Board Of Health Schedules Hearing On Prohibiting Smoking In Public Places

Source: amherstma.gov

The Amherst Board of Health will hold a public hearing on Thursday, May 13 at 5 p.m. to review and hear comments relative to a proposed Board of Health regulation entitled “Prohibiting Smoking in Workplace and Public Places.” This meeting will be conducted virtually and will accommodate public comment to the extent practical.

Click the link below to join the webinar: https://amherstma.zoom.us/j/84738589352 
For dial-in participation: +1 312 626 6799 or +1 646 876 9923 with Webinar ID: 847 3858 9352

The regulation aims to:

• protect the health of employees in their workplaces from exposure to secondhand smoke
  
• protect the health of the general public from extended exposure to secondhand smoke in places where they congregate

It shall be the responsibility of the employer to provide a smoke- and vape-free environment for all employees working in an enclosed workplace.

The use of e-cigarettes and other electronic nicotine delivery systems is prohibited wherever smoking is prohibited per M.G.L. Ch. 270, §22.

A draft of the regulation is available for review by clicking here or the Amherst Public Health Department, located at the Bangs Community Center, 70 Boltwood Walk. 

For more information, contact Health Director Emma Dragon at 413-259-3077.

This regulation was originally discussed at a Public Hearing and Meeting of The Board of Health on April 8 via zoom. That zoom broadcast experienced an unanticipated technical glitch. Due to this and the efforts for utmost transparency and compliance with Massachusetts open meeting law the following steps have been taken. No vote was taken during that hearing. Written testimony was accepted until April 30. The recording of that meeting will be posted on the town website for all to review.