Ohio's New
Indoor Clean Air Law
now enforceable

Mike Whitaker
Grant Manager,
Tobacco Prevention Program

The Knox County Health Department is now enforcing the smoke free workplace law that was passed by 58% of Ohio ’s voters back in November.

While most public places and places of employment in Knox County have been in compliance with this new law from the beginning, a handful of establishments have not been abiding by the rules. This will soon change since a violation could mean up to $2,500.

All public places and places of employment must not allow anyone to smoke in a building, must post no smoking signs with the hotline phone number (866-559-OHIO), and must remove all indoor ashtrays. Proprietors can allow smokers to smoke outside, but within a safe distance from any doors and windows of a building so smoke does not enter the establishment.

This law is designed to be complaint driven. This means that residents need to call the hotline or the health department to file a complaint. The Knox County Health Department will investigate the complaint before a warning or a citation is made.

The health department’s environmental health division will investigate all complaints. The complaints will be reported into Ohio Department of Health’s web-based system. The report will include the nature of violation, date and time of violation, and address/county of business or individual.

Any appeals by a business or individual will be handled through the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas. No appeals will be handled in Knox County . Any violation fines that are not paid within the designated timeframe will be handled by the state Attorney General’s office.

The Ohio smoke free workplace law does allow some places to be exempt. This includes: private residences, 20% of hotel/motel rooms, family owned businesses, nursing homes, retail tobacco stores, outdoor patios and private clubs. However, most of these establishments must follow certain criteria to be exempt. More information and criteria for exemptions can be found at the Ohio Department of Health’s website at www.odh.ohio.gov.

What businesses and public places need to do
Businesses and other public places are expected to comply with the law
by doing the following three things:

1.) Prohibit smoking in any “public place” or “place of employment.”
.
2.) Remove all ashtrays and other smoking receptacles in
all “public places” and “places of employment.”

3.) Post "No Smoking" signs with the toll-free enforcement number.

Free Signs
The Knox County Health Department has laminated, adhesive 5" x 7" signs, available free for local businesses, agencies and other public places.
If you would like to receive a free sign from the Knox County Health Department,
or if you are interested in smoking cessation classes for your employees,
contact Mike Whitaker grant manager for the Tobacco Prevention Program.

"No Smoking" signs can also be downloaded and printed from the links posted below. PDF format (Acrobat Reader Required) Download Acrobat Reader

Signs for entrances to public places and businesses
Signs for company vehicles

Please note that you will need to print the signs in color. The new law states that
if the no smoking symbol - - is used, it must be printed in color. See information above to obtain laminated, adhesive signs from the Knox County Health Department.
You are not required to use the actual sign designs provided by the Knox County Health Department, but instead can create or purchase other "No Smoking" signs, as long as the signs meet the specifications of the law which include the posting of the toll-free number to report violations.