Introduction - To study the impact of the total ban on smoking in public places that took effect in February 2007, a monthly survey is conducted among employees seen by occupational physicians. Methods - 144 volunteer occupational physicians complete a very simple questionnaire each month for the first 20 employees seen during routine checkups. Results - The percentage of employees reporting that they work in smoke-free environments without a smoking room rose from 42% in January 2007 to 71% in February and 80% in March. In March, this percentage reached 91% in educational settings and 84% in healthcare settings. In March, only 6% of employees reported having a smoking room, compared to 21% in January 2007. The desire for a smoke-free workplace is increasing in all sectors where the ban is in effect. Discussion - The smoking ban has profoundly changed smoking patterns in the workplace. More than 80% of employees surveyed are fully protected in completely smoke-free workplaces; only 13% work in companies that have not yet fully implemented the ban. (R.A.)