Cadia Mine will be a smoke-free worksite from January 1, 2020.
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Newcrest is currently taking steps to ban cigarettes at the mine site, offering smokers therapy to help them beat their addictions.
Because Cadia workers are not required to report their smoking status as part of their contracts, figures on how many of its 1270 full-time equivalent employees the ban will affect are not available.
However, Cadia general manager Peter Sharpe said he suspects smoking habits at the mine reflect those of the broader population, which sits at around 15 per cent.
This is a big change for the site, but I am confident it is the right step in ensuring the health and well-being of our workforce and keeping our site clean and tidy going forward
- Peter Sharpe
"Regardless, this is a change that will affect everyone - both smokers and non-smokers - and we're committed to educating and supporting our people in the way that best suits each individual," he said.
Mr Sharpe said the decision was not made lightly and came about after multiple workforce consultation over two years.
Employees first heard of the initiative after staff representatives from all departments endorsed the recommendation.
Mr Sharpe said eliminating smoking will reduce the risk of fire, improve staff health and increase Cadia's sustainability.
"This is a big change for the site, but I am confident it is the right step in ensuring the health and well-being of our workforce and keeping our site clean and tidy going forward," he said.
Employees have heard presentations on the dangers of smoking and been offered access to a smoking cessation nurse and an addiction specialist to aid the transition.
Mr Sharpe said on the whole they'd been surprised at how positive the majority of the workforce had been in response to the decision.
"Both smokers and non-smokers have supported the initiative," he said.
"While there have understandably been some questions and concerns, our consultation with the workforce regarding the final details of the smoke-free policy is ongoing," he said.
"There has been no significant objections raised."
Cadia has no plans to require new full-time employees to report their smoking-status and the around 800 contractors employed at the site each month will also maintain their right to keep their habit quiet.
The decision reflects a wider trend with workplaces implementing strict policies around cigarette smoking, which includes the NSW Department of Primary Industry site and Orange hospital.
All NSW Government departments buildings and grounds became smoke-free workplaces in 2015.
Government buildings were given the opportunity to designate outdoor smoking areas for staff, but the Western NSW Local Health District opted out.
At the Orange hospital, staff who smoke are offered up to four weeks of free nicotine replacement therapy to help them kick the habit.
At the Department of Primary Industries office in Orange there is no designated spaces for staff to smoke.
Cancer Council project officer Dr Laura Twyman said the organisation supports the proactivity of businesses who have introduced smoke-free sites, which improves both productivity and health of employees.
Dr Twyman said it's a growing trend which she puts down to increased awareness of the dangers of both active and passive smoking.
"There's not really any safe level that people can be exposed to cigarette smoke," she said.
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