Lorillard
Public Petition by Action on Smoking and Health (Ash) for An Emergency Temporary Standard (Ets) Regulating Environmental Tobacco Smoke in the Workplace
Fields
- Author
- Banzhaf, J.F. III
- Scheg, K.E.
- Area
- HECK,J.DANIEL/OFFICE
- Alias
- 87604333/87604369
- Type
- REGL, REGULATION
- ABST, ABSTRACT
- REPT, OTHER REPORT
- Recipient (Organization)
- OSHA, Occupational Safety & Health Administration
- US Dept of Labor
- Named Person
- Brownson
- Burros, M.
- Clinton, H.
- Clinton, W.
- Glantz, S.A.
- Hill, T.
- Howard, G.
- Lowrey
- Martin, L.
- Novello, A.C.
- Parmley, W.W.
- Reich, R.B.
- Reilly, W.K.
- Repace
- Simone, E.
- Slattery
- Steenland, K.
- Stockwell
- Strunk, D.
- Swoboda, F.
- Trichopoulos
- Weis, W.L.
- Wells, A.J.
- White, J.
- Named Organization
- Aetna Building Maintenance
- American Cancer Society
- American Heart Assn
- American Lung Assn
- Asbestos Information Assn
- Ash, Action on Smoking & Health
- Bowman Gray School of Medicine
- Cfr
- Circulation
- Coalition on Smoking or Health
- Comm on Airline Air Quality
- Comm on Passive Smoking
- Dc Circuit
- Epa, Environmental Protection Agency
- Federal Register
- Fortunoff
- Hhs, Dept of Health and Human Services
- Interstate Commerce Commission
- Johns Hopkins
- Nas, Natl Academy of Sciences
- Natl Research Council
- NCI, Natl Cancer Inst
- Niosh, Natl Inst for Occupational Safety & Health
- Ny Times
- OSHA, Occupational Safety & Health Administration
- Seattle Univ
- Task Force Env Cancer Heart + Lung Disea
- Unigard Insurance Group
- Univ of Ca Los Angeles
- Usa Today
- US Court Appeals
- US Dept of Labor
- US General Services Administration
- Wa Post
- 8th World Conference on Tobacco or Healt
- Administrative Management Society
- Document File
- 87604067/87604668/Epa - Ets Risk Critique
- Date Loaded
- 05 Jun 1998
- Litigation
- Stmn/Produced
- Characteristic
- ATCH, ATTACHMENTS MISSING
- Site
- G14
- Request
- R1-025
- R1-037
- R1-072
- R1-073
- Master ID
- 87604332/4369
Related Documents:
Document Images
4
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
PUBLIC PETITION FILED PURSUANT )
TO 29 U.S.C. 651 ET SEQ. AND )
29 C.F.R. §1911.12 FOR AN ) DOCKET NO.
EMERGENCY TEMPORARY STANDARD )
REGULATING ENVIRONMENTAL )
TOBACCO SMOKE )
PUBLIC PETITION
BY ACTION ON SMOKING AND HEALTH (ASH)
FOR AN EMERGENCY TEMPORARY STANDARD (ETS)
REGULATING ENVIRONMENTAL TOBACCO SMOKE
IN THE WORKPLACE
ABSTRACT: Although OSHA's determination - that the evidence at the
time of ASH's 1987 Petition did not warrant the issuance of an
emergency temporary standard relating to Environmental Tobacco
Smoke (ETS) in the workplace - was upheld by the U.S. Court of
Appeals, ASH respectfully seeks such an emergency temporary
standard again, based upon the following changes in circumstances
since 1987:
A. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), after an
extensive outsider-reviewed study, determined the ETS is a Group A
carcinogen in the same category as asbestos and benzene, and that
it kills at least 3000 Americans each year from lung cancer alone;
B. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
(NIOSH) has likewise issued a report concluding the ETS causes lung
cancer deaths in nonsmokers, and that smoking in workplaces must
either be banned or restricted to separately-ventilated areas;
C. The outgoing U.S. Surgeon General has reported that ETS
causes approximately 53,000 deaths among nonsmoking Americans each
year from lung cancer, cancer at other cites, and heart attacks;
D. More than 200 new studies and articles on the topic have
been published in major scientific and medical journals;
1. these include approximately 24 studies of exposure to
ETS at environmental or normal levels not available in 1987, and
the type of evidence which has not been available for determining
whether or not to classify other substances as Group A carcinogens
2. several major studies linking ETS to heart attacks and
to cancer at other sites in addition to the lungs
E. The outgoing Secretary of Labor issued a directive that ETS
was so dangerous that OSHA should begin a separate rulemaking
proceeding limited to ETS as quickly as possible
F. After several years of dismissing ASH's law suits arguing
that OSHA was unreasonably delaying in dealing with ETS in the
workplace, the U.S. Court of Appeals has denied OSHA's motion to
dismiss ASH's current suit, and ordered the agency to report to it.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED: ACTION ON SMOKING AND HEALTH (ASH)
July 12, 1993 2013 H STREET N.W.
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20006
(202) 659-4310

