Document Control:

N.L. VILLA MEMORIAL MEDICAL CENTER

Lipa City Revision No.:

Effective Date: MARCH 2022

LABORATORY DEPARTMENT
Page No: 1

NO SMOKING POLICY

This document is a property of N.L. Villa Memorial Medical Center and the contents are treated confidential
therefore, unauthorized reproduction is strictly prohibited unless otherwise permitted by NLVMMC Management.
 Document Control:
N.L. VILLA MEMORIAL MEDICAL CENTER
Lipa City Revision No.:

Effective Date: MARCH 2022

LABORATORY DEPARTMENT
Page No: 2

NO SMOKING
POLICIES AND GUIDELINES

OBJECTIVE
To protect the population from the damaging effects caused by tobacco smoke by
promoting a comprehensive 100% Smoke-Free Environment.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The N.L.Villa Memorial Medical Center has a responsibility to ensure that staff personnel
are not exposed to health risks from passive smoking at work.
1. Managerial Responsibility
a. Managers will take reasonable steps to ensure that adequate arrangements are
in place to enable the policy to be fully implemented at the ward, department,
offices and clinic. This will include ensuring that all staff personnel, patients and
visitors comply with the policy.
b. Managers have a duty to ensure this policy is enforced within their area of
responsibility dealing with employees who are in breach of this policy.
c. Managers have a responsibility to provide their employees with appropriate
support like counseling or advice on smoking cessation.
2. All employees
a. Have a duty to comply with the requirements of this policy by not smoking on
hospital premises, including hospital premises. All employees will, in addition to
adhere to this policy, be expected to adhere to the no smoking policies of any
external premises at which they are working or visiting.
b. Smoking is not allowed in any vehicle owned, leased or rented by the hospital. In
addition, vehicle owners who utilize their private vehicles for work, transportation
of patients or transportation of equipment will not be permitted to smoke or allow
passengers to smoke while on hospital premises.

This document is a property of N.L. Villa Memorial Medical Center and the contents are treated confidential
therefore, unauthorized reproduction is strictly prohibited unless otherwise permitted by NLVMMC Management.
 Document Control:
N.L. VILLA MEMORIAL MEDICAL CENTER
Lipa City Revision No.:

Effective Date: MARCH 2022

LABORATORY DEPARTMENT
Page No: 3

POLICY STATEMENT
The N.L.Villa Memorial Medical Center as a healthcare provider must set an example to
other organizations, promote public health and create an environment that minimizes the health
risks to members of the public who access the service.
The hospital recognizes that it has a legal obligation to provide and maintain a working
environment for all employees that is, so far as is reasonably practicable, safe and without risks
to health. A failure to comply with this policy will be treated as misconduct and as such may lead
to formal action in accordance with the Hospital Conduct and Disciplinary Policy.

EFFORTS TO REDUCE SMOKING LEVELS

The World Health Organization advises that there are four key areas to prevent smoking
uptake and aid smoking cessation. Firstly, it is essential that current smokers receive help, both
in terms of counseling and stop smoking medication to support their quit attempts. Hard-hitting
images of the damage caused by smoking also serve as a helpful deterrent and it is crucial to
ban all cigarette advertising. Finally, the World Health Organization also highlights the positive
impact that higher taxes have on smoking rates.

ELIMINATING SMOKING AT HOSPITAL PREMISES

1. All staff (whether uniformed or not and including contracted, agency and other external
staff), patients and visitors are not permitted to smoke on any part of the hospital site,
including buildings, entrances/exits, cars, car parks, pavements and hallways and
residences.
2. Smoking by any member of staff whilst on the hospital site, and/or during working hours
(e.g. whilst on escort duty off site, working in a community setting, whilst in a vehicle) will
be treated as misconduct. Any member of staff who smokes should ensure that they do
not smell of smoke while on duty. Staff smelling of smoke while on duty will be treated as
failure to comply with this policy.

This document is a property of N.L. Villa Memorial Medical Center and the contents are treated confidential
therefore, unauthorized reproduction is strictly prohibited unless otherwise permitted by NLVMMC Management.
 Document Control:
N.L. VILLA MEMORIAL MEDICAL CENTER
Lipa City Revision No.:

Effective Date: MARCH 2022

LABORATORY DEPARTMENT
Page No: 4

3. The hospital will erect and maintain signs clearly indicating the – No Smoking Policy,
stating “This is a no smoking site”. Signs will be arranged to cover all areas of the site,
particularly entry points.
4. All members of staff will be expected to reinforce the Hospital No Smoking Policy in
circumstances which they are comfortable to do so. No facilities will be provided on site
for smoking. Staff will not be permitted to take smoking breaks.

EFFECTS OF SECOND_HAND SMOKE

1. Non-smoking adults who are exposed to second hand smoke at home or at work have a
25% to 30% increased risk of developing lung cancer.
2. Babies of non-smoking women who are exposed to second hand smoke during
pregnancy are at risk of experiencing a reduction in birth weight.
3. Maternal milk production is less in smokers compared with non-smokers, and the
production decreases as the number of cigarettes smoked per day increases.
4. In infants and children, second-hand smoke exposure causes sudden infant death
syndrome (SIDS), acute respiratory infections, middle ear disease, more severe asthma,
respiratory symptoms, and slowed lung growth.

BENEFITS OF SMOKING CESSATION

This point may be helpful in motivating people to quit smoking. Many smokers deny
being at increased risk of cancer and heart disease and more accurate perception of risk may
assist cessation efforts.
1. It is beneficial to stop smoking at any age. The earlier smoking is stopped, the greater
the health gain.
2. Smoking cessation has major and immediate health benefits for smokers of all ages.
Former smokers have fewer days’ illness, fewer health complaints, and view themselves
as healthier.
3. Within one day of quitting, the chance of a heart attack decreases.
4. Within two days of quitting, smell and taste are enhanced.

This document is a property of N.L. Villa Memorial Medical Center and the contents are treated confidential
therefore, unauthorized reproduction is strictly prohibited unless otherwise permitted by NLVMMC Management.
 Document Control:
N.L. VILLA MEMORIAL MEDICAL CENTER
Lipa City Revision No.:

Effective Date: MARCH 2022

LABORATORY DEPARTMENT
Page No: 5

5. Within two weeks to three months of quitting, circulation improves and lung function
increases by up to 30 percent.
6. Excess risk smoker of heart disease is reduced by half after one year’s abstinence. The
risk of a major coronary event reduces to the level of an never smoker within five years.
In those with existing heart disease, cessation reduces the risk of recurrent infarction or
death by half.
7. Former smokers live longer: after 10 to 15 years abstinence, the risk of dying almost
returns to that of people who never smoked. Smoking cessation at all ages, including in
older people, reduces risk of premature death.
8. Men who smoke are 17 times more likely than non-smoker to develop lung cancer. After
10 years abstinence, former smokers risk is only 30 to 50 percent that of continuing
smokers and continues to decline.
9. The average weight gain of three kg and the adverse temporary psychological effects of
quitting are far outweighed by the health benefits.

This document is a property of N.L. Villa Memorial Medical Center and the contents are treated confidential
therefore, unauthorized reproduction is strictly prohibited unless otherwise permitted by NLVMMC Management.