Purpose

LifeCare Therapy Services is committed to providing a safe, healthy, and professional environment for employees, patients, caregivers, visitors, and community partners. The use of tobacco products and electronic smoking devices can adversely affect health, safety, and the comfort of others. This policy establishes expectations regarding smoking and vaping while conducting company business.

Policy

LifeCare Therapy Services maintains a smoke-free and vape-free workplace. Smoking, vaping, or the use of any tobacco, nicotine, or electronic smoking product is prohibited while personnel are performing work duties or representing the company.

This policy applies to all personnel, including employees, contractors, students, volunteers, and temporary staff.

Prohibited Products

The following products are prohibited during work activities and on company-owned or leased property:

• Cigarettes

• Cigars

• Pipes

• Smokeless tobacco products

• Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes)

• Vape pens and vaping devices

• Electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS)

• Any product that produces smoke, vapor, aerosol, or similar emissions

Personnel Responsibilities

• Refrain from smoking or vaping while providing patient care or conducting company business.

• Refrain from smoking or vaping in patient homes, healthcare facilities, offices, company-owned or leased vehicles, and any other work-related setting.

• Ensure that clothing and personal belongings are free of excessive smoke or vaping odors that may negatively impact patients or professional interactions.

• Comply with all facility-specific tobacco-free campus policies when providing services in hospitals, daycare centers, ALFs/ILsF, or community locations.

• Dispose of tobacco-related waste properly in designated receptacles where smoking is permitted during non-working time and off company premises.

Patient Homes

Because LifeCare Therapy Services provides care in patients' homes, personnel shall not smoke or vape immediately before or during patient visits in a manner that may expose patients to smoke residue, vapor, odor, or secondhand exposure. Therapists  may respectfully request that patients or family members refrain from smoking or vaping during therapy sessions when necessary to maintain a safe treatment environment.

Breaks

Employees who choose to smoke or vape may do so only during authorized breaks and meal periods, in locations where smoking is legally permitted, and while off company property and away from patients and patient-care activities.

Compliance

Violations of this policy will result in corrective action.