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Commander’s Direct Line: Smoking on base

  • Published
FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  The following is a question to the 92nd Air Refueling Wing Commander submitted by a member of Team Fairchild or the local community:

Question:
I'm writing to you to see if you can help with a base wide problem. Over the last 10 years I've been frustrated by the fact that I frequently have to walk through clouds of tobacco smoke as I come and go on base. I didn't think I had any recourse, so I grudgingly accepted it. After the new Washington State law went into effect, I tried to find out if it applied here on Fairchild; which it does not.

However, I did find out that Air Force Instruction 40-102, Tobacco use in the Air Force, governs smoking in the work place. Additionally, the base does have a smoking policy in place that addresses many of my concerns.

At the moment, enforcement is up to the individual encountering the smoker; which can lead to some heated confrontations and bad feelings by all parties involved. Would it be possible to maximize publicity about the current policy? Leadership emphasis would be proactive in preventing abuse and would help in reducing the number of one-on-one encounters between smokers and non-smokers.

Thank you for your time in considering this matter.

Answer:

Thank you for bringing this to my attention. You are correct in that AFI 40-102 provides appropriate guidance for smoking on base. In fact, it states:

"Points of ingress and/or egress (i.e. doors) to facilities, in addition to windows and air intake units/vents, are considered part of the workplace for the purpose of this instruction. Any designated tobacco use areas will be away from these points. Tobacco use area distance must be more than sufficient so as not to allow smoke to be drawn into the building through openings in doors, windows, and/or air intake units."

It further states that when possible, commanders will designate outdoor tobacco use areas, which are reasonably accessible to employees and provide some protection from the elements. Additionally, commanders will ensure all smoking areas are marked with signs: "Designated Tobacco Use Area."

In your building, your commander is in the process of ensuring that a clearly marked area is available outside for smokers and will also ensure that any smoke generated by the smokers will not drift into your or anyone else's windows in your building.

Currently, there is not a base-wide smoking policy in effect. We believe that AFI 40-102 provides sufficient information, guidance and direction to ensure that people are aware of the ill effects of smoking and to ensure commanders have proper procedures in effect to minimize the smoking effects on non-smokers.

As you mention, education is key toward ensuring a smoke-free work environment. Non-smokers should not have to endure residual smoke from those who smoke, and commanders should ensure all employees have access to smoke-free work environments.