The Minister for Health, Michelle O'Byrne, today urged Tasmanian employers to support their staff striving to butt out at work on World No Tobacco Day tomorrow and beyond.

Ms O'Byrne said because tobacco smoking was highly addictive it is important employers support staff trying to reduce or quit smoking.

"Supporting staff to reduce or quit smoking is one of the most important things we can do to protect the health of the Tasmanian workforce," Ms O'Byrne said.

"It's also good for business, because the health of a business depends on the health of its employees.

"Most people spend a lot of time at work and because of that, the workplace can have a big impact on people trying to quit.

"If it's easy to smoke at work, and if workers are surrounded by other people smoking, it's much harder to quit."

Ms O'Byrne said a new resource developed by the Department of Health and Human Services, Going Smokefree: Your Workplace Kit explains how to support employees reduce or quit smoking.

The kit covers the benefits of reducing workplace smoking, how to make a worksite smoke-free, legal responsibilities, and communication and signage requirements.

The kit also provides case studies and easy-to-use templates that minimise the effort involved.

How employers can help workers Butt Out on World No Tobacco Day and beyond

·           Provide information about the benefits of going smoke free and the support available, including phone and online support available from Quit Tasmania.

·           Encourage employees to talk to a doctor or pharmacist about using nicotine replacement therapy.

·           Consider subsidising the cost of nicotine replacement therapy.

·           Identify a workplace champion to support smoking cessation and consider providing training for that person so they can pass on information, support and advice to other employees.

·           Decide to put in place a smoke-free worksite policy, and use the new resource: Going Smokefree: Your workplace kit to make it happen.

Ms O'Byrne said the Going Smokefree: Your workplace kit was piloted at Tasmanian worksites, including the Port Arthur Historic Site, which went totally smoke-free for workers and visitors last year.

Going Smoke-Free: Your workplace kit is freely available online at www.dhhs.tas.gov.au/peh/smoke-free_workplace

World No Tobacco Day information is available at Butt out at work on World No Tobacco Day