Is your business, workplace smoke-free ready?
Illinois businesses and employers will soon be gearing up to kick cigarette butts as a new statewide smoking ban goes into effect Jan. 1.
A group of Lake County bar and restaurant owners raised questions about the Smoke Free Illinois Act at a Lake County Health Department forum this week.
A second forum for business leaders is today, 8 to 10 a.m., at the University Center, 1200 University Center Drive, Grayslake.
Based on information from the Lake County Health Department's Tobacco Free Lake County Program, here are answers to some frequently asked questions:
Who's affected?
All indoor public places and workplaces, including, restaurants, bars, bowling alleys, casinos, private clubs, banquet halls, factories, warehouses and maintenance garages. No smoking will be allowed within 15 feet of entrances, exits, windows that open, and vents.
Who's exempt?
Private residences, unless licensed for child care, adult day care, health care facility or other home-based business; retail tobacco stores drawing 80 percent of gross revenue from sales of tobacco and other tobacco accessories that don't have any kind of food, liquor or restaurant license; 25 percent of hotel/motel rooms and some nursing home rooms.
When does the law take effect?
Technically, 12:01 a.m. Jan. 1, though the act does not specify an exact time.
Who will enforce it?
The Illinois Department of Public Health, state-certified local health departments, and local police and sheriff's departments.
Who's responsible?
The business owner/manager or employer must not allow smoking in smoke-free areas, or smoke to drift into or infiltrate an indoor public area or workplace. They must post no-smoking signs at each entrance and remove all ashtrays from areas where smoking is banned.
What should the signs look like?
Under the draft rules of the law signs should be no smaller than 5 inches by 7 inches; must have an international no-smoking symbol such as a circle with a burning cigarette and a red line running diagonally across it, or the words "no smoking." Signs must be prominent, and clearly visible from 5 feet away. The Lake County Health Department will post a no-smoking sign template on its Web site.
Is placing a sign enough?
Putting up a no-smoking sign does not protect the business owner or employer from liability. They would be responsible for asking people to leave, if they don't comply with the signs or filing a complaint with police.
What if someone doesn't obey the signs?
Signs must include the telephone number of a state Department of Public Health hotline to register complaints and a Web address to obtain a complaint form.