December 28, 2001—The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is withdrawing an inactive indoor air quality (IAQ) regulation proposed in 1994. The decision was reached with the support of major anti-smoking public health groups including the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society, the American Lung Association, Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights, and the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. According to OSHA, most workplace smoking restrictions are now handled at the state and local level, making the federal regulation unnecessary. The agency reserved the right to take future action if the need arises.
According to the American Lung Association, there has been a 50% increase in workplaces that have a smoke-free policy since 1994. Today, nearly 70% of