Would you like to…
  • Increase the curb appeal of your business or organization?
  • Improve employee health?
  • Reduce maintenance costs and fire hazards on your property?
You can by making your work grounds tobacco-free!
What everyone should know about Tobacco-Free Grounds
Businesses and Municipalities develop outdoor tobacco use policies because there is a scientific and legal justification to support implementing such bans:
  • Surveys show that the majority of employees are in favor of smoking restrictions.
    • More than 87% of Cayuga County residents believe that areas around building entry ways should be tobacco-free—including 73% of all current smokers.
  • Smoking is a major health hazard.
    • Employees who smoke account for higher insurance premiums, increased medical costs, lost productivity and higher absenteeism.
    • Non-smoking employees are initiating lawsuits not only to restrict smoking, but are also seeking compensation for disability, workers’ compensation, and unemployment, all due to the ill effects of tobacco exposure.
  • Healthy employees equals a healthy bottom line.
    • For every dollar spent on programs to increase physical activity, improve nutrition, and prevent smoking and other tobacco use results in a return on investment of $5.60 dollars.
  • Tobacco-free grounds reduce loitering, cigarette litter and fire hazards.
  • Smoke free entryways prevent secondhand smoke from entering buildings and endangering employees’ health.
    • The Surgeon General has declared that there is no safe level of secondhand smoke.
    • Secondhand smoke contains more than 4,000 substances, over 40 of which are known to cause cancer in humans and many of which are strong irritants.
  • Clients and visitors notice and appreciate the improvements of a tobacco-free environment.
How do I become tobacco-free?
All types of businesses, public and private, are legally entitled to create policies that restrict smoking and/or tobacco use on their outside premises. State and Federal Courts have found that there is no legal or constitutional “right to smoke.” You can protect the health of your employees and visitors by reducing their exposure to tobacco on your property.
The Cayuga County Tobacco Free Partnership invites all Cayuga County businesses and municipalities to establish tobacco-free or smoke-free grounds.
The Partnership can provide help, all at no cost, to:
Who has established tobacco-free grounds and entryways?
Across the state, community partners have worked with organizations and businesses to go tobacco-free, including many here in Cayuga County. In addition, many Cayuga County businesses and organizations have instituted tobacco-free grounds policies on their own. Among those locally that are currently tobacco-free or smoke-free:
  • Auburn Double Days – Falcon Park
  • Auburn YMCA-WEIU
  • Cato-Meridian Community Recreation Center
  • Cayuga-Aurelius-Springport Recreation Commission
  • Cayuga Community College
  • Cayuga County Agricultural Society – County Fair
  • Cayuga County Public Buildings
  • Cayuga Seneca Community Action Agency
  • Champions For Life
  • Everest Park
  • Family Care Medical Group (Dr. Eppolito in Cato)
  • Hazard Library Association
  • Health Central
  • Hillside Children’s Center
  • Neighborhood House of Auburn, New York
  • Port Byron Library
  • Powers Library
  • Seneca Cayuga ARC
  • Seymour Public Library
  • Springport Free Library
  • Unity House of Cayuga County
  • Weedsport Free Library
  • Wells College