The Huntington County Commissioners’ decision to ban tobacco from all county-owned properties is causing some controversy among employees. The motion passed 2-1 with Commissioner Jerry Helvie voting no to ban smoking, chewing tobacco and other tobacco products from the Highway Department, the Courthouse, the Courthouse Annex, the County Jail, all property surrounding the facilities and all county-owned and leased vehicles after January 1, 2010. “We have three or four guys that smoke and they aren’t real happy about it, but they’ll live with it,” County Highway ... Jump to full article >>

A burning issue for Hilliard City Schools is being turned over to its policy committee as it considers making all buildings part of a smoke- and tobacco-free campus. Board president Denise Bobbitt raised the issue during a June retreat. “We are looking at decreasing our costs from an insurance standpoint,” she said. Wellness is an issue being discussed in the Insurance Committee meetings, according to Bobbitt, but it is evident smoking is one of the more challenging areas. Insurance costs go up with smokers and with people who are not conscious of their weight, she said. Employees, ... Jump to full article >>

Tobacco use is banned at Morton Plant North Bay Hospital, effective today. The hospital officially joined the Pasco County Health Department’s tobacco-free initiative. It is part of a countywide goal for all hospitals in Pasco to become tobacco-free by 2010, a release from the hospital said. Tobacco use will not be permitted on any of Morton Plant North Bay’s grounds or property, and the designated smoking areas have been closed. To help staff members with the challenges of not smoking at work, Morton Plant North Bay has put together a system of support, including a series of hea ... Jump to full article >>

All Vermont workplaces become smoke free today as a new state law goes into effect, banning the designated smoking areas that were allowed under the previous law. Public places have been virtually smoke free since the 1987 Smoking in the Workplace law was passed, and then updated under the Clean Indoor Air act of 1993. Those laws permitted businesses to have segregated areas indoors where smokers could light up. The new law, which lawmakers approved this past session, makes it illegal to smoke anywhere inside a public building. “We have known about the dangers of second-hand smoking for ... Jump to full article >>

And you thought only Nebraska’s new law put the fire hose to workplace smoking. On June 1 ” the day the state’s ban on smoking inside workplaces went into effect ” the Omaha Public Power District banned the use of cigarettes and chewing tobacco on the job, even outside. In effect, none of the utility’s 2,400 workers ” not even the worker high atop a power pole ” can take a puff or pinch a snuff on the clock. Now, two of the utility’s major unions have filed a lawsuit that says the ban far exceeded state law and, therefore, violated the unions ... Jump to full article >>

KUALA LUMPUR: Cuepacs is ignoring the rights of non-smokers when it opposed the Public Service Department’s stand on no-smoking at government departments and agencies. Prof Dr Rahmat Awang of Universiti Sains Malaysia’s National Poison Centre and Malaysian Trades Union Congress adviser on indoor air quality Dr T. Jayabalan said Cuepacs must be seen to serve the rights of non-smokers as much as it wanted to protect the rights of smokers. They said it had been proven that ventilation systems could not filter the particles and gases in tobacco smoke to safe levels. They said tobacco ... Jump to full article >>

THE shocking cost of smoking is underpinned by the latest research into the dying habit. The Galaxy survey shows the average smoker wastes 17 days each year inhaling. It also suggests a staggering $7.4 billion is spent on cigarettes each year. These statistics are appalling, but in some senses unsurprising. Employers will look at them and wonder whether non-smokers are markedly more productive. Common sense suggests they will be healthier. If the economic malaise continues, don’t be surprised if bosses clamp down further on smoking. ... Jump to full article >>

ISTANBUL – Ahead of the national smoking ban due to be put in place July 19, Health Minister Recep Akdağ has announced that ministry mangers who smoke either need to quit or give up their positions of authority. Smoking will be banned in cafes, restaurants and other enclosed public places across Turkey in just over one month’s time. In preparation for the ban’s adoption, the Health Ministry has launched various projects around the country to raise awareness about the health risks of smoking and promote strategies for quitting before the ban. Following a recent project in İzmir, whe ... Jump to full article >>

And you thought only Nebraska’s new law put the fire hose to workplace smoking. On June 1 — the day the state’s ban on smoking inside workplaces went into effect — the Omaha Public Power District banned the use of cigarettes and chewing tobacco on the job, even outside. In effect, none of the utility’s 2,400 workers — not even the worker high atop a power pole — can take a puff or pinch a snuff on the clock. Now, two of the utility’s major unions have filed a lawsuit that says the ban far exceeded state law and, therefore, violated the unions ... Jump to full article >>