Controlling cigarette smoking in the workplace in Taiwan: opportunities and challenges

Cigarette smoking is one of the most serious health problems in Taiwan. Although the Taiwanese government passed a Tobacco Hazard Control Act in 1997, it is not fully applicable to the workplace. The purpose of the study was to review workplace smoking prevalence and policies, and to discuss the opportunities and challenges of implementing workplace smoking policies in Taiwan. Results show that smoking prevalence in the workplace in Taiwan is high, particularly among males, ranging from 38 to 68%. More than 75% of smokers in Taiwan smoke in the workplace. The percentage of workplaces implementing restrictive smoking policies in Taiwan is low, particularly in small-sized workplaces. The Tobacco Hazard Control Act in Taiwan has not been strongly enforced in public places, let alone in private companies. Several constructive suggestions are presented in the study. For example, establishing workplace smoking policies, informing employers that second-hand smoke is a human carcinogen, providing financial support for employers to initiate cessation programs, and modifying the current Tobacco Hazard Control Act, etc.