance with a smoke-free policy does not appear to be an issue, only 3.2% of workers statewide reported someone had violated their company's nonsmoking policy, Conclusion: While some progress has been made in North Carolina to protect workers from secondhand smoke, significant disparities exist. Smoke-free policies can make a significant difference in reducing exposure to airborne toxins and their associated diseases, and these protective public health policies have not been shown to reduce business revenues. Much has been done to assure the health and safety of workers through public health policy However, opportunities to protect North Carolina workers from the health effects of secondhand smoke are limited by a preemptive state law.

Unlabelled: This report summarizes trends in Arkansas to protect workers from the documented harm caused by secondhand smoke. We also examined whether employees comply with smoke-free policies., Findings: While considerable progress has been made to protect workers from secondhand smoke, Arkansas workers report significantly lower rates of smoke-free policies than workers nationally and ranked 46th among the states in this important area of occupational health in 2001-02. Blue-collar and service workers in the state lag significantly behind their white-collar counterparts and men report lower rates of smoke-free policies than women. Once implemented, however, compliance with a smoke-free policy is nearly universal among working Arkansans.

Information is lacking on which groups of workers are protected from job-related environmental tobacco smoke. Data from the Census Bureau's Current Population Survey are analyzed for trends in smoke-free workplace policies among 38 major occupations. Data are also analyzed to determine the degree of compliance with such policies. Although over three fourths of white collar workers are covered by smoke-free policies, including 90% of teachers, just 43% of the country's 6.6 million food preparation and service occupations workers benefit from this level of protection. Compliance with workplace restrictions is not a significant human resources issue because only 3.8% of workers reported that someone violated a smoke-free policy in 1999, down from 4.9% in 1996. Protection for workers is increasing, but those in food preparation and service occupations are significantly less protected than others.