BRIEF

Policy Summary

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) endeavors to maintain a safe and healthful environment for our community. In addition, because Berkeley Lab is located in an environment that is vulnerable to severe wildland fire hazards, we are obligated to ensure that outdoor tobacco smoking is restricted. In accordance with applicable laws, Berkeley Lab prohibits smoking tobacco products, including the use of electronic cigarettes (also known as e-cigarettes or personal vaporizers), in all Laboratory facilities (owned and leased), in any Laboratory vehicle, and on Laboratory property unless in designated smoking areas. All other smoked substances not addressed herein are strictly prohibited. (See the RPM policy Workplace Substance Abuse for more information.) Smokeless tobacco (i.e., chewing tobacco, snuff) usage is also prohibited in all Laboratory facilities (owned or leased), in any Laboratory vehicle, and on Laboratory property unless in designated smoking areas. Refer to the Berkeley Lab Smoking Area Map. When working off the main Laboratory site, Laboratory personnel will comply with the smoking requirements of the entity having jurisdiction for setting smoking policy or regulation.

Who Should Read This Policy

This policy applies to all persons at Berkeley Lab.

To Read the Full Policy, Go To:

The POLICY tab on this wiki page

Contact Information

For more information on smoking-cessation programs, go here: https://sites.google.com/lbl.gov/smoking-cessation/home.
For more information on this policy, contact the Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) Division.

A. Purpose

This policy describes the restrictions on smoking and tobacco usage in all Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) facilities.

B. Persons Affected

This policy applies to all persons at Berkeley Lab.

C. Exceptions

Requests for exceptions that exceed what is allowed under current policy or that are not expressly addressed by current policy are considered exceptions to policy. A request for an exception to policy requires, at minimum, the Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) Division Director approval.

D. Policy Statement

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) endeavors to maintain a safe and healthful environment for our community. In addition, because Berkeley Lab is located in an environment that is vulnerable to severe wildland fire hazards, the Laboratory is obligated to ensure that outdoor tobacco smoking is restricted. In accordance with applicable laws, Berkeley Lab prohibits smoking tobacco products, including the use of electronic cigarettes (also known as e-cigarettes or personal vaporizers), in all Laboratory facilities (owned and leased), in any Laboratory vehicle, and on Laboratory property unless in designated smoking areas. All other smoked substances not addressed herein are strictly prohibited. (See the RPM policy Workplace Substance Abuse for more information.) Smokeless tobacco (i.e., chewing tobacco, snuff) usage is also prohibited in all Laboratory facilities (owned or leased), in any Laboratory vehicle, and on Laboratory property unless in designated smoking areas. Refer to the Berkeley Lab Smoking Area Map. When working off the main Laboratory site, Laboratory personnel will comply with the smoking requirements of the entity having jurisdiction for setting smoking policy or regulation.

Web Sites on Quitting Smoking

• American Cancer Society
• American Heart Association
• American Lung Association
• California Department of Public Health
• Kick It California
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• smokefree.gov
• UNDO.org or call 1-800-NOBUTTS
• UC Berkeley's University Health Services

The U.S. Surgeon General has determined that cigarette smoking is the nation's leading preventable cause of illness and premature death. Moreover, research indicates that nonsmokers regularly exposed to passive (secondhand) tobacco smoke are also at increased risk of illness. Passive smoke appears to be especially deleterious to the health of certain populations, including the elderly, children, and individuals with allergies, asthma, respiratory disease, or cardiovascular disease. For these reasons, the U.S. Surgeon General has urged employers to implement broad-based health-promotion programs with special emphasis on smoking cessation. The response to the U.S. Surgeon General's advice and the medical evidence has been an overwhelming trend toward protection of the health and safety of nonsmokers. For more information, visit the Surgeon General's Tobacco Reports and Publications web page.

1. Smoking Is Not Permitted Except in Designated Areas. Smoking, including the use of electronic cigarettes (also known as e-cigarettes or personal vaporizers) is strictly prohibited in indoor and outdoor Laboratory facilities (owned or leased), vehicles, property, and parking lots unless in designated smoking areas. Refer to the Berkeley Lab Smoking Area Map. When working off-site, Laboratory personnel will comply with the smoking requirements of the entity having jurisdiction for setting smoking policy or regulation.
   1. Designated Areas. Designated smoking areas are located throughout the Laboratory (see map below) and are identified by Designated Smoking Area signs and smoking urns. Smokers must dispose of their cigarette butts in the smoking urns (refer to the Berkeley Lab Smoking Area Map).
   2. Designated Smoking Area Sign
      1. Smoking is allowed only within 10 feet of this sign.
         
   3. Construction Projects. Temporary smoking areas may be designated within a construction site for construction workers as long as the designated smoking area complies with the following criteria:
      
      1. Is not in any Laboratory vehicle.
      2. Is not within 25 feet (7.62 meters) of any Laboratory building.
      3. Is not located on decks or stairs.
      4. Is not in areas with vegetation.
      5. Is not in any area posted as "No Smoking."
      6. Has received approval from the Laboratory's Construction Project Manager.
      7. Has a smoking urn to collect cigarette butts.
2. FDA-Approved Smoking Cessation Products. Usage of FDA-approved smoking cessation products is permitted on Berkeley Lab property. These products include over-the-counter nicotine replacement products (chewing gum, skin patches, and lozenges) and prescription-only nicotine replacement products.
3. Tobacco Use Is Not Permitted. Smokeless tobacco products (i.e., chewing tobacco, snuff) are also prohibited in indoor Laboratory facilities (owned or leased), Laboratory vehicles, and on Laboratory property unless in designated smoking areas.
4. Violations of this policy should be reported to a Laboratory supervisor.
5. There is no retaliation against anyone seeking assistance in enforcing this policy.

E. Roles and Responsibilities

F. Definitions/Acronyms

G. Recordkeeping Requirements

None

H. Implementing Documents

I. Contact Information

For more information on smoking-cessation programs, go here: https://sites.google.com/lbl.gov/smoking-cessation/home
For more information about this policy, contact:
Environment, Health, & Safety
(510) 486-6266
https://ehs.lbl.gov/service/smoking-at-lbnl/
For more information on this policy, contact the Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) Division.

J. Revision History

DOCUMENT INFORMATION

Source Requirements Documents

California Labor Code Section 6404.5,

Other Driving Requirements

Implementing Documents