Expansion of 50 foot Outside-Building Smoking Restrictions

William S. Properzio, PhD, Director, Environmental Health and Safety

The University of Florida expands its outside building smoking restriction to all campus buildings effective Monday, January 22, 2007. In compliance with the Florida Clean Indoor Air Act of 1992 (Section 386.201 of the Florida Statutes), smoking is prohibited within all UF buildings. In 2002 a university rule (6Cl-2.0l8, University of Florida; Smoking Policy) permitted the designation of no-smoking areas within the fifty feet (50’) surrounding the outside of any University facility or other facility owned or leased by the University. Since promulgation of the rule, the 50-foot outdoor no-smoking restriction has been implemented at 44 UF buildings.

Noting the positive acceptance of these outside building smoking restrictions, Healthy Gators 2010 recommended that the university expand its coverage under the policy to include all campus buildings. Healthy Gators 2010 follows a set of national health objectives which includes reducing tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke.

As stated in the university rule, enforcement is the responsibility of the person in charge of the facility in use. All members of the University of Florida community, however, can help enforce this policy by spreading the word. Additional information on UF smoking restrictions can be referenced at http://www.ehs.ufl.edu/RiskMgmt/Smoking.htm.