Tobacco.org

Smokers need not apply!  

To further expand its smoke-free environment, Susquehanna Health has adopted a new policy that prohibits the hiring of smokers and other tobacco users.

Health system officials and legal experts noted the policy, to take effect Jan. 1, is perfectly legal under state law. It affects every position within the health system.

"In Pennsylvania, tobacco users are not a protected class under the law," explained health system spokeswoman Tracie Witter. "So prohibiting the hiring of tobacco users is not discrimination."

Everyone who seeks health system employment must apply online, Witter noted. At that time, they are made aware of the policy.

Jump to full article »

Pennsylvania Department of Health Offers Resources to Help Smokers Quit During 

The Department of Health is offering support to help Pennsylvania smokers give up tobacco for good during the 34th annual Great American Smokeout on Nov. 19.

"The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention just reported cigarette smoking among adults increased for the first time in 15 years. Approximately 46 million adults still smoke and about two million are Pennsylvanians," said Health Secretary Everette James. "While quitting can be difficult, we are asking smokers to use the Smokeout on Nov. 19 as an opportunity to take the first step toward a healthier lifestyle."

Jump to full article »

Cigarette, oxygen bottles fuel fire that destroys couple's Port Townsend duplex  

A cigarette and oxygen bottles combined to fuel a fire that destroyed a home early Wednesday morning, leaving its two residents homeless.

The fire, accompanied by explosions heard from miles away from the home at 1068 Cedar St., destroyed Unit B of a single- story duplex. . . .

Jay Reynolds, who was on oxygen for a health condition, often would get up in the night, light a cigarette and step outside to smoke it, Keplinger said fire investigators determined.

Early Wednesday morning, he apparently lit a cigarette, stood up to go outside and passed out or had a seizure, she said.

"He fell to the floor and pulled a tube on the oxygen tank loose," Keplinger said.

Jump to full article »

Smoking bans linked to cut in heart risk 

In Pennsylvania, it's been more than a year since a smoking ban took effect in most businesses and public places and the law's supporters welcome evidence that it will result in better health conditions.

A major report, released by the Institute of Medicine last month, confirmed what health officials long have believed: Bans on smoking in restaurants, bars and other gathering spots reduce the risk of heart attacks among nonsmokers. . . .

"The evidence is clear," said Dr. Thomas Frieden, head of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which requested the study. "Smoke-free laws don't hurt business ... but they prevent heart attacks in nonsmokers."

Among the report's conclusions: While heavier exposure to secondhand smoke is worse, there's no safe level. It also cited "compelling" if circumstantial evidence that even less than an hour's exposure might be enough to push someone already at risk of a heart attack over the edge. . . .

Pennsylvania's Clean Indoor Air Act went into effect Sept. 11, 2008, and monitoring its effect on people is one local group, Tobacco Free Allegheny. The group's executive director, Cindy Thomas, commented on the IOM report:

Jump to full article »

Get your butts outa here! 

We've known forever that cigarette smoking is deadly. But so are the butts that smokers toss aside after their last puff, claim researchers from San Diego State University, the University of California-San Francisco and consulting groups Oxford Outcomes and the Varda Group.

That's why the team is leading an effort to have the butts considered toxic waste.

The researchers will present their findings today at the 137th annual meeting of the American Public Health Association, right here at the Philadelphia Marriott.

According to SDSU public health professor Rick Gersberg, cigarette butts allowed to soak in both fresh and salt water kill half the exposed fish in a standardized hazard assessment at a concentration of about one butt per liter. Further research is planned to identify the organic and inorganic chemicals in the cigarette butt that are lethal to fish and may be identified in natural environments.

The research is part of the Cigarette Butt Pollution Project funded by the California Tobacco Related Disease Research Program of the University of California.

Jump to full article »

• Lobbyists open wallets to influence Pa. budget  

- When it became clear that the state budget was in crisis mode, three industries with much at stake in Harrisburg opened their wallets.

Gambling interests, natural-gas drillers, and tobacco companies have since January spent more than $4.5 million combined on lobbying efforts, according to expense reports filed last week with the state.

Those industries were among the few winners in a budget ravaged by the recession.

Casinos are poised to introduce poker and other newly legalized table games. Natural-gas drillers and tobacco companies fought off new taxes. . . .

Republican legislative leaders defeated the proposed cigar tax, along with one proposed for smokeless products such as chewing tobacco and snuff. Left standing was a new tax on little cigars - cigarillos.

In all, tobacco interests large and small spent nearly $1.5 million on lobbying from January through Sept. 30, records show.

Reynolds American Inc., whose subsidiary Conwood Co. is the nation's second-largest producer of smokeless tobacco products, devoted the most - $670,658.

Jump to full article »

Uniontown Hospital Now Smoke-Free; Fine Set  

A hospital in Fayette County is the latest to go smoke-free.

The ban on smoking in Uniontown Hospital, or on property it controls, went into effect Monday.

Jump to full article »

Hospital snuffs out smoking 

Smokers beware: As of today, Uniontown Hospital is smoke-free and violators may be prosecuted.

"We are going to be completely smoke-free on our entire medical campus, which includes the block the hospital is on and the medical arts building next to us,'' said Paul Bacharach, hospital president and chief executive officer.

