Effective July 1, 2000, all places of public and private employment in Multnomah County, must be smoke free. Multnomah County Ordinance 937, adopted on December 16th, prohibits smoking in all enclosed areas that employees frequent in carrying out their work responsibilities - including employee lounges, restrooms, conference rooms, and hallways.
The ordinance exempts bars, lounges, pubs, bingo halls, retail tobacco stores, and rented motel or hotel rooms designated as smoking. It also exempts private residences unless they are used as child care facilities or adult day care facilities.
Failing to maintain a smoke-free workplace is considered a violation, and an employer may be fined for each day that it is not in compliance. Employees who smoke in the workplace may also be penalized under the ordinance. The size of the fines have not yet been determined.
Although the ordinance takes effect in July of this year, it will not be enforced until July 1, 2001. The penalty for a first violation is warning from the county's Department of Health. As part of the warning, the health department provides educational materials and a referral phone number for the Tobacco Prevention Program. The Tobacco Prevention Program may provide technical assistance to the employer to achieve compliance. A second violation within 12 months requires the employer and the Tobacco Prevention staff to jointly develop a "smoke-free workplace remediation plan." If an employee commits the second violation, the tobacco prevention program will provide additional services to help that person "achieve compliance." All subsequent violations result in civil fines.
What this means for employers in Multnomah County. Many employers already have smoke-free environments. If yours is not, the ordinance allows you one year to become a smoke-free workplace. To become smoke-free, some employers may choose to provide separately ventilated smoking rooms for their employees who smoke.
Employers with questions about the smoke-free workplace ordinance or with questions regarding how to create a smoke-free work environment can contact Tobacco Prevention Specialist Wendy Rankin at the Multnomah County Health Department at (503) 248-3674, Ext. 26221.
County Task Force Established Meanwhile, the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners has established a task force to assess the impact of its smoke-free workplace legislation. If you'd like to join the task force call John Rakowitz, Multnomah County Board of Commissioners Office at (503) 306-5797.
Good Advice for Good Employers Everywhere SM