Tobacco Policy

BY JOHN “SKIP” COLEMAN

If you would ask firefighters in Toledo who knew me from 1975 until 1989 or so to picture me in their mind during that time, that vision would probably have a cigarette associated with it. I smoked big time—probably three or four packs a day at work easily. I quit smoking in 1989.

Today, Toledo does not allow smoking in the station or on city property, on apparatus, or at the emergency scene. I do not believe that the city has banned tobacco use altogether while on duty, but it has become very hard to light up.

Of the 35 respondents this month, 27 stated that smoking was not permitted on fire department property and in fire department vehicles. That’s more than 77 percent of the respondents. I consider this a ban on smoking in general. Only seven of the respondents said they had no ban on smoking in their department buildings or on apparatus.

Here’s where I was surprised: Of the 35 respondents, almost one-third said that all new hires are prohibited from smoking on and off duty. I can only imagine that this number will grow as time goes on. Here are some of the respondents’ comments.

Question: Does your department have a ban on smoking or a no-use policy on tobacco?

Rick Lasky, chief, Lewisville (TX) Fire Department: We do not have a ban or no-use policy, but the city has an incentive program for smokers who want to quit using tobacco. The city pays for the doctor visits, a three-month supply of a product that will facilitate quitting, and 100 percent for prescription drugs that help stop tobacco use.

Bob Metzger, chief, Golden Gate (FL) Fire District: Taking a cue from the trend to improve firefighter health, the local agreed to a ban on all tobacco product use for all its members while on duty and pledged that all future hires will live tobacco-free on and off duty as a condition of employment.

Thomas Dunne, deputy chief, Fire Department of New York: Our policy prohibits smoking in all fire department facilities and vehicles. However, that is not to say that there are no smokers on the job, since there is no ban on a firefighter’s personal choice to use tobacco.

Michael T. Metro, assistant chief, Los Angeles County (CA) Fire Department:Our new hires must sign a statement affirming they are not tobacco users. We have had that policy for a number of years. Those who have been on the job before this policy was established may not smoke in a county facility or a county vehicle.

Christopher J. Weir, division chief, Port Orange (FL) Department of Fire & Rescue: Since July 1, 1988, the State of Florida has prohibited professional or career firefighters from using tobacco products. Volunteer firefighters are exempt from that ruling.

Bobby Shelton, firefighter, Cincinnati (OH) Fire Department: The city of Cincinnati has enacted a no-use ban in all firehouses. Members and civilian employees are to observe designated smoking areas outside the firehouse.

Gary Seidel, chief, Hillsboro (OR) Fire Department:We do not have a tobacco ban or no-use policy. Hillsboro has the standard no-smoking policy inside city buildings and city vehicles.

Elby Bushong III, deputy chief, Phoenix (AZ) Fire Department:We initiated the policy of no tobacco use in the mid-1980s. All employees have to sign a statement that says they understand the no-use policy. Phoenix has had a policy of no smoking in its buildings for a number of years now.

Leigh T. Hollins, battalion chief, Cedar Hammock (FL) Fire Rescue:We follow the Florida statutes on this issue, which states that all firefighters employed after September 30, 1991, “be a nonuser of tobacco or tobacco products for at least 1 year immediately preceding application, as evidenced by the sworn affidavit of the applicant.” Our policy also states that employees hired after September 30, 1991, must maintain nonsmoker status as a condition of continued employment.

The affidavit reads, in part: “I understand that as a condition of my employment, I must maintain nonuser status of tobacco or tobacco products during my employment, whether on or off duty. I further understand that if I should violate this condition, my employment shall be terminated.”

Jeffrey Schwering, captain, Crestwood (MO) Department of Fire Services: The only place smoking is allowed in our municipal building is in our engine room; occasionally, you will see a police officer or city worker on lunch catching a smoke in the bay.

Robert J. Zoldos II, battalion chief, Fairfax County (VA) Fire and Rescue Department:Since 1984, our firefighters have had to sign an employment agreement that requires them to remain nonsmokers to be hired.

Christopher Holcomb, firefighter, Raleigh (NC) Fire Department:Our department does not have a policy. I do not feel that my department or any department should impose its views on its employees. The use of tobacco is a personal decision.

Terry Canning, deputy chief, Brookfield Fire & Emergency Services, Nova Scotia, Canada:Our province has a ban on smoking in any public building or workplace and within 12 feet of doors, windows, and air intakes. Our service complies with that; however, individuals are not banned from smoking generally, since we are a wholly volunteer organization and would be unable to enforce such a restriction, even though I would fully support it.

John “Skip” Coleman retired as assistant chief from the Toledo (OH) Department of Fire and Rescue. He is a technical editor of Fire Engineering; a member of the FDIC Educational Advisory Board; and author of Incident Management for the Street-Smart Fire Officer (Fire Engineering, 1997), Managing Major Fires (Fire Engineering, 2000), and Incident Management for the Street-Smart Fire Officer, Second Edition (Fire Engineering, 2008).

 

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