The hospital is taking a stricter position by banning smoking inside and outside, especially at its entrances.

Jump to full article »

Blawnox High-Rise Fire Caused By Cigarette  

Investigators say a fire in Blawnox that forced dozens of elderly residents of a high-rise to evacuate was caused by smoking.

Officials say a resident fell asleep while smoking a cigarette in a fifth-floor apartment.

Two years ago, a fire started in the same building because a tenant threw a cigarette in a wastebasket.

The Allegheny County Housing Authority is considering changing its policy.

"What we're going to do is send a survey out . . .

Aggazio says he spoke with evacuated residents at Hoboken Presbyterian Church.

"And I talked to smokers and non-smokers alike and it was very unanimous that they wish that we could ban smoking in the units," he said.

Jump to full article »

Arbitrator rules ACMH's smoking ban unreasonable  

EAST FRANKLIN -- Employees of one union at ACMH Hospital have won the right to smoke in a designated area, after an arbitrator ruled against a hospital policy this week.

The union representing the nonprofessional employees at the hospital had challenged a ban that was initiated Jan. 1 that prohibits smoking by anyone anywhere on hospital property, in an unfair labor practices complaint.

The arbitrator in the complaint decided the hospital's policy is unreasonable because it fails to make reasonable accommodation for employees to smoke in a designated area -- a past practice of the hospital, it was ruled as well.

Jump to full article »

• Man says he was fired for complaining about judge smoking 

A former Bucks County employee said he was fired from his job last year because he complained about a county judge smoking in his courthouse office, a federal lawsuit alleges.

But the defendant in the civil suit, the county's court administrator, said the county employee was fired for poor job performance, according to subsequent court filings.

Douglas Praul, the court administrator, also denied having any knowledge of county Judge Alan Rubenstein smoking in county offices, according to court records.

James Frederick, a former supervisor of domestic relations officers, filed the suit in U.S. district court in Philadelphia in August. The suit alleges that Frederick's right to free speech was violated because he complained about the smoking in a county building, a matter of public concern. . . .

There is a no-smoking ban in all county buildings. Frederick allegedly sent a memo to a supervisor complaining about the smoking. That supervisor allegedly told him in response that everyone in the courthouse knew that Rubenstein smoked in the building.

Jump to full article »

Funding cut for Franklin County stop-smoking program  

The Healthy Communities Partnership of Greater Franklin County has had to eliminate its classes to help people with their efforts to quit smoking. Grant Coordinator McCole said she had to tell about 10 people that an eight-week class that was to start in a couple of weeks was being canceled, and to turn away a handful of people looking for help in kicking the habit.

"We had classes scheduled, but they're all gone now," she said.

Last year the organization conducted about 10 classes that were completed by about 60 people. . . .

McCole said the most frustrating part of the financial cuts is not being able to assist people who are looking for help to better their health. McCole said that she comes from a family of smokers and that if a relative of hers were to come to her now looking for a class to help them quit, she doesn't have any to offer.

"To turn them away is heart-breaking," she said.

Jump to full article »

Franklin County area smokers fired up about cigar tax  

The struggling state coffers will burden smokers to get more revenue.

Little cigars -- the ones that come with filters in sweet flavors and look like cigarettes -- will more than double in price because of the state budget crisis.

Beginning Nov. 1, the cigars will cost an additional $1.60 per pack. The price will jump from 99 cents a pack to $2.59. At the same time, the price of cigarettes will go up an additional 25 cents.

"They need to start picking on the drinkers for a change, and not just the smokers," said Melody Hopkins, manager of Puff N Snuff, Chambersburg. "There's not a lot of people who would die because you light up on the road, but a lot of people die when you drink and drive."

The state tax on small cigars was only recently passed. It equals about 8 cents per stick.

"There were some proposals that involved all cigars and smokeless tobacco, but the one that passed was for small cigars," said Wendy Lewis, budget analysis for the Democratic House Committee on Appropriations in Harrisburg.

Currently there is no tax on small cigars.

Jump to full article »

Newville weighs prohibiting tobacco products in parks 

Municipal parks are designed to provide a place where residents can take walks, play sports and enjoy green space and fresh air. And in the Borough of Newville, park air could get fresher.

Borough Council is expected to vote Tuesday on an ordinance prohibiting the use of tobacco products at Newville Community Park and the Newville Rails-to-Trails trailhead.

Council’s meeting begins at 7 p.m. in the borough building on West Street. Public comment will be accepted on the issue.

Borough officials said they have received complaints about the use of tobacco products near children using the park and the trailhead.

Jump to full article »

Newville weighs prohibiting tobacco products in parks 

Municipal parks are designed to provide a place where residents can take walks, play sports and enjoy green space and fresh air. And in the Borough of Newville, park air could get fresher.

Borough Council is expected to vote Tuesday on an ordinance prohibiting the use of tobacco products at Newville Community Park and the Newville Rails-to-Trails trailhead.

Council’s meeting begins at 7 p.m. in the borough building on West Street. Public comment will be accepted on the issue.

Borough officials said they have received complaints about the use of tobacco products near children using the park and the trailhead.

Jump to full article »