Looking For Some Clarification...

[FJSchmoozer]

I need some clarification and verification regarding the Utah Clean Air Act. First of all, I have nothing against smokers or their choice to smoke, so let me get that out of the way first. I just choose to not smoke or smoke second-hand when possible. I have asthma and it does affect me occasionally if I am subjected to second-hand smoke. Following is an e-mail correspondence with a faculty member from my school. I e-mailed the director, dean, and assistant dean about the issue and this is the response I get:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I do not have a name, but you can call them directly if you must. I have checked into this on a number of occasions, because I read the Utah Clean Air Act and I could not see where it specified the double door law. After checking with them they said it applied to single door entrances. Let me know if you discover something different.
Thanks,

Chris


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Smart, Matthew (Shipping & Receiving Clerk) [mailto:MSmart@rideuta.com]
Sent: Thursday, October 30, 2008 10:20 AM
To: Chris Bowcutt at 015
Subject: RE: Smoking and The Utah Clean Air Act

Chris,

I’m sorry, but I have read the Utah Clean Air Act and cannot find any reference to double doors or an exception for that. Can you please give me a reference, the name of the person at the Health Department that told you that?

Thanks.

Matt

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Chris Bowcutt at 015 [mailto:CBowcutt@itt-tech.edu]
Sent: Thursday, October 30, 2008 9:50 AM
To: Smart, Matthew (Shipping & Receiving Clerk)
Cc: Richard Mott at 015; Don Cook at 015
Subject: RE: Smoking and The Utah Clean Air Act

Dear Matthew,

I am glad you brought this to our attention. Unfortunately, I have contacted the state of Utah a number of times regarding this issue and they have informed me there is no law for a free smoking zone when it comes to double doors. The law applies to any single entrance door to a building where you must be at least 25 feet from the entrance and this is our policy that we enforce when we see it being violated.

I appreciate you bringing this to our attention and it is something we must revisit on a regular basis and to remind individuals who smoke to respect those who do not. You may enter through our front doors where we do not have smoking receptacles setup or enter through the northeast door, which is a single entrance door and individuals should be 25 feet from the door.

Again, thank you for bringing this to our attention.

Sincerely,

Chris Bowcutt
Director
ITT Technical Institute
Murray, Utah
801-263-3313


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Smart, Matthew (Shipping & Receiving Clerk) [mailto:MSmart@rideuta.com]
Sent: Thursday, October 30, 2008 8:09 AM
To: Richard Mott at 015; Don Cook at 015; Chris Bowcutt at 015
Subject: Smoking and The Utah Clean Air Act

To Whom It May Concern:

My name is Matthew Smart and I have been a student at ITT Tech for almost a year now. For the last year, I have had to walk through a cloud of smoke to get to class. I have entered the building from almost every entrance, and it never fails, there is always someone smoking right next to the door when I enter. I don’t understand how this can be allowed to go on.

Taken from http://www.tobaccofreeutah.org/violationsuicaa.html:[/url]

"smoking is prohibited in all enclosed indoor places of public access and privately owned buildings and offices…" Utah Code 26-38-3 Employers must develop employee smoking policies that prohibit smoking within 25 feet of any entrance-way, exit, open window, or air intake of buildings and designated outdoor smoking permitted areas are not allowed within 25 feet of any entrance-way, exit, open window, or air intake of buildings. Utah Administrative Rule 392-510-9. There are limited exemptions where smoking may be permitted.”

Hopefully this problem can be addressed quickly.

Thanks for your understanding.

Matthew Smart

 

[jeep-N-montero]

I was under the impression it was 25 feet from the entrance/exit to any non-private building.

 

[pfinder]

i thought it was 25 feet too.
i hate it when your in a store and then you get done with your shopping and the first thing you smell when you walk out the door is cig smoke... its weird i dont mind the smell when i am on the construction site or in a bar out side of Utah or even in the mtns...
i dont mind smokers i just think they need to have a lil respect for people that have Asthma or any other breathing problems..

 

[ChestonScout]

what the #e!! differance does it make if its a double door or a single door.

The law is 25' from an entrance.


That is the stupidist thing Ive heard this week


You should call the Health dept. If they give you the run around I would be surprised. Talk to someone else there.

 

[Bodine]

I would not just focus on the law(other than it should be followed) they also have the ability to create their own policy for example the company I work for has adopted a tobacco free work place policy, we have to leave the property to use tobacco of any kind we are actually not even supposed to have it on the property.

 

[jeep-N-montero]

A company can add to a law, but cannot take away from it.

 

[jet_aj]

I would not just focus on the law(other than it should be followed) they also have the ability to create their own policy for example the company I work for has adopted a tobacco free work place policy, we have to leave the property to use tobacco of any kind we are actually not even supposed to have it on the property.

As far as I know its 25' from any entrance/exit. Walk into any Walmart/K-mart or super market in the state and what do they have on the double doors? A no Smoking Permitted within 25' sign.

 

[EROK81?]

Here is some info someone gave me when we were having problems with our neighbor below us stinking up our apartment with smoke. She is very helpfull. Maybe she can help you?

call this lady, she is in charge of the 2nd hand smoke stuff.
http://health.utah.gov/epi/envsvc/cehsplinks.html


Cassandra Fairclough Health Program Specialist
Phone: (801) 538-6754
Fax (801) 538-6564

 

[piecesnparts]

I was also a student and just graduated this march with my BS. The west door never (or rarely) have people smoking by them (especially when you come late ). Most the time itt students feel that there special and entitled(smokers and non smokers) and will wine about most anything. They will even spend a whole term project on the subject. (while winning about doing the project).

Sorry there's my rant, and for the record I loved the school, just so happens the class I went with had not entered the real word where people have to act and think like adults.

And I could see them writing the law with that exception,. probably only way to get it to pass congress