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SMOKING: THE PRICE COLLEGES PAY
Smoking costs colleges money. Fires, higher maintenance costs,
decreased worker productivity, and increased health care costs
are some of the ways that smoking hurts colleges financially.
Smoking Increases the Risk of
Residence Hall Fires:
- Smoking is one of the top causes of fires in college student
housing. In 1998, there were almost 1,400 structure fires
in dormitories and Greek housing. These cost schools $5.9
million in direct property damage (NFPA, 2002).
- After cooking, smoking is the leading cause of fire injuries
on college campuses (USFA, 1999). Fires ignited by smoking
result in more fatalities than any other cause of fire (ACS
“smoke free housing”).
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High Maintenance Costs Due to
Smoking Cleanup and Repairs:
- Each year, colleges spend large amounts of money replacing
carpets, mattresses, carpeting, and furniture that have
been damaged, discolored, and ruined by cigarette smoke
damage and burns.
- Maintenance crews spend a great deal of time cleaning
up the litter caused by cigarette butts on campus grounds.
As one campus grounds supervisor commented: “The smoking
debris has been extensive, and the litter associated with
smoking and the issue of secondhand smoke in common campus
areas promoted the need for a change in the campus smoking
policy” (Martin, 1998).
- Surveys of workplace smoking restrictions found that 23.3%
of those with smoking restrictions reported fewer maintenance
costs (Swart, 1990). Another survey of businesses found
that smoke-free buildings reduced their cleaning expenses
by 10.0% (Garland).
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Decreased Employee Productivity
and Increased Health Care Costs:
- Smoking on campus creates a less productive work force.
Smokers are absent 50.0% more often than nonsmokers, lowering
productivity and increasing the costs of paying temporary
replacements (ACS “smoke-free workforce”).
- Because of the known health risks, insurance coverage
for smokers is more expensive.
- Like all smokers, students who smoke become ill more often
than non-smokers. As a result of increased illness, costs
to campus health centers and clinics increase as smokers
require more care.
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