APPROACH AND METHODOLOGY
This initiative will foster the creation of a global multi-sector partnership to expand the number of employees of all sectors able to work in a smoke-free environment. Those indirectly affected include family and friends with reduced exposure to smoking as a result of behavioral change by non-smoking employees.
Governments, and in particular, ministries of health can lead by example by improving their employees' health and well-being by implementing a comprehensive smoke-free or tobacco-free campus policy and, if Parties to the WHO FCTC, by extending 100% smoke-free protections to all indoor worksites, public transport, indoor public places and as appropriate in other public places in accordance with the guidelines of Article 8 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC).
Private sector companies can ensure that their employees are protected from unsafe exposure to SHS while they work and implement a 100% smoke-free worksite policy that will, in addition to ensuring a safe working environment, provide health and economic benefits to the workforce and company.
Non-governmental & healthcare provider organizations can provide technical support with practice and implementation resources including: support for implementation of smoke-free worksites, advocacy support in publicizing the multiple benefits, and collaborate with advocacy efforts aiming to expand smoke-free legislation.
Project partners will canvass commitments from employers to commit to becoming smoke-free in line with WHO FCTC Article 8 guidelines in which 'smoke free air at the workplace' is defined as air that is 100% smoke free. This requires the total elimination of smoking and tobacco smoke at the workplace and it includes, but is not limited to, air in which tobacco smoke cannot be seen, smelled, sensed or measured.' Partners will also offer support and best-practices to aid in implementation and will support government efforts to extend 100% smoke-free protections to all indoor worksites, public transport, and public places consistent with Article 8 guidelines of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.
Governmental, non-governmental, and private-sector organizations are being invited to join the initiative either as a Commitment Leader or a Commitment Partner.
IMPLEMENTATION, TIMELINE, AND DELIVERABLES
Commitment Leaders have implemented smoke-free workplace policies in their facilities and are in a position to lead by example. They are committed to lead and co-manage a multi-sector project, recruit organizations in the governmental, private, and non-governmental sectors to join the initiative as commitment or funding partners, ensure access to support, address training needs, and engage in communication that will advocate for more smoke-free worksites to protect and promote employee health worldwide. Leaders will form a steering group that shares responsibility for advancing the overall project supported by a secretariat with a project manager to coordinate across and within sectors and to facilitate support and recruitment of partners from each sector. The secretariat will be hosted by an NGO with sound public health credentials and no conflict of interest. The steering group will develop detailed targets and monitoring mechanisms and determine working practices between its members and Commitment Partners. Recruitment will include direct outreach to organizations one to one, written communication, awareness building and recruitment events inviting organizations to make a commitment appropriate to their situation.
Commitment Partners may be employers who are not yet smoke-free or already smoke-free. Funding Partners may be organizations with shared interests in expanding the reach of the project through funding support.
Partners are invited to make the following commitments: Not Yet Smoke-free: a) commit to ensure employees are not exposed to environmental tobacco smoke while they work. b) Establish a 100% smoke-free and/or tobacco-free policy in all worksites. c) Offer cessation support to employees. Already Smoke-free: a) share best practices on implementation. b) Influence organizations in supply chain to commit to smoke-free worksites. c) Public support by CEO/senior leadership. Funding partner: a) Increase the global reach and impact. b) Improve availability & accessibility to resources to increase capacity for implementation & advocacy.
'Commitment partners and leaders will prove that they have no direct or indirect links to the tobacco industry, according to standards determined by the World Health Organization and consistent with the guidelines for Article 5.3 of the WHO FCTC, with the approval of all commitment leaders and as set out in specific documentation to be finalized by 5pm U.S. EDT 16 September 2011.'
Sep 19-22 - Launch - CGI Annual Meeting - public awareness and recruitment.
October - in-depth planning including commitment leaders and available partners.
By end of Q4, 2011 - Establish a steering committee and secretariat with project manager.
Each Commitment Leader will serve on the steering committee and have specific roles and responsibilities for project deliverables as follows:
American Cancer Society (ACS): ACS will work with NGOs and civil society to continue the implementation of smoke free workspaces. The resources of the Global Smoke-free Partnership will be made available to corporations, governments and NGOs looking to go smoke free. Technical assistance would also be available both online and with appropriate national NGOs for support. ACS will continue its work with the United Nations advocating directly to UN Missions and with Ministries of Health on tobacco control with a special emphasis on corporate workspaces and taxation.
Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids (CTFK): CTFK will continue direct country-level support through grants and technical assistance programs. CTFK will continue to work with a variety of key stakeholders in the country, including branches and local offices of leaders and partner organizations of this initiative, to advocate for 100% smoke free public places in the law, consistent with the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. Founded in 1996, The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (and its sister organization, the Tobacco-Free Kids Action Fund) was created to eliminate the death and disease caused by tobacco use-by preventing kids from starting to smoke, encouraging and helping smokers to quit, and protecting everyone from the harms of secondhand smoke. To do this, the Campaign engages in advocacy that keeps tobacco in the spotlight and helps to change public attitudes and policies regarding tobacco use in the U.S. and globally. The Campaign supports governments and non-governmental organizations around the world in advocating for and promoting and implementing evidence based public policies proven to reduce tobacco use. One of five partners in the Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco Use, the Campaign also awards grants to non-governmental organizations working to pass and enforce effective tobacco control policies in low- and middle-income countries with the highest prevalence of tobacco consumption. The Campaign also provides legal assistance with drafting and reviewing legislation, communications and media support, and timely research on global trends and best practices.
Global Business Coalition on Health (GBCHealth): GBCHealth will work to educate their members and network about the Challenge and the health issues surrounding tobacco use in the workplace. They will work to meet the commitment's goals by encouraging our members to sign on as partners, aid them in the creation of workplace policies and educate members and network about the commitment and health issues surrounding tobacco use in workplaces; encourage members to sign on as partners; aid in the creation of workplace policies; and provide guidance in using toolkits, such as the Global Smoke-free Partnership toolkit. GBCHealth's mission is 'To mobilize the power of the global business community to build a healthier world'.
Johnson & Johnson: Johnson & Johnson will share its best practices for implementation of smoke-free worksites, help ensure access to materials and resources and directly engage with others in all sectors (with a particular emphasis on the corporate sector) to join in either committing to protect workers from the hazards of tobacco smoke, implementing a smoke-free/tobacco free policy in their worksites, or where already smoke free, commit to encourage and assist other organizations to do so. Target organizations will include companies in its supply chains and with whom the company is engaged in relevant initiatives such as the CEO Round Table on Cancer, CEO's against Cancer, World Economic Forum, Consumer Goods Forum, and others. Johnson & Johnson implemented a Worldwide Tobacco-Free Workplace Policy in 1997, prohibiting tobacco use at all company locations, including property, buildings, leased buildings, company vehicles and company-sponsored meetings. The policy applies to all employees, contractors and visitors of any Johnson & Johnson Company worldwide and encompasses all tobacco usage, which includes--but is not limited to--smoking (e.g., cigarettes, pipes and cigars) and/or using smokeless tobacco. Since its implementation, the policy has helped both smokers and non-smokers alike, empowering people to discontinue tobacco use, and creating a safe, smoke-free work environment for employees around the world.
Mayo Clinic: Consistent with its mission and that of Global Bridges (see below), Mayo Clinic's role in this initiative will be to provide training in treatment of tobacco dependence to healthcare providers in partner countries and regions, and support physician advocacy to make treatment more available and to implement effective tobacco policy. Mayo Clinic will also share its best practice experience in implementing a smoke-free medical center over more than two decades, and recruit and support additional partners to join the initiative. In 1987 Mayo Clinic became one of the first smoke-free medical centers in the country. As a leader in medicine, Mayo has an obligation to protect its patients and to the public from the risks of tobacco use and secondhand smoke. Smoking or the use of tobacco is prohibited in or on all Mayo-owned or leased buildings, grounds, parking lots, ramps, plazas, vehicles, pedestrian subway areas, and sidewalks adjacent to Mayo properties. Mayo Clinic's leadership led to a smoke-free workplace ordinance in Olmstead County and ultimately to a smoke-free workplace law in the state of Minnesota in 2007.
Global Bridges, a partnership between Mayo Clinic, the American Cancer Society, and the University of Arizona, brings together healthcare providers with complementary expertise to build awareness about the harms of tobacco use, enhance access to proven treatment methods, adapt to regional needs and increase the pace of skill development throughout each of the World Health Organization's six regions. Global Bridges' mission is to:
- Build and mobilize a worldwide network of healthcare providers and organizations who play leadership roles in evidence-based tobacco dependence treatment and tobacco-control policies in their respective countries and regions;
- Promote regional, national, and international adoption of culturally-relevant treatment methods for tobacco dependence and tobacco policy advocacy; and
- Support implementation of the WHO's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, the guidelines for Party nations to protect their citizens from the harms of tobacco.
US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS): DHHS will work with interested countries that it has bi-lateral relationships with to assist them in implementing a comprehensive smoke-free or tobacco-free campus policy in their ministries of health. DHHS will ensure access to support, including technical assistance and tools. Additionally, DHHS will partner with WHO in countries who have very little in place on smoke free policy to provide technical assistance to the ministries of health to establish a smoke-free or tobacco-free campus policy. DHHS will attempt to secure at least three committed countries prior to the announcement in September 2011. Smoke-free or tobacco-free campus policies shall be implemented no later than two years after the commitment announcement. DHHS will track the implementation of smoke-free or tobacco-free campus policies in the ministries of health. DHHS will encourage those countries that implement a smoke-free or tobacco free campus policy to also provide free or low-cost coverage of tobacco cessation services to increase the benefits of the policy. DHHS has recently implemented both a comprehensive tobacco-free campus policy (as of July 2011) and coverage of cessation services (OPM decision as of January 2011). The current DHHS tobacco-free campus policy prohibits the use of all tobacco products (including cigarettes, cigars, pipes, smokeless, snus, and e-cigarettes) at all times in all facilities. The policy applies to all interior space owned, rented or wholly leased; all outside property or grounds owned or leased, including parking areas; private vehicles whole on the property; and employer-owned vehicles - except to the extent that the prohibition interferes with traditional beliefs and ceremonial practices.
World Health Organization (WHO): World Health Organization (WHO): In response to emerging health concerns and to the priorities of Member States, one of WHO priority actions is to address the epidemic of chronic non-communicable diseases, with an emphasis on tobacco control. WHO provides leadership and technical assistance for the implementation of measures consistent with the WHO FCTC through population-based, environmental and behavioral approaches in tobacco control. More specifically, WHO provides direct technical assistance at the request of WHO FCTC Parties for implementing the Convention in coordination with the Convention Secretariat, and supports non-Parties Member States to strengthen their tobacco-control policies and eventually become Parties to the Convention. The WHO FCTC Article 8 creates a legal obligation for the treaty's Parties to take action and so it forms the basis for international action to reduce the burden of disease attributable to second-hand tobacco smoke. The foundations of the guidelines for the implementation of Article 8, adopted unanimously by the COP, are consistent with scientific evidence and well supported by best practices and establish high standards of accountability for treaty compliance. The WHO FCTC article 5.3 also clearly indicates that in setting and implementing their public health policies with respect to tobacco control, Parties shall act to protect these policies from commercial and other vested interests of the tobacco industry in accordance with national law.
In line with its mission and strategic objectives as well as with the WHO FCTC the WHO will work with member states and Parties and organizations in those countries to pass measures that provide universal protection from tobacco smoke in all indoor public places, indoor workplaces, and public transport and other public places as appropriate. This implies among others (1) the removal of the source of the pollutant - tobacco smoke - by implementing 100% smoke-free environment, (2) the enactment, implementation and enforcement of legislation requiring all indoor workplaces and public places to be 100% smoke-free environments. WHO will provide the necessary technical assistance to help those Member States who are already Parties to the treaty to fulfill their commitments to Article 8 and in accordance to Article 8 guidelines. In addition, WHO will provide assistance to Non-Party Member States to take necessary steps for effective universal protection from exposure to SHS if they have not done so yet. WHO will ensure the committed countries' access to support, including technical assistance through training materials as well as assessment, surveillance and monitoring tools, communication needs, and media outreach to the global network. In this way the initiative will become a catalyst to advocate for the approval and implementation of smoke-free legislation fully consistent with the guidelines of Article 8 of the WHO FCTC in countries that have not yet passed such laws. Furthermore, the WHO will collaborate to implement the due diligence procedures to protect the initiative from the interests of the tobacco industry.
Implementation of a Smoke-free Worksite - Example timeline
Month 1-2: Assign responsibilities to a project manager and working group to coordinate project. Draft a policy statement including working group's recommendations, research, and outreach. Develop implementation plan.
Months 3-6: Announce the new policy and timeline for implementation to employees. Put surveillance mechanisms in place to monitor progress.
Month 7: Formally announce implementation of policy with a high-profile event to celebrate Day 1.
Months 8-12: Continue the communications campaign, providing messages that support a smoke-free lifestyle, thanking employees for their support and informing them of available cessation support.
At one year: Evaluate indicators including: number of smokers and interest in quitting 3, 6, and 12 months after policy is implemented; employee compliance with policy, employee participation in cessation programs, physical changes in company environment, incidence of SHS-related health events.
Months 12-24: Solicit interest of other organizations to join commitment; influence supply chain organizations to commit; share best practices and resources with organizations implementing smoke-free policies.