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The INDEPENDENT, January 1, 2009
Smoke-free workplace law rings in the new year and starts today
As of midnight on New
Year’s Eve, Oregon’s Smoke-
free Workplace Law now pro-
tects nearly every Oregon em-
ployee from the health risks of
secondhand smoke. The new
law covers bars, bingo halls
and bowling centers, as well as
75 percent of hotel and motel
sleeping rooms and all employ-
ee breakrooms. In addition,
every Oregon business will be
required to maintain a 10-foot
smokefree zone around doors,
windows and ventilation sys-
tems.
“Every Oregonian benefits
from this law,” said Dr. Bruce
Goldberg, director of the Ore-
gon Department of Human Ser-
vices. “Employees will be able
to punch in without endanger-
ing their health, businesses will
save money on maintenance
and sick time costs, and the
public will have more smoke-
free choices. Laws like this are
proven to help smokers quit.
This is a monumental change
for Oregonians.”
Business owners are re-
sponsible for complying with
the law and preventing smok-
ing in and around their proper-
ty. Employees and the public
can help ensure that the law is
followed by reporting violations,
beginning January 1, by calling
1-866-621-6107 or completing
an online complaint form at
www.healthoregon.org/smoke
free. The Oregon Public Health
Division will investigate com-
plaints and give citations to
business owners who are un-
willing to comply with the law.
Oregonians strongly support
the new law, passed by the
2007 Oregon Legislature. Sur-
veys show that 90 percent of
Oregonians, including 76 per-
cent of smokers, prefer smoke-
free indoor workplaces, and 86
percent say employees should
be protected from secondhand
smoke.
Many businesses support
the new law as well. A recent
survey showed that 66 percent
of businesses affected by the
new law are already smoke-
free. Many other businesses
have been preparing for the
change all year, including some
that opted to go smokefree in
advance of the law and others
that are ready to celebrate as
the law takes effect.
State Farm ®
Providing Insurance and Financial Services
Home Office, Bloomington, Illinois 61710
Bunny Girt, Agent
1229 N. Adair
PO Box 543
Cornelius, OR 97113-0543
Bus 503-357-3131 Fax 503-357-9667
bunny.girt.b71g@statefarm.com
All Oregonians benefit from
cleaner air, but businesses
have their own reasons to cele-
brate, as they are likely to reap
the rewards of a productive
workplace including healthier
workers, fewer sick days and
reduced cleaning costs. They
also stand to gain new cus-
tomers from among the 80 per-
cent of Oregonians who don’t
smoke. Many businesses are
using the new law as an oppor-
tunity to reupholster furniture
and install new carpet to get rid
of smoke damage.
The law provides an incen-
tive for employees and cus-
tomers who smoke to quit. Sev-
enty-five percent of smokers in
Oregon want to kick the habit,
and a smokefree workplace is a
proven way to help people go
smokefree for good. Oregon’s
Quit Line is a free service avail-
able to all Oregonians at 1-800-
QUIT-NOW or 1-877-2NO-
FUME. Also, many private in-
surance plans cover cessation
support, proven to make at-
tempts to quit more successful.
Smokers should ask their
providers for information.
Tobacco takes a tremendous
toll on Oregon. Tobacco con-
tributed to 22 percent of all
deaths in the state in 2005,
making Oregon residents four
times more likely to die from to-
bacco-related causes than from
motor vehicle accidents, sui-
cide, AIDS and homicide com-
bined. The direct medical ex-
penditures and the indirect cost
of lost productivity due to pre-
mature death from tobacco-re-
lated causes costs Oregonians
more than $2 billion a year.
Lawmakers
believe
that,
through reducing secondhand
smoke exposure and by mak-
ing it harder to smoke in public
places, Oregon can prevent to-
bacco-related illness and death
Tips to fit exercise into lifestyle
Exercising every day really
can be easy. You can do it right
in your own home, whenever
you have time. If your goal is
30 minutes of physical activity
a day, all you need are two
short 15-minute workouts.
Still not convinced that
breaking a sweat at home is for
you? Read on to find easy so-
lutions to the problems that
may be keeping you from trying
it.
Problem: It’s hard to find
space in your house
Solution: Depending on your
workout, you may not need
much space. A corner of a
room may be enough. Or con-
vert an office, part of the
garage, or TV room temporarily
Pebbles
About Pebbles
If you have ever walked a creek bed you
would be able to envision how this pretty girl
got her name. The browns, tans and gray
coloring of the pebbles laying on that creek
bed are exactly what you find on the coat of
Pebbles the cat. Inquisitive, loving, and gor-
geous are just a few words that describe
this great cat. She is up to date with routine
shots, is already house trained and has
been spayed.
The Columbia Humane Society is a No-Kill non-profit shelter
dedicated to helping friends find each other since 1985.
This Adopt a Pet is Sponsored by:
Senator Betsy Johnson
(or permanently!). Move furni-
ture around if you need to.
Make the space appealing by
choosing a room with a view,
hanging an inspiring picture, or
playing upbeat music.
Problem: Exercise equip-
ment is too expensive
Solution: You don't need ex-
pensive equipment to work out
at home. Here's a list of items
(most under $25) to help you
get started:
Aerobic exercise equipment
– jump rope: great for a
quick aerobic pick-me-up
– exercise pedal: simulates
bike riding (a great choice for
those who need to improve mo-
bility)
Please see page 17
Evening Chat on internet health sites
Web Health – What’s Good
and What’s Not is the name of
a free 90-minute presentation
on Wednesday, January 7,
starting at 6:00 p.m. at the Tu-
ality Health Education Center,
334 SE 8th Ave., Hillsboro, as
part of their Evening Chat pro-
Pet of the Month
Columbia Humane Society in St. Helens has a variety of wonderful pets
available for adoption. Find the pet that’s right for you in the shelter
at 2084 Oregon Street. Phone 503-397-4353
Open Mon - Fri 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, 11 am. to 5 pm.
– something good for all Orego-
nians and Oregon businesses.
The Oregon Tobacco Pre-
vention and Education Program
(TPEP) works with local health
departments, tribes, schools
and community organizations
to deliver a comprehensive to-
bacco prevention program to all
Oregon residents. Program ac-
tivities are based on evidence-
based strategies to reduce and
prevent tobacco use. For more
information, visit http://www.
oregon.gov/DHS/ph/tobacco/.
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•Computer Servicing
• Upgrades & Repairs
• Office Supplies
• Media Transfers
• Ink and Toner Refills
503.429.TECH
COMPUTER &
INTERNET SERVICES
• New & Used Computers in stock
• Cell Phone Service & Accessories
• IPOD accessories
• Internet Services
• Notary Services
866 Bridge Street, Vernonia
grams.
The evening will start with
light refreshments and a tour of
the library at 5:30 p.m., followed
by information on how to evalu-
ate “trustworthy” websites on
health and medical information.
If you plan to attend, please
call 503-681-1700.