11
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. EXPOSURE TO ENVIRONMENTAL TOBACCO SMOKE PRESENTS A GRAVE
DANGER TO EMPLOYEES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
A. EPA Report Amplifies Grave Danger . . . . . . . . . 1
B. Evidence of Grave Danger Has Grown Substant__~_11y . 2
C. Cancer Evidence Has Accumulated . . . . . . . . . . 5
1. EPA report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
2. National Institute for Occupational Safety and
Hea lth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
3. National Cancer Institute . . . . . . . . . . . 8
4. Pertinent New Lung Cancer Studies ....... 8
5. Cervical And Other Cancer Risks ........ 9
D. Evidence Of The Grave Danger Of ETS To The Heart
Has Also Grown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
E. ETS Is Now The Third Maior Cause Of Death In The
U.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
II. AN EMERGENCY TEMPORARY STANDARD IS NECESSARY TO PROTECT
EMPLOYEES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
III. ENVIRONMENTAL TOBACCO SMOKE QUALIFIES FOR EMERGENCY
REGULATI ON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
16
IV. PROPOSED RULE BANS SMOKING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
V. A TOTAL SMOKING BAN IS REQUIRED . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
A. The OSH Act and Judicial Precedent Compel A Total
Prohibition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
B. Increased Ventilation Is Not Adequate ....... 18
C. Eliminating Tobacco Smoke From the Workplace Is
Technologically And Economically Feasible ..... 20
VI. INTENDED EFFECT IS TO SAVE LIVES AND MONEY
. 21
A. Life And Health Effects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
1. Seventy-five million workers are at risk ... 21

iii
2. ETS is the number one workplace carcinogen . . 22
3. Saving lives is the most significant effect . 22
B. Economic Effects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
1. Substantial net savings . . . . . . . . . . . 23
2. Health care cost containment . . . . . . . . . 24
3. Fire prevention economic savings ....... 26
4. Lecral financial benefits . . . . . . . . . . . 26
5. Janitorial costs reduced . . . . . . . . . . . 27
VII. CONCLUSION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
ATTACHMENTS
APPENDIX

iv
TIME LINE SHOWING DELAY BY OSHA IN ACTING ON
ENVIRONMENTAL TOBACCO SMOKE (ETS) DESPITE URGENT NEED FOR ACTION
Jul-Aug 1986
Sep-Oct 1986
Nov-Dec 1986
Jan-Feb 1987
Mar-Apl 1987
May-Jun 1987
Jul-Aug 1987
Sep-Oct 1987
Nov-Dec 1987
Jan-Feb 1988
Mar-Apl 1988
May-Jun 1988
Jul-Aug 1988
Sep-Oct 1988
Nov-Dec 1988
Jan-Feb 1989
Mar-Apl 1989
May-Jun 1989
Committee on Airline Cabin Air Quality of National
Research Council recognizes health risks of ETS and
recommends removal from aircraft environment
Committee on Passive Smoking of National Research
Council recognizes role of ETS in lung cancer,
other cancers and cardiovascular disease
U.S. Surgeon General's report "The Health
Consequences of Involuntary Smoking" comes to the
conclusion that ETS is a cause of disease,
including lung cancer, in healthy nonsmokers and
that the simple separation of smokers and
nonsmokers within the same airspace does not
eliminate exposure to ETS
The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA)
issues new regulations designed to provide a
"reasonably smoke-free environment" for all federal
workers
ASH files Citizen Petition asking for an emergency
temporary standard banning ETS in the workplace
Smoking banned on flights of 2 hours or less
ASH files court action against OSHA to obtain a
response to ASH's Petition
EPA advisory recommends control of workplace
smoking for health reasons including cancer risks
Jul-Aug 1989

