Leslie Zellers ¹, Meliah A. Thomas ², Marice Ashe ^1*

¹ Public Health Law Program, Public Health Institute, Oakland, CA
² student at the University of California, Boalt Hall School of Law in Berkeley, CA.

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: mashe{at}phi.org.

	Abstract

There is mounting evidence that documents the dangers of exposure to secondhand smoke, including in the workplace. In states that permit workplace smoking, employers face significant legal risks from employees who are exposed to secondhand smoke on the job. Employers have been held liable for employee exposure to secondhand smoke in numerous cases, including those based on workers’ compensation, state and federal disability law, and the duty to provide a safe workplace. Given this liability risk, employers should voluntarily adopt smoke-free workplace policies. Such policies do more than fulfill an employer’s legal obligation to provide a safe workplace; They also reduce the risk of litigation, potentially reduce workers’ compensation premiums, and protect employees from harm.

Key Words: Health Policy, Occupational Health, Environmental Tobacco Smoke, Tobacco Control, Tobacco