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Come hear the latest on passive smoking in the workplace in Japan, including national survey results on worker opinion, case studies of what employers are doing, and an update on how the Japanese government and parliament are adopting policies to protect workers from related health risks.

According to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare research, 6,800 people die each year in Japan due to heart disease and lung cancer caused by passive smoking. Of these, an estimated 3,600 deaths are caused by passive smoking in the workplace, more than three times the 1,024 deaths caused by other occupational health and safety issues in 2011.

Since the passage of Japan's Health Promotion Law, employers have been required to make efforts to promote employee health. Some employers now provide support for employee smoking cessation programs, but the costs of building specially ventilated smoking rooms has kept many employers from taking action.

The ruling Democratic Party of Japan and the Liberal Democratic Party are jointly seeking passage in parliament of a revised Occupational Health and Safety Law that would require employers to make efforts to protect workers from passive smoking. This revision may pass in the current parliament session and go into effect in 2013, impacting employers and employees nationwide.

We will also hear the results of an 8,000 person national survey of Japanese worker attitudes about smoking in the workplace, conducted by Johnson & Johnson, which has been introduced on national NHK television and a topic of discussion in parliament.


NOTE 1: REGISTRATION/CANCELLATION DEADLINE: Wednesday, August 29

NOTE 2: This meeting is ON THE RECORD

NOTE 3: If you cancel after the stated deadline, you will be charged the full meeting fee. Sorry, no walk-ins all attendees must register and pay in advance.

NOTE 4: 500 yen of each attendee's fees will be allocated to the Healthcare Committee's fund