PRESS RELEASE
The Center for Social
Gerontology
2307 Shelby Avenue
Ann Arbor, MI 48103
Smoke-Free Environments Law Project
For Immediate Release
For more info Contact
Jim Bergman 734 665-1126
July 5, 2002
General Motors' Adoption of Smoke-Free
Policy in All Ingham County Plants Hailed by Smoke-Free Environments Law
Project of The Center for Social Gerontology
The
Center for Social Gerontology (TCSG), based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and its
Smoke-Free Environments Law Project hailed the actions of the General Motors
Corporation in adopting a total ban on smoking in all its Ingham County,
Michigan plants and facilities, effective August 5, 2002.
Jim
Bergman, TCSG Co-Director and head of the Smoke-Free Environments Law Project
said: "General Motors management is to be highly praised for announcing
the adoption of a totally smoke-free policy in all their Ingham County auto
plants. Having worked very closely with the Ingham County Commissioners and
Health Department on the adoption of a county-wide smoke-free worksite
regulation, which was enacted on February 12, 2002, we at the Smoke-Free
Environments Law Project are aware that General Motors could have sought
permission to create designated smoking areas in their plants. Instead, they
have opted to 'adopt a wall-to-wall no smoking policy' which applies to 'all
employees, contractors and visitors,' effective August 5, 2002. This is a
tremendous victory for workers - old and young - whose health was threatened by
secondhand smoke in General Motors facilities, a number of whom sought help
from our Smoke-Free Environments Law Project in recent years. We also commend
the Ingham County Health Department for their work with General Motors on this
policy."
"The
adoption by General Motors of a total ban on smoking in its Ingham County
facilities is huge - for GM workers and in its implications for all businesses.
This action by General Motors shows that corporations of any size can adapt to
smoke-free policies and that union members - most of whom are not smokers -
will accept such policies for their own health and the health of their
co-workers. We hope and expect that other corporations will follow the lead of
GM in adopting smoke-free policies," stated Bergman.
To
access a copy of the General Motors smoke-free policy online, click here. To access a copy of
the Ingham County smoke-free regulation, click here.
###
The
Center for Social Gerontology (TCSG), was founded in 1972 as a nonprofit,
research, training and social policy organization, based in Ann Arbor,
Michigan. The Smoke-Free Environments Law Project (SFELP) is a statewide
project of TCSG which provides information, consultation and advice for
businesses, local units of government, and individuals in Michigan on policies
and practices to protect employees and the general public from the harmful
effects of secondhand smoke and to address the legal requirements and liability
issues related to secondhand smoke.
For comprehensive information on this topic, go to the Smoke-Free Environments Law Project.
