022.000 - Smoke-Free Environment

A. GOAL

The primary goal of the campus policy establishing a smoke-free environment is to promote a safe and healthy atmosphere for students, faculty, staff, and visitors on the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) campus through reducing the health risks associated with tobacco smoke and minimizing discomfort and inconvenience to nonsmokers.

B. FINDINGS

The U.S. Public Health Service documents on the health consequences of smoking have conclusively established cigarette smoking as the largest single preventable cause of premature death and disability in the United States. In addition, recent evaluation of the data on low level exposure to environmental tobacco smoke has led the Surgeon General to conclude:

1. Involuntary smoking is a cause of disease, including lung cancer, in healthy nonsmokers.
2. The children of parents who smoke, compared with the children of nonsmoking parents, have an increased frequency of respiratory infections, increased respiratory symptoms, and slightly smaller rates of increase in lung function as the lung matures.
3. Simple separation of smokers and nonsmokers within the same air space may reduce, but does not eliminate, exposure of nonsmokers to environmental tobacco smoke.

Cigarette smoke is a complex mixture of over 1200 identified substances which affect indoor air quality. Among them are carbon monoxide, nicotine, hydrogen cyanide, metals, aldehydes, phenol, ammonia, and sulfur dioxide. Exposure to these and other potentially harmful substances through environmental tobacco smoke in the workplace can be substantial both in duration and intensity. This is of particular concern for individuals exposed to industrial toxins whose effects may be intensified by tobacco smoke.

C. INTENT

It is the intent of this policy to protect the rights of the nonsmoking campus community to breathe smoke-free air. "It is now clear that disease risk due to the inhalation of tobacco smoke is not limited to the individual who is smoking, but can extend to those who inhale tobacco smoke emitted into the air. . . . The scientific case against involuntary smoking risk is more than sufficient to justify appropriate remedial action, and the goal of any remedial action must be to protect the nonsmoker from environmental tobacco smoke. . . . The choice to smoke cannot interfere with the nonsmokers' right to breathe air free of tobacco smoke. The right of smokers to smoke ends where their behavior affects the health and well-being of others."

- C. Everett Koop, Surgeon General, in The Health Consequences of Involuntary Smoking, a Report of the Surgeon General

"Protection of individuals from exposure to environmental tobacco smoke is therefore a responsibility shared by all...

• As employers and employees we must ensure that the act of smoking does not expose the nonsmoker to tobacco smoke.
• For smokers, it is their responsibility to assure that their behavior does not jeopardize the health of others.
• For nonsmokers, it is their responsibility to provide a supportive environment for smokers who are attempting to stop."

- Robert E. Windom, Assistant Secretary for Health, in The Health Consequences of Involuntary Smoking, a Report of the Surgeon General

D. SCOPE

This policy covers all individuals on the UCSC campus including students, faculty, staff, and visitors. The policy applies to all University buildings and all University owned vehicles used for official business. It specifically includes, but is not limited to: classrooms, meeting rooms, lecture and concert halls, libraries, computer rooms, study areas, food preparation areas, dining areas, offices (both private and shared), laboratories, studios, medical facilities, child care centers, entryways, lobbies, reception areas, hallways, elevators, stairwells, break rooms, restrooms, shops, storerooms, garages, and indoor sports facilities. The policy does not apply to private rooms or apartments within dormitories or other residential buildings.

E. REQUIREMENTS

1. The Administration of UCSC supports the concept of a smoke-free environment in all aspects of campus life.
2. Smoking is PROHIBITED in all indoor areas of all public buildings on campus. No smoking signs will be posted on outside doors and entryways.
3. Smoking is PROHIBITED in the outside areas beside building doorways, windows, and ventilation air intakes. This includes patios underneath building windows. Outside areas near a building may be designated as smoking areas provided that (a) smoke will not enter the building, (b) it is not a thoroughfare for non-smokers, and (c) receptacles are available for the disposal of cigarettes.
4. Smoking is PROHIBITED in all University-owned vehicles including shuttles, automobiles, and all types of delivery, maintenance, and service vehicles.
5. UCSC supports and assists efforts to stop smoking by providing literature, referrals to community cessation programs and by sponsoring periodic campus smoking cessation programs. A portion of the cost of completed campus-sponsored programs for faculty and staff may be subsidized when funds are available for this purpose. Faculty and staff can obtain information from the campus Employee Assistance Services Program. Students may obtain information from the Student Health Center.
6. Tobacco products will not be sold on campus either through vending machines or campus establishments.
7. Implementation of the campus smoke-free environment policy will be the responsibility of every student, faculty member, staff person, and visitor on campus. Building sponsors shall be responsible for ensuring that the policy is implemented and enforced in all areas under their jurisdiction. Individual supervisors shall be responsible for enforcement within their units.