V
Sep-Oct 1989
Nov-Dec 1989
Jan-Feb 1990
Mar-Apl 1990
May-Jun 1990
Jul-Aug 1990
Sep-Oct 1990
Nov-Dec 1990
Jan-Feb 1991
Mar-Apl 1991
May-Jun 1991
Jul-Aug 1991
Sep-Oct 1991
Nov-Dec 1991
Jan-Feb 1992
OSHA declines to issue an emergency temporary
standard banning ETS in workplace
ASH files Petition for Review in U.S. Court of
Appeals
Ban on smoking on most domestic flights takes
effect
OSHA promises to decide by November 30 whether to
ban or restrict workplace smoking
OSHA determines not to initiate non-emergency
rulemaking on ETS
Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC), acting on ASH
petition, bans smoking on interstate buses
ASH files law suits for review of OSHA's refusals
to regulate ETS
NIOSH reports ETS causes cancer and other health
hazards for nonsmokers and recommends isolating
smokers in the workplace
OSHA publishes a Request for Information (RFI) on
all indoor air pollutants
U.S. Court of Appeals for D.C. Circuit refuses
OSHA's request to dismiss ASH's two law suits and
issues order requiring OSHA to justify "allegations
of unreasonable delay by the agency" in taking
action to ban or limit workplace smoking
Court holds OSHA's refusals were not "final
refusals" and denies ASH's suits but states that
ASH may request review if "OSHA unreasonably delays
resolution of the matter following receipt of
comments"
m
ASH files Comments in Response to OSHA's Request Q~j
for Information O
ASH files new Petition with OSHA for regulation of W
workplace smoking in view of the NIOSH and other -11

vi
medical and scientific studies on the health
hazards of ETS
Mar-Apr 1992 ASH files new petition with OSHA for regulation of
ETS as potential workplace carcinogen
May-Jun 1992
Jul-Aug 1992 ASH files further updated petition with OSHA for
regulation of ETS as potential workplace carcinogen
Sep-Oct 1992 OSHA denies ASH's petition for regulation of ETS as
a potential occupational carcinogen
Nov-Dec 1992 ASH sues OSHA for refusing to consider ETS in a
separate proceeding, and for OSHA's October 22,
1992, letter denying ASH's petition for regulation
of ETS as a carcinogen
Jan-Feb 1993 EPA declares ETS a "group A carcinogen" which kills
over 3000 annually from lung cancer alone
Labor Secretary Lynn Martin directs OSHA to begin a
separate proceeding for tobacco smoke as soon as
possible as it "is one of the most significant
matters facing OSHA" and orders OSHA to prepare an
emergency temporary standard
Mar-Apr 1993
May-Jun 1993 Court refuses OSHA's request to dismiss ASH's suit,
holds that OSHA's denial of ASH's cancer petition
is a final reviewable order, and directs OSHA to
respond by mid-July
Jul-Aug 1993 ASH files new petition for emergency temporary
standard banning ETS in the workplace

vii
TABLE OF ATTACHMENTS
ATTACHMENT
NUMBER
PAGE CITED
IN PETITION
1. EPA Report, "Respiratory Health Effects
of Passive Smoking: Lung Cancer and
Other Disorders" (January 8, 1993) ...... 1, 2, 5, 6, 9
2. Statement by then Secretary of Labor Lynn Martin,
issued as a U.S. Department of Labor
news release, January 14, 1993 . . . . . . . . . . . . 2, 15
3. Swoboda, F., "OSHA is told to Proceed
on Smoking Rules", Washington Post,
January 15, 1993 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
4. Statement to Action on Smoking and Health
from President (then Governor) Bill Clinton,
June 24, 1992 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
5. Burros, M., "Hillary Clinton's
New Home: Broccoli's In, Smoking's Out,"
New York Times (Feb. 2, 1993) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
6. ASH Petition to OSHA for permanent
regulation of ETS, docketed as No. 991,
February 26, 1992 . . . . . . . . . . .
. . 3
7. ASH Petition to OSHA for rulemaking
under OSHA's Cancer Policy, docketed
as No. 3-1030, March 10, 1992 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
8. ASH Petition to OSHA for regulation
of environmental tobacco smoke as a
potential occupational carcinogen,
July 31, 1992 .......... 3, 5, 7-14, 19, 20, 22-27
9. Action on Smoking and Health(ASH)
v. Department of Labor,
U.S. Court of Appeals for the
District of Columbia Circuit,
Order dated May 20, 1993 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
10. Statement by then EPA Administrator
William K. Reilly, issued as a
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
"Environmental News" release, January 7, 1993 ...... 6
11. Novello, U.S. Surgeon General Antonia, "Are You
Bothered By Other People's Tobacco Smoke?",
USA Today (June 11, 1991) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

