State-specific trends in smoke-free workplace policy coverage: The CurrentPopulation Survey Tobacco Use Supplement, 1993 to 1999

We examined trends in smoke-free workplace policies among all indoor worker s in the United States using the National Cancer Institute's Tobacco Use Su pplement to the Census Bureau's Current,free was defined as Population Surv ey (total n = 270,063). Smoke-free was defined as not permitted in public o r common areas or in work areas of a worksite. Nationally, we found that ne arly 70% of the US workforce worked under a smoke-free policy in 1999. At t he state level, a greater than 30-percentage-point differential existed in the proportion of workers with such policies. Although significant progress has been made to reduce worker exposure to environmental tobacco smoke on the job, we predict further progress may be difficult unless comprehensive regulations to protect all workers are implemented at the national, state, or loral level.