• Home
• Workers
• Regulations
• Enforcement
• Data & Statistics
• Training
• Publications
• Newsroom
• Small Business

News Release
Thursday, May 21, 1998
Contact: Jeff Ezell or Michael Fluharty (202) 219-8151

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is sponsoring a technical workshop in Fort Mitchell, Ky., on June 7-9, to discuss the effectiveness, cost and potential health benefits of ventilation engineering controls for environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) in the hospitality sector.

The workshops, scheduled between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. each day, will be conducted by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH). Ventilation engineers and facility management representatives from restaurant, bar and gaming establishments will serve on the workshop panel. Written results, including information about feasible controls to reduce occupational ETS exposure in the hospitality sector, will be made available to the public.

OSHA's goal is to help protect workers in this industry who are exposed daily to tobacco smoke during interaction with customers, without necessarily restricting smoking in these facilities. Available and innovative ventilation strategies are primary tools in this effort. OSHA is working with ACGIH to obtain more information on this issue. The results of the workshop will be published for the use of employers, who have the responsibility of reducing their employees' exposure to ETS.

The workshop will be held at the Drawbridge Inn, I-75 at Buttermilk Pike. The phone number is (606) 341-2800.

All interested individuals are invited to attend the workshop. However, discussion will be limited to the 18 panel members. Fifty seats will be available for the public on a first-come, first-served basis. Interested individuals should contact Alexis Callender, American Conference of Governmental Hygienists, 1330 Kemper Meadow Drive, Suite 600, Cincinnati, Ohio 45240; phone (513) 742-2020.

Individuals with disabilities wishing to attend should contact Alexis Callender no later than May 28 to arrange appropriate accommodations.

Notice of this workshop will be published in the Federal Register the week of May 25, 1998.