Policy Text
Page 1 of 3 1/17 (REV 8/17)
Use of Smoking Produ cts, Smokeless Tobacco and
Electronic Cigarettes
The purpose of this policy is to address the use of smoking or smokeless tobacco
products and the use of electr onic cigarettes in and around Dep artment facilities and
vehicles.
I. General
Research has concluded the us e of tobacco products causes lung cancer, mouth
cancer, cardiovascular and met abolic diseases, pulmonary diseas es, pregnancy and
birth related conditions, lung c ancer in non-smokers by exposur e to secondhand smoke,
and coronary heart disease in non -smokers by exposure to second hand smoke.
Additionally, smoking and the v apor produced by electronic ciga rettes is an offensive
annoyance and irritant to non-smokers. II. Policy Statement
It is the policy of the Sacrament o Sheriff’s department to prov ide work environments
that are free of smoke and vapor generated by the use of smokin g products, other
ignitable substances or electr onic cigarettes; and to provide w ork environments free of
bio-hazardous waste generated by the use of smokeless tobacco.
III. Definitions
A. Smoking is defined in the Sa cramento County Code as, “lighti ng, inhaling,
exhaling or burning any pipe, cig ar, cigarette, weed, or plant, or carrying
any lighted pipe, lighted cigar, lighted cigarette, lighted wee d, lighted plant,
or other ignited combustible s ubstance in any manner or in any form.”.
B. Electronic Cigarettes include but are not limited to devices referenced as;
e-cig, e-cigarette, personal v aporizer, and electronic nicotine delivery
systems which emit a vapor which i s inhaled by the user and rel eased into
the surrounding atmosphere. The te rm ‘vaping’ is a generally a ccepted
term used to describe the use of devices outlined in this parag raph.
C. Smokeless tobacco is tobacco or a tobacco product that is us ed by means
other than smoking. These uses i nclude chewing, sniffing, or p lacing the
product between the teeth and gum . Smokeless tobacco products are
Page 2 of 3 1/17 (REV 8/17) produced in various forms, such as chewing tobacco, snuff, snus and
dissolvable tobacco products.
IV. Smoking, Vaping and Smokele ss Tobacco prohibitions – Sheri ff Facilities and
Vehicles
A. Any individual who chooses to u se smoking, electronic smokin g products
or smokeless tobacco shall not do so while: conducting busines s with;
providing service to the public ; or while engaged in meetings o r training
classes.
1. Any department employee whos e dress identifies them as a
Sheriff’s Department employee shall not use the above listed
products in the view of public.
2. Exception: If undercover offi cers/individuals elect to smok e, vape
or use smokeless tobacco as a means to further the plausibility of
their cover, they will be exempt fr om the prohibition on smokin g
while engaged in the perform ance of their duties.
B. Smoking, vaping and use of smo keless tobacco is prohibited i n all
Sheriff’s Department buildings a nd vehicles to include all buil dings and
vehicles owned, leased or other wise utilized for the purposes o f
conducting Sheriff’s Department business.
C. Smoking and vaping is prohibi ted within 20 Feet of any entra nce/exit
doorway, open window or HVAC system intake of any Sheriff’s
Department Facility described in paragraph IV, B.
D. “No Smoking” signs (or the in ternational “No Smoking” symbol consisting
of a pictorial representation o f a burning cigarette enclosed i n a red circle
with a red bar across it) shall be posted at first floor entran ces in all
department buildings.
E. When possible, smoking areas should be designated outside of Sheriff’s
Department buildings in areas described in paragraph IV, C. The se areas
should minimally contain an as htray of some fashion.
F. Any individual who uses smoke less tobacco shall dispose of t he bio-
hazardous waste (spit) generated by such use in an appropriate and
conscientious manner keeping in mi nd common decency and protoco l for
disposal of bio-hazardous was te. Garbage cans, water fountains , sinks,
and other restroom fixtures sha ll not be used for disposal.
G. Any individual who uses a por table container to assist with disposal of bio-
hazardous waste (spit) shall ensur e that such container is spil l-proof in
order to prevent inadvertent spill of its contents. Such conta iners shall be
opaque so as to obscure visibility of its contents.
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V. Retaliation Prohibited
A. It is a violation of this poli cy to retaliate against any in dividual who seeks
enforcement of the provisions of this policy or otherwise prote sts violations
of this policy by others.
Appendices: None
Related Orders: None
References: Sacramento County Code 6.84.000 – 6.84.175
CA Labor Code Section 6404.5
CA Government Code Section 7596-7598 2014 Surgeon General’s Report