Nimkee Memorial Wellness Center

SUBJECT: Nimkee Smoking PolicyPOLICY NUMBER:

ISSUED BY:Health EducatorAPPROVED BY: Health Board

EFFECTIVE DATE: 08/20/90

REVIEWED BY: Walt KennedyREVISED DATE: / /15

PURPOSE

To provide a totally smoke-free environment for all employees and visitors of the Saginaw Chippewa’s Nimkee Memorial Wellness Center.

SUPERSEDES – NA

POLICY

Nimkee Memorial Wellness CenterAdministration strives to ensure excellence in healthcare is top priority while respecting the importance of the culture and tobacco as a sacred medicine. Administration also wants to safeguard the health and wellbeing of their patients and employees.

1.Smoking is not a legally protected right. The Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe endorses the philosophy that every person ought to have the right to breathe clean air. It is recognized that smoking is dangerous to the health of the smoker. Tobacco smoke in a confined area also creates a health hazard to non-smokers, especially those suffering from heart disease, respiratory disease, or allergies. Second-hand smoke is a health hazard to all individuals and violates their privilege of breathing air free from tobacco smoke contaminants. Vaping (also known as e-cigarettes, hookahs, etc.) creates an aerosol of exhaled nicotine, ultra-fine particles, volatile organic compounds, and other toxins. Chemicals identified in Electronic Smoking Devices (ESD) include carcinogens and reproductive toxins.

Since all legal cases to date have been found in favor of non-smoking employees, it is necessary that the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe take such steps as necessary to (not only comply with the Michigan New Clean Indoor Air Act – Public Act 198 of 1986), but to also provide air free of smoke for all employees, visitors, medical staff, and patients at the Nimkee Memorial Wellness Center.

Smoke-filled workplaces result in higher worker absenteeism due to respiratory disease. Lower productivity, higher cleaning and maintenance costs, increased health insurance rates, and increased liability claims for diseases related to exposure to secondhand smoke.

  1. Therefore, it is the intent of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe to provide a total smoke-free (which includes but is not limited to: cigarettes, cigars, e-cigarettes, snus, chew, hookas, etc.) environment including 50 feet from Nimkee Memorial Wellness Center effective the date of this policy. Cigarette butts leach toxic chemicals – including arsenic, cadmium, lead, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons – they could pollute the environment and harm its ecosystem according to the American Legacy Foundation.
  1. The Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe will implement this policy in the steps and manner established in the “Procedures”, following to ensure the safest environment for promoting health and wellbeing for patients and employees.
  1. The immediate objectives to be implemented at the date of this policy include the following:
  1. To involve all Tribal employees in this program.
  2. To establish all work sites and patient waiting areas in Nimkee Wellness Center as smoke – free.
  3. To provide a smoke free zone within 50 feet of the building, promotion by signage and removal of cigarette waste receptacles.
  4. To refer eligible patients attempting to quit to pharmacy for nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) options.
  5. To promote the Michigan Department of Community Health Tobacco Quit Line 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) or website for individuals trying to quit.
  6. All meetings are to be smoke – free.
  7. To encourage all Tribal employees and health / medical staff to be especially supportive of all employees who are attempting to stop smoking/commercial tobacco and nicotine use.

PROCEDURES

  1. There will be absolutely no designated smoking areas inside or within 50 feet of the Nimkee Memorial Wellness Center effective the date of this policy. Thus, smoking is strictly PROHIBITED in all areas of the Nimkee Memorial Wellness Center including hallways, reception and waiting areas, all meetings and conference rooms, the Fitness Center, storage areas, restrooms, and offices.
  1. This policy will be reviewed on an annual basis.
  1. The Health Educator will be responsible for promoting all smoking cessation programs resources. Department supervisors are encouraged to work with the Health Educator to ensure that needs for employees are met.
  1. The management staff of each Tribal employee will ensure that each employee has been notified and briefed that non-compliance with this policy will be considered a violation of rule #4 (a-6) listed under B – Disciplinary Action in “Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe – Personnel Policies and Procedures” and shall result in the disciplinary actions as listed.
  1. Exceptions will not be made to this policy until such steps are taken to revise the written policy and it is approved and published.