Smokers Stay Healthy in The Workplace
By Jeff Lyons on Oct 15, 2007 in News, Office Humor
King of Prussia, PA - According to the latest Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) report, people who smoke cigarettes are significantly less likely to fall victim to workplace injuries.
OSHA spokesperson Jerry Reinert explains, “Because your average smoker spends a third of his/her day outside of the office smoking cigarettes, they are at least 33% less likely to acquire Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Repetitive Stress Disorder, severe eyestrain and other workplace hazards that befall your average diligent worker.”
“Simply put, the more you are away from your desk not performing work, the healthier you are.”
This is wonderful news to those workers who enjoy and depend on the sweet, mellow flavor of nicotine and menthol to help them through the daily grind. Sad to say, smokers are seen as pariahs in today’s health-conscious society and find it very difficult to enjoy their favorite pastime during the work day without receiving nasty looks and comments from the smoke-free world.
“Yeah, some people sneer at me when I smoke. They think I’m gross or don’t care about my health. That’s bull. Except for the smoking thing, I’m a pretty healthy person. With all the time I spend outside during the work day, I would even consider myself outdoorsy.” Explains Marie Tocheretto, a marketing coordinator for Xerchtech Inc., in between drags of her third cigarette of the morning.
“I love being outdoors. Smoking gives me this opportunity, and I am thankful for that.”
Mike Brown, a programmer and fellow puffer, adds, “I used to get severe eyestrain and headaches from staring at the computer all day. I didn’t know what to do. Then after watching Marie, I realized if I just smoked I could leave my desk whenever I wanted and go outside for a nice 20-minute break. So now I’ve taken up smoking (three packs a day)! I duck outside every now and then (about six to seven breaks a day) and my eyestrain and headaches have virtually disappeared. It’s great!”
Many people are stuck in their cubes all day — working, emailing, eating, napping — and have little chance for quality interpersonal contact. Not so for smokers. Go to any office park by the back door, alley, stairwell or bathroom and you’ll see a gregarious group of people from different backgrounds talking, laughing, catching up, and of course, relaxing with a cig.
Studies* show smokers have an easier time meeting (”Hey, you got a light?”) and talking (”Can I bum a cigarette?”) to people they don’t know.
“I met my wife on a smoke break!” added Mike.
Smoking is also therapeutic. “Cindy has a lot of problems at home right now with Roger and his drinking. She usually needs to talk with me three of four times a day. I’m a good friend and a good listener, so I don’t mind the inconvenience.” Relates personal assistant Angie Hackforth. “We could never talk openly in the office. Too many nosy nellies getting in other people’s business. Smoke breaks allow us private time to talk… time to heal.”
A severe smoking habit may bring on a little cough and damage the lungs, but these organs are hidden inside the body (the average person hardly notices them). Keeping the limbs, eyes and other external body parts healthy is a much bigger concern.
So if you want to keep the important parts of your body in tip-top shape (and make some friends in the process), go outside, get some air and spark one up!
*1999 American Tobacco Association report “Smoke Your Way to Friendship.”
Jeff Lyons
Health & Science Reporter
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