Business operators are obliged by the Industrial Safety and Health Act to make efforts in creating a comfortable work environment and are required to take preventive measures against passive smoking at workplaces as part of such efforts.

## Outline of Guidelines for Comfortable Workplaces

1. Details of measures to be taken

(1) Appropriate maintenance and management of work environment not to make it uncomfortable to work in

(2) Improved work methods for work performed in an uncomfortable posture or work requiring considerable muscular strength

(3) Establishment and development of resting rooms, etc.

(4) Maintenance and management of facilities required for office life, including washrooms and lavatories, etc., to keep them in a clean and easy to use condition

2. Matters to be concerned

(1) Taking necessary measures for continued and systematic efforts for the creation, maintenance, and management of comfortable work environment

(2) Taking necessary measures for reflecting as much opinions of workers as possible

(3) Taking into consideration individual differences, including age, etc.

(4) Taking into consideration that workplaces have rich and relaxing atmosphere

With regard to the status of efforts of preventive measures against passive smoking at workplaces, according to the 2012 Survey on State of Employees' Health, the percentage of workplaces that adopt total prohibition of smoking or designated smoking areas was 61.4% and is rising when compared to similar surveys in the past.

○ Percentage of workplaces taking measures of total prohibition of smoking or designated smoking areas

| Total prohibition of smoking | Designated smoking areas
2007 | 18.4 | 27.9
2011 | 25.8 | 21.8
2012 | 42.0 | 19.4
**Total prohibition of smoking** | **46.3%** | **61.4%**

Source: “Special Survey on Industrial Safety and Health”, Statistics and Information Department, Minister's Secretariat, MHLW

The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare provides the following support to promote efforts of preventive measures against passive smoking by business operators.

o Support for preventive measures against passive smoking at workplaces provided by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

1. Subsidies for preventive measures against passive smoking

○ Business operators covered: Small- and medium-sized business operators of all business types

○ Subject to subsidies: Expenses for establishing smoking rooms (limited in FY2013)

☐ Subsidy rate/amount: 1/2 of the expenses of preventive measures against passive smoking (up to ¥2 million)

2. Technical consultation services/briefing sessions (free of charge)

○ Implementation of telephone consultations by experts on various inquiries (on-site instruction at request)

○ Holding briefing sessions on preventive measures against passive smoking for management executives and persons in charge of safety and health management

3. Lending tobacco smoke measuring devices (free of charge)

○ Lending devices for measuring the tobacco smoke concentration and the ventilation status of smoking rooms

○ Explanations on how to use the devices lent out or evaluation methods may be provided over the telephone or on-site as requested by clients