An infographic published online by the CDC Foundation draws attention to the economic effects of workplace tobacco use, which costs the U.S. economy approximately $300 billion every year in direct medical care and lost productivity, according to a recent study.  The infographic is one of several resources for employers collected in a recent issue of Business Pulse, a publication that focuses on how occupational health and safety issues affect businesses. 

In addition to the health-related costs, the infographic on workplace tobacco use quantifies the economic effects of smoking on infrastructure, such as additional maintenance costs and higher insurance premiums due to increased risks of fire.  Sources cited by the infographic estimate that annual maintenance costs at workplaces where smoking is allowed are around $700 greater per 1,000 square feet than at workplaces that do not allow smoking. 

The infographic includes basic information about the health effects of smoking and second-hand smoke.  It links to other CDC resources that can help employers reduce tobacco use among employees, including NIOSH’s Current Intelligence Bulletin 67: Promoting Health and Preventing Disease and Injury through Workplace Tobacco Policies (PDF). 

The CDC Foundation is an independent non-profit organization established by the U.S. Congress to support the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.