Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) in the private or public worksite can result in health consequences. In Texas, no state laws regulate ETS in private worksites. This study was conducted to 1) identify the status of ETS regulation in the private and public worksite in the absence of state regulations 2) describe disparities in level of restrictiveness in private and public worksite, and 3) assess the population-based implications. Of the 201 municipal ordinances collected in the Texas Tobacco Prevention Initiative area for baseline evaluation of ETS policies in worksites, 65 municipalities (32%) regulated tobacco. Using content analysis, raters independently evaluated ordinances based on a modified version of the CDC coding system. Interrater reliability was calculated and reliability coefficients ranged from r=.89 and 1.00 (p<.01). Variations were evident in both the extent and type of worksite regulations examined. For private worksites, 59% of the 3.1 million people in the study area were covered. However, only 4% of the ordinances had provisions that met best practice standards. Most ordinances restricting private worksites failed to address best practices for meeting rooms, nonretaliation, or preference for the nonsmoker in disputes. In public worksite facilities, 83% (54) restricted smoking in municipal-owned facilities. While many ordinances restricted smoking in city-owned buildings, only 27% provided best practice restrictions. Level of restrictiveness varied from requiring only one portion of a city building, such as council chambers, to all city-owned facilities and properties - including parks, transit and fairgrounds. Implications of community and state-level tobacco control regulation will be discussed.
Learning Objectives: 1. Describe the processes used in content analysis for establishing a reconciled coding system that allows for indentification of private and public worksite regulations. 2. Assess the population-based implications and relative advantages of local policy development over state preemption in tobacco control and prevention.
Keywords: Health Law, Tobacco Policy
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.