Offering employees a smoking-cessation program can generate a “large payback for a small investment,” said Andrea Docherty, a senior coordinator with the Canadian Cancer Society’s Smokers’ Helpline. She spoke Monday at Health and Safety 2008, the International Accident Prevention Association’s (IAPA) annual trade show and conference.

Referring to a Conference Board of Canada report, Docherty said that smoking-cessation efforts have shown to save employers up to $3,396 annually per smoker through the avoidance of certain costs, including absenteeism, decreased productivity and the cost of providing a smoking facility.

Docherty said organizations can help employees struggling with tobacco addiction by:

• educating them on the benefits of quitting;
• taking advantage of the smoking-cessation tools and resources offered by the Smokers’ Helpline, such as lunch ’n learns;
• holding wellness fairs focused on stress management; and
• covering the cost of smoking-cessation aids.

Smokers’ Helpline is a free, confidential, service that provides personalized support, advice and information to people about quitting smoking. Help is available by phone or online. It is offered by the Canadian Cancer Society and paid for by provincial governments.

“Quit specialists”–trained Canadian Cancer Society personnel–help callers by creating personalized quit plans for them and supporting people throughout the process. They also provide motivation, self-help materials, referrals to community-based services and follow-up calls at designated times.

The quit specialists also do on-site presentations and can help employers design workplace smoking-cessation plans.

“All it costs is your time and some money for little prizes,” said Kelly Pierson, a coordinator for Smokers’ Helpline in Saskatchewan, who co-presented with Docherty.

“One of the best things you can do for your workforce is to help people quit smoking,” she said.

Health and Safety 2008 is in its 91st year and runs from April 21-23 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Toronto.

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