Legal risks to employers who allow smoking in the workplace

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 second-hand 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. (AM J Public Health. 2007;97:1376-1382.doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2006.094102)