Smoking rates vary among workers

Smoking is more common in the mining and food service industries than in other occupations, according to a U.S. government report.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's report looked at cigarette smoking prevalence among 113, 000 adults from 2004 to 2010. Smoke-free workplace policies could help reduce smoking and improve employee health, U.S. researchers say. Peter Morrison/Associated Press

By industry, smoking was lowest in the education services industry such as among teachers and librarians (9.7 per cent) and highest in the mining and food services industries (30 per cent), the report's authors said.

Higher levels of smoking were observed among workers aged 18 to 24 years, male workers, those with high school or less education, those with no health insurance coverage, and those living below the federal poverty level.

Also, some people who work outdoors are less likely to face the kind of indoor smoking bans seen in white-collar workplaces like schools, hospitals and office buildings, said Dr. Tim McAfee, director of the Office on Smoking and Health at the CDC.

The authors called for employers to take steps to reduce smoking and improve employee health, decrease absenteeism, and reduce use of health care resources.

These measures include:

100 per cent smoke-free workplace policies.Easily accessible help for those who want to quit.Health insurance with little or no co-payment for cessation treatments.

For decades, the biggest smokers by profession in the U.S. have been roofers, drywall installers, brick and stone masons and other workers in construction trades.

But health officials have warned construction workers may be at higher risk from smoking, especially if they are exposed to asbestos since studies suggest people who work with asbestos are more likely to develop lung cancer if they also smoke.

Smoking can also be more dangerous for miners who might ignite methane gas with matches or cigarette lighters.

The report's authors acknowledged drawbacks of the study, such as self-reports of smoking that were not backed up with biochemical tests.

The study was published in this week's issue of the CDC publication Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

With files from The Associated Press Accessibility Links

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