| By Bob Weaver
Proposals over new smoking regulations in the six county region covered by the Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department are being re-visited when the agency meets on March 29.
Carrie Bainard, the regional tobacco prevention coordinator, said one of the new proposals before the board would allow smoking in establishments if they banned everyone under the age of 18.
While proposed regulations have focused on restaurants and bars, they have included prohibiting smoking at work sites, retail outlets, offices, service outlets and public buildings.
Bainard said the board will be considering other compromising proposals, including restaurants allowing smoking if they have a self-contained area for smokers.
Restaurants could permit smoking if the room had doors that open and close automatically with a ventilation system that changes air in the room every five minutes.
It would also require its own heating and cooling system without any return air ducts connected to nonsmoking areas. "It would be a very expensive system," said Brainard.
Problems surfaced regarding enforcement of the proposed rules for bars. The latest proposal apparently has exemptions for bars that serve only ready-to-eat foods. Bars with a grill or a kitchen would be considered a restaurant. Bars could permit smoking if no one under 18 is admitted.
Bainard said there appeared to be some confusion regarding the 15-foot space restriction from the doorway of a business or public building. "The 15-foot rule applies to those standing in front of the doorway smoking, not to people who are walking down the street," she said.
A new series of public hearings would take place in Roane, Pleasants and Wirt counties following the March meeting.
Comments regarding smoking regulations can be sent to the Mid-Ohio Valley Health Dept. at cleanindoorair@movhd.com
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