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Safety Meeting Topics on the Hazards of Smoking

Cigarette smoking is a serious public health problem, causing everything from cancer to deadly fires that take the lives of smokers and non-smokers alike. The Centers for Disease Control estimate that smoking causes 443,000 yearly deaths in the United States and is responsible for the vast majority of lung cancer deaths. Use a safety meeting as an opportunity to teach employees about the danger smoking poses to themselves and those around them.

  1. Smoking and Cancer

    • Women who smoke have a higher chance of developing cervical cancer.

      Share the facts about the relationship between smoking and cancer during a safety meeting. According to the National Cancer Institute, cigarette smoke contains over 7,000 chemicals, including ammonia and carbon monoxide. Of these chemicals, 250 are known to be dangerous to health and 69 are proven carcinogens, leading to cancers of the lungs, mouth, throat, pancreas and other parts of the body.

    Secondhand Smoke Risks

    • Secondhand smoke can give kids sore throats and sniffles.

      Warn employees about the damaging effects secondhand smoke has on the health of non-smokers. Exposure to the cigarette smoke of others poses a wide variety of health risks for both children and adults, increasing their risk of cancer, asthma, heart disease and respiratory infections like bronchitis. Advise smokers to take cigarette breaks outdoors, away from others, to avoid exposing them to dangerous chemicals. Tell them not to smoke in the car if they have passengers.

    Fire Hazard

    • Neighbors and friends of smokers make up 25 percent of people killed in cigarette-related fires.

      Use a safety meeting to remind your employees that potentially deadly fires can be started by a carelessly-handled cigarette. The U.S. Fire Administration reports that over 1,000 people die in cigarette-related fires yearly; a third are children of smokers. Smoking is also the top cause of preventable fire deaths. Smokers should light up outside, use sturdy ashtrays and make sure cigarettes are completely out.

    Dental Problems

    • Smoking can cause bone loss in the jaw.

      Inform employees about the harm done to their teeth and overall oral health by cigarettes. Smoking can lead to a host of painful and unsightly dental problems, such as bad breath, yellow teeth and a buildup of tartar and plaque. Cigarette smoking slows healing from procedures like root canals and lowers the success rate of dental implants. Smokers are also more likely to develop inflamed salivary glands and gum disease, which can lead to tooth loss.

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