Tobacco Documents Online

I U.S. DEPARTMEN7 OF LABOR iiGRt'iARY OF LA/QR WAiHMQtnN. D.G. JAN 13 193 NEMOwwMM FOR DoAOTM STRONx lROM: LYHN MARTINZ,--0` SUB.TECT: Enviromental tobacco smoke in the workplace I appreciate our recent discussions on the growing body of evidence that exposure to secondhand tobacco saoke is hazardous to the health of nonsmokers. I understand that OSHA's Office of Health standards is currently completing its analysis of the responses to our recent Request for Information about issues related to indoor air quality, and that a great deal of the information received in response to that request relates specifically to ths hazards of exposure to environmental tobacco smoks in the workplace. As you know, the Environs.ntal Protsction Agency has sent the Departm.nt_its recent rs.port. dno othi= pis4rders. I would like OSHA to study that report and incorporate the msterial in it into its consideration of this issue. By this mamorandum, I am also directing OSHA, as soon as possible consistent vith applicable statutory requirements and executive orders, to commence rulemaking to address the hazards of occupational exposure to secondhand ssoke. As a first step to implement this directive, OSHA should prepare a report for the incoming Secretary. This report should discuss the extent of the hazard, describe the rulemakinq alternatives available to the Department, and provide a basis !or determining the most effective rulemaking course. Specifically, it should include an analysis of the evidence in terms of the threshold OSI;A must meet in order to regulate, and discuss any special issues that are pertinent, such as means of applying evidence obtained from studies of exposure to tobacco smoke in the home to vorkplace settings. I believe that resolution of this issue is one of the most significant matters facing OSHA, and I ask you to direct your staff to treat this project as one of the Department's highest priorities. -A...