New Oregon Smokefree Workplace Law Becomes Effective January 1, 2009

Under Oregon’s new Smokefree Workplace Law, smoking will be prohibited in most public places and workplaces with few exceptions. Public place means any enclosed area open to the public. Place of employment means every enclosed area under the control of a public or private employer that employees frequent during the course of employment.

The DHS website says that complying with the new law will be easy:

  • Make sure all employees are informed of the law and comply with its effective date of January 1, 2009.
  • Prohibit smoking in the workplace and within 10 feet of all entrances, exits, windows and air intake vents.
  •  Post “No Smoking within 10 feet” signs at all building entrances and exits as required by law (free signs will be available soon).
  •  Remove all ashtrays and other receptacles for smoking debris from your workplace and from within 10 feet of entrances, exits, windows, and ventilation intakes as required by law.
  •  Talk with your customers and employees about the law.
  •  Provide training to employees about how to ask visitors and patrons not to smoke.
  • Encourage employees who smoke to use the January 1, 2009 effective date as a date to quit smoking. Encourage them to call Oregon’s toll-free QUIT LINE at 800-QUIT-NOW (800-784-8669) or, for Spanish, to call 877-2NO-FUME (877-266-3863).

As an employer, it will be your responsibility to ensure that your workplace is smokefree*.

More information on the new law is available from the Oregon Department of Health and Human Services website.

Click here for more on the new law from the DHS website