Smoke Free America

Smoking should be prohibited everywhere and smoking areas provided and paid for by the cigarrette manufacturing companies. I work at SSA and to enter the public reception area sometimes a person has to go through a smoke cloud because there are unwanted guests smoking right outside the entrance door. I hope the President gives his approval. Santos Mercado, Mayaguez PR (SSA)

Smoke-free

Just curious if the majority would equate an outside smoke are, far away from the general population and building entrances, to be intrusive? As I see it, people who don't smoke, just don't like it when others choose to smoke, because they see it as a nasty habit with avoidable consequences. I do not totally disagree with that; however, this is just one of the several life "choices" that has a negative impact, i.e., nasty and avoidable consequences. If smoking is to be deterred to the greatest extent possible, then why not dictate for everyone what they can/cannot choose that may be unhealthy, such as eating habits, drinking habits, exercising, etc. If the smoke break area is away from areas where non-smokers are, why should anyone be permitted to dictate your use of tobacco? I don't allow people to smoke in my house, but they are certainly free to go outside and puff away.... What say you??

smoke exposure

We haven't been able to smoke within 50 feet of a federal building in years and years. That's why I don't understand this article; I assumed this rule was in effect for ALL federal buildings.

GSA Secondhand Smoke Exposure

GSA and other agencies may wish to consider that smoking is an addiction and at some point no longer becomes an elective activity. The lost productivity could affect the smoker's efficiency reports at some point and possibly lead to either an EO complaint or even litigation. At the GSA building where I work, there is a designated smoking area that is set aside far enough that, in almost all cases, the non-smoker has no need to enter and is near enough that there is little lost time in transit to the location. If the President cannot lick his own habit, he should understand that he cannot legislate it out of existence.

Smoke Free

Article way too vague. I thought no smoking inside
any Fed bldgs. in effect for several years !? We smoke
outside away from entrance. Besides, you
would have to compete with exhaust fumes downtown here to really have an effect.

At our bldg. the issue has been resolved (many times). Once you get away from the outside bldg. entrance, it is really just a matter of controlling people and not the smoke.

Smoke-Free Environment

I spent nearly a year to get the IRS to ban smoking in the workplace, including contacting Senator's office and State Attorney General's office. I was ridiculed, harrassed and put down by smokers and management.
Finally, the Attorney General's office made the IRS close the illegal smoking room with little or no ventilation located next to a propane furnace.
I was told that my actions made the IRS look bad, to which I replied IRS made themselves look bad for allowing IRS employees to break the law.

What's next???

So, if this takes place and no more smoking, what will the next big charge to take on? People chewing gum in the workplace? People bathing in perfume in the workplace? As one with allergies, the perfume issue needs to be addressed. I think some government funding should be put into a study to see the effects of smelling bottles of perfume in the office has on my health.

Pretty soon it will probably be against the law to eat what we want.

Outside our bldg there are designated smoke areas. Why do non-smokers insist on walking through them??? There are multiple ways for them to get around without walking through the crowd. I think they do it just to say it affects their health, rather than using their brains and staying away from it.