| Smoking - facts and figures from the Herefordshire Primary Care Trust | - 3 million people in the UK are exposed to smoke at work
- Smoking kills 114 thousand people in the UK each year
- Breathing in other people's smoke kills approximately 12 thousand non-smokers in the UK each year
- Tobacco smoke contains 4 thousand poisonous chemicals including arsenic and hydrogen cyanide
- 30 minutes exposure to tobacco smoke increases heart rate
- 4 x 10 minute smoking breaks per day adds up to a loss of half a day's work per week
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Are you a smoker? Well if you are, from next summer you won't be able to smoke in the workplace - whether that's an office, a shop, a factory, or even a pub or club. In response to these changes, a new group called Smoke Free Herefordshire has just been set up to help companies make the transition. The organisation will be offering free advice, leaflets, posters and signs, as well as awards for businesses who manage to become smoke free. They say there's also massive economic benefits for companies, as smokers are more likely to take more breaks, have more time off work, and cost more in sick pay. Having smokers in a work place will also cost more in insurance, decoration, and is an increased fire risk. The group includes people from the Herefordshire Primary Care Trust, Herefordshire Council, local businesses and the voluntary and community sector. | 
