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Associated General Contractors New Mexico Building Branch


Associated General Contractors
New Mexico Building Branch
1615 University Blvd. NE Albuquerque, NM 87102-1791
505-842-1462
FAX: 505-842-1980
email: reception@agc-nm.org

Environmental Alert: Albuquerque Smoke-Free Air Ordinance Affects all Businesses

A fact that is not commonly known by the local business community is that Albuquerque’s Smoke-Free Air Ordinance (85-2003) affects all businesses, except restaurants, bars, private clubs, and retail tobacco stores, in the City since July 3, 2003. On July 3, 2004, it will extend to restaurants. Most publicity surrounding the ordinance has been focused on restaurants and bars.

The reality is that most businesses in the City, including construction, have been under a continuing requirement to adopt and post a “no smoking” policy and take specific measures to eliminate secondhand smoke exposure in their work environments since July 3, 2003. These measures include:

• Eliminating workplace smoking areas entirely. This /includes private offices, shared offices, waiting areas, lunchrooms, and restrooms. The City of Albuquerque Environmental Health Department interprets the ordinance as being applicable to all indoor areas, including jobsite trailers;
• Prohibiting smoking near all outside building entrances, including doorways, windows, and ventilation openings. Outdoor smoking areas must be located where people don’t have to walk through the smoking area to enter the building, and where smoke can’t get into the building through windows, doors, or ventilation systems;
• Posting “No Smoking” signs at all doorway entrances to buildings. These signs are available from most office supply companies and the American Cancer Society, 262-2333.

The Albuquerque Fire Department, Fire Marshall’s office, is the lead enforcement agency for the ordinance, with the Environmental Health Department and Police Department also responsible for enforcement. Fines for non-compliance are $100 to $500.

More information is available from the City Environmental Health Department, 768-2600. An educational site on the health effects of secondhand smoke, operated by the State Tobacco Control Program, is www.theStink.org.

Posted July 2004

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