BA Plan Aims to Cut Tobacco Use by Workers

Source from:  By JEFF BILLINGTON World Staff Writer 12/16/2007  12/17/2007

The city has put together a program to help its workers curb their use of tobacco products. It's basically designed to help city employees become tobacco-free, said Hayden Downie, an assistant city attorney. "We're being compliant with the state statutes, but we're following closer to the idea of working out smoking altogether," he said. Downie, who smoked for more than 30 years, said the city plans to offer a wellness program through its insurance at some point. "That means no smoking in cars or public buildings for employees," he said. About 20 percent to 25 percent of the city's more than 600 employees use some sort of tobacco product, Downie said. A diverse group of police officers, firefighters, city employees and health department officials met for four months to create the wellness policy, which emphasizes three areas: health, early intervention and education. The City Council is set to adopt the program Monday. To encourage employees' participation, the city will provide incentives to help them improve their overall health, City Councilor Phil Tucker said. The incentives include time off during a regular work schedule to attend the annual health fair and donate blood; an annual one-time reduction in the health plan contribution when an employee elects to participate in the metabolic screening and health risk assessment at the health fair; payroll deduction for health club memberships; city-subsidized participation in the Weight Watchers at Work and tobacco cessation programs; a comprehensive health insurance program that provides benefits for an annual medical examination, child immunizations and prescription drugs for smoking cessation; and flu shots. Tucker said employees' response to the program has been mixed. "There's a mixed bag of reactions, kind of what you would expect," he said. "There are those who didn't want to participate with the actual policy, and there are those who believe this will give them an opportunity to try something to help them quit in some way. "People have come to me from the inside ranks that have said they're glad we're attempting this." Downie said a new city policy says that all city facilities must comply with the Oklahoma Smoke Free Workplace Act, with smoking areas identified outside each building, and that the policy will be strictly enforced. Tucker said the policy also states that all city vehicles and equipment will become tobacco-free by July 1, 2008. By Jan. 1, 2009, tobacco use on all city property will be abolished, he said. "City workers have exceptional medical coverage, with the city paying close to 85 percent of all medical costs. If we can help cut the costs of health insurance for employees, then it's even more beneficial," Tucker said. Enditem