viii
12. U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services "Vital and Health Statistics"
Series 10, No. 184, December 1992 . . . . .
. . . . . .
27
13. Excerpt, ASH Special Report: "Involuntary
Smoking: The Factual Basis for Action", 1993 ...... 27
14. Memorandum from then Secretary of Labor
Lynn Martin to Acting Director of OSHA,
Dorothy Strunk, "Environmental Tobacco
Smoke in the Workplace", January 13, 1993 ....... 28

$
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
PUBLIC PETITION FILED PURSUANT )
TO 29 U.S.C. 651 ET SEQ. AND )
29 C.F.R. §1911.12 FOR AN ) DOCKET NO.
EMERGENCY TEMPORARY STANDARD )
REGULATING ENVIRONMENTAL )
TOBACCO SMOKE )
Action on Smoking and Health(ASH) petitions the Acting
Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health to
issue an emergency temporary standard prohibiting smoking in the
workplace. Pursuant to 29 U.S.C. 655(c), the grounds for the
requested emergency temporary standard are that:
(1) exposure to environmental tobacco smoke presents a serious
risk of cancer, heart disease, various respiratory illnesses
and other grave dangers to employees, and
(2) such emergency standard is necessary to prevent tens of
thousands of deaths, disabling illnesses, and other serious
health problems which would occur to American workers during
the time necessary to proceed by a normal notice-and-comment
rulemaking proceeding.
I. EXPOSURE TO ENVIRONMENTAL TOBACCO SMOKE PRESENTS A GRAVE
DANGER TO EMPLOYEES
A. EPA Report Amplifies Grave Danger
The recently released EPA report entitled "Respiratory Health
Effects of Passive Smoking: Lung Cancer and Other Disorders"
(Attachment 1) reinforces the findings of other major medical and
scientific or
anizations that environmental tobacco smoke
resents
m
~
g
p O
~
a grave danger to employees. The EPA report concluded that "ETS is
.p

2
a human lung carcinogen, responsible for approximately 3,000 lung
cancer deaths annually in U.S. nonsmokers." (Attachment 1, p.1-1).
Following release of that report then Secretary of Labor, Lynn
Martin announced that: "This is an issue that requires our
immediate attention. There is a growing body of evidence that
exposure to secondhand smoke is hazardous to the health of
nonsmokers." (Attachment 2). She then ordered OSHA to prepare a
emerctency temporary standard. (Attachment 3). Although she was
told that it would be impossible for OSHA to draft such a proposal
before her term ended, her request clearly evidences her
recognition that ETS presents such a grave danger to employees that
it requires emergency regulation.
When Secretary of Labor Robert B. Reich took office only a few
days later he immediately demonstrated his concern for the risk
that environmental tobacco smoke presented to workers. According
to counsel, he requested that OSHA complete its report on the
regulatory options for ETS "as expeditiously as possible". Such a
request was fully consistent with President Clinton's campaign
statement in which he noted that workplace smoking is a very
important issue, (Attachment 4) and with the First Lady, Hillary
Clinton's ban on smoking in the White House (Attachment 5).
B. Evidence of Grave Danger Has Grown Substantially
As then Secretary Martin noted, the evidence of the hazardous
nature of tobacco smoke to employees has grown. When Action on
Smoking and Health filed a Citizen Petition with OSHA on May 19,
1987 requesting OSHA to promulgate an emergency temporary standard
