[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Cobleskill 3-19-1990.
Amendments noted where applicable.]
A.
The New York State Clean Indoor Air Act,[1] which was recently enacted, requires every employer, both public
and private, to provide smoke-free work areas for employees who desire it
and to develop and maintain a written policy regarding smoking in the workplace.
The policy must conform to all requirements contained in this statute. It
is the intention of the legislation to improve the health, comfort and environment
of the people of the state by limiting exposure to tobacco smoke.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Article 13-E of the Public Health Law
B.
The Village of Cobleskill has developed this policy to
meet this statutory mandate. This policy and guidelines are predicated on
the substantial and well-documented scientific research showing that breathing
secondhand smoke is a significant health hazard for nonsmokers.
C.
Pursuant to the Clean Indoor Air Act, the Village of
Cobleskill recognizes the obligation to protect nonsmoking employees and visitors
to the Agency from the involuntary exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke. At
the same time, the Village of Cobleskill accepts the further responsibility
of meeting this obligation without imposing needless or unnecessary hardship
on employees and members of the public who smoke. It is the intention of this
policy to make the best balance possible between these conflicting obligations.
The following is the Village of Cobleskill policy on smoking in the
workplace:
A.
Smoking is prohibited in any enclosed work area occupied
by more than one (1) person whenever one (1) or more employees in the work
area request a smoke-free environment. For purposes of this policy, "work
area" shall mean a room, office, Village of Cobleskill vehicle or any other
area enclosed by floor-to-ceiling walls and doors in which Village of Cobleskill
employees are conducting Village of Cobleskill business.
B.
Smoking is also prohibited in auditoriums, classrooms,
rest rooms, hallways, libraries and rooms or areas containing photocopying
or other equipment used by employees in common. The Village of Cobleskill
Board of Trustees may recommend that other areas be designated as "no smoking"
for safety reasons.
Effective April 1, 1990, this policy shall apply to all employees and
visitors to Village of Cobleskill operated facilities. Where employees are
using facilities operated by other public or private agencies, the policy
in effect for that facility will apply.
