Agenda - 04-04-1988 - Laserfiche WebLink

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- SMOKING POLICY COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION 137 to the ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS on a SMOKING POLICY FOR COUNTY FACILITIES January 19, 1987 The Committee The Smoking Policy Committee is made up of ten members of the defunct Smoking Survey Committee. All SSC members were invited to participate in drafting a recommended policy to the Board; all department heads were advised of the opportunity to send a representative to the Smoking Policy Committee. Nine of the County' s twenty-five departments are represented. Of the ten SPC members, eight are female; one is black; two are smokers; two are ex-smokers; six have never smoked. The Charge The SPC was asked to analyze the findings of the Smoking Survey to determine what policy elements would match county employees ' responses, and, to research what kinds of policies on smoking are in effect in area businesses and government units. The Methodology and Results The SPC divided into two committees - Analysis and Research. The Analysis Committee studied the Smoking Survey findings. They found no overwhelming majority for any one approach to a smoking policy. However, there was a significant spread between the two highest ranked choices - designated smoking and non-smoking areas for employees and the public alike (36 .7%) ; no restrictions on smoking (25.4%) - and the other choices: smoking permitted if all co-workers in the area agree (14. 8%) ; total ban on smoking by employees and public alike (14.4%) ; smoking permitted if majority of co-workers agree (10%) . Approximately one third (32. 5%) of those responding to the survey, both county and non-county employees, said that any policy on smoking should be adopted county-wide. The second choice for implementation was by department (19.6%) ; third choice was by immediate work area (13. 6%) . The Research Committee called numerous public and private entities to learn about other policies, including the Federal Building in Raleigh, Cone Mills, Piedmont Electric, Northern Telecom, Wilmore Electronics, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Durham County, the town of Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools, and IBM. Where policies on smoking exist, they were either highly structured or completely informal. Most places with policies had designated smoking areas; smoking is prohibited in most of their facilities; individual office spaces are left up to the individual worker.