If you're going to try to quit smoking today -- the day of the American Cancer Society's Great American Smokeout -- rest assured your office building's owner and manager just may be your biggest cheerleaders.

In fact, only one percent of respondents to a Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International survey reported they allow smoking everywhere in their facilities -- the remaining 99 percent say ``No!,'' only allowing smoking outside, on loading docks, or in specially ventilated rooms.

Why? ``A ban on smoking in buildings significantly improves the quality of the air we breathe. BOMA International is a leading advocate of eliminating this known carcinogen from the workplace,'' said W.S. (Bill) Garland, president of BOMA International. ``Non-smokers and smokers alike are put at risk for significant health complications. Tobacco smoke makes the workplace a flawed environment. However, BOMA members are taking the necessary steps in their own buildings by restricting smoking in localities where laws have not already been set in place.''

In addition to supporting the American Cancer Society's Great American Smokeout, BOMA International backs federal legislation that could also help smokers kick the habit -- by eliminating smoking in the workplace and requiring smokers go outside or into designated rooms exhausted to the outside if they want to light up while at work.

Currently, smoking is banned in office buildings in many parts of the United States, including Maryland, California, Washington, New York City and Atlanta. Laws in most of these areas prohibit smoking except in designated ventilated rooms or outdoors -- similar to the voluntary policies of BOMA members throughout North America.

Published: November 19, 1998

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