Successful implementation of a no-smoking policy

Abstract

Literature suggests that positive behavioural changes occur among employees after the introduction of a no-smoking policy (NSP). This paper reports successful results following the introduction of a revised NSP at Hawker de Havilland Victoria (HDHV) Limited, an aerospace component manufacturing company. In February, 1994 a poll survey indicated that 86 of the 480 employees smoked. In April, 1994 all 480 employees were surveyed, to assess smoking behaviour and attitudes. Education programs and company-sponsored Fresh Start Quit courses were conducted on-site. In August, 1994 a second survey was distributed, to the smokers only, to assess smoking habits, behaviour, satisfaction with the NSP and whether education programs influenced them to change their smoking habits. Findings in this study suggest that the introduction of the NSP and education programs induced positive behavioural and attitudinal changes to smoking. In August, 1994 the key results of the second smoking survey indicated that 5 per cent of employees quit smoking, 43 per cent reduced the number of cigarettes smoked per day, 1.6 per cent smoked more and 30 per cent reported no change. These results show that a short-term multifaceted smoking cessation program implemented over 5 months can produce a decrease in cigarette smoking.