Most in World Favor Smoke-Free Workplaces

That according to a new poll conducted by RTI and Harris Interactive. The study, published in the International Journal of Public Health online edition, shows 74 percent of smoking employees and 87 percent of employers felt the workplace should be smoke-free.

"Although there was widespread variation among countries, overall the results demonstrate global support for workplace smoking bans," lead author Michael Halpern, a senior fellow at RTI, says in a statement.

The survey, sponsored by Pfizer, found employees estimate they spend an average of one hour per day smoking at work, but almost 70 percent say they did not believe that it had a negative financial impact on their employer.

In Texas there are 30 cities that have smoke-free workplace laws that include all bars and restaurants. However an attempt to cover the entire state was not passed last spring. The American Heart Association is working to further educate the public and lawmakers in attempt to pass a smoke-free workplace law next session.