Earlier this month, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) issued workplace guidelines keeping in mind the impact of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic in offices and factories.

According to reports, 'COVID-19 safe workplace guidelines for industry and establishment' put together by the Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC), urges companies and employers to deter the workers and employees from taking cigarette breaks as they are "social-distancing disruptors".

© iStock

"Ban the use of Gutka, tobacco, Paan Masala, and cigarettes at the workplace. Ban spitting as it may increase disease transmission. Prohibit any cigarettes break," the ESIC guidelines says.

We got in touch with doctors and harm reduction therapists to get a better understanding of the potential implications these guidelines could have on those who are addicted to smoking.

How do you feel about the new guidelines towards banning smoking in offices?

© iStock

Mr Samrat Chowdhery, Founder-Director, Council for Harm Reduced Alternatives, says: 

“The government advisory, though well-meaning, does not appear to have been thought through adequately, in terms of enforceability and possibility of workplace discrimination, harassment of corporates for not complying and also productivity loss as smokers face withdrawals and struggle to cope dealing with work pressures. The guideline should have taken these likely adverse outcomes into account.”

He adds: 

“It is unclear how a workplace ban will help, since employees take breaks anyway, be it for smoking or other purposes. Hand-to-mouth gestures are not only because of smoking, nor do employees interact only when they light up. This appears more an effort to rope in corporates in the fight against smoking. Numerous reports are showing smokers are underrepresented in Covid-19 cases, which makes such a measure more difficult to understand.”

© iStock

Dr Kiran Melkote, Orthopaedic Surgeon, Gurgaon shares: 

Putting up plexiglass barriers just upto the top of the desk, for instance, ignores the possibility that the virus is airborne (as the WHO finally admitted). The ban on both smokeless tobacco (Gutka, pan masala etc) as well as cigarettes is apparently because they are "social-distancing disruptors. I feel that they should have put more thought into this.  Or they could have left out the "social-distancing disruptors" part.”

He adds: 

“Nicotine dependence is not a joke. And it's not all psychological. There are physical cravings for nicotine with the person experiencing mood swings, restlessness, anxiety etc. Their work will actually not suffer - because this rule is only going to be broken anyway.”

© iStock

Would banning smoking in offices really help the cause against Covid-19?

Dr. Kiran explains: 

“Even the guidelines clearly say that cigarette breaks are to be banned because they are ‘social-distancing disruptors’. This is not about nicotine or tobacco (according to ESIC) but then, this label can also be applied to coffee breaks, water breaks, team meetings, locker rooms, bathroom breaks, etc. So, if we are serious about social distancing, then all these should be similarly banned outright.”

© iStock

Mr. Samrat Chowdhery adds: 

“While some may be positively encouraged to use the opportunity to quit, the collective experience from such prohibitory measures is that they don’t work, and have unintended negative consequences. It is not unlikely that smokers will face withdrawals which will impact their productivity and destabilise the work environment. Worse, some may resort to risky behaviours like making excuses and going to the streets to smoke, which puts them and other employees at greater Covid-19 risk.” 

What are some alternatives that you'd suggest that can resolve the issue more practically?

© iStock

Mr. Samrat Chowdhery suggests: 

“Instead of penalising or stigmatising smokers and creating two classes of employees at the workplace, what could have helped more is if smoking at work was managed properly with smoking room safety precautions, including ensuring it is used by a few people at a time, or moving it to an open area. Further, smokers could be encouraged to quit through sensible messaging and making quit support – access to nicotine gums, counselling etc – available to them.”

Dr. Kiran also says: 

“I think we need to show a little more understanding and compassion towards the plight of smokers/vapers etc. We can instead make arrangements for these people to take breaks by themselves, avoid group breaks etc. to get their nicotine fix if they need it (they do..) This is the short term solution. For the long term, remember, you can't force anybody to do anything. The person him or herself may decide to quit.”

DISCLAIMER: MensXP doesn’t not promote the practice of smoking and reiterates that tobacco use leads to cancer, heart attacks, lung disorders and other deadly diseases.

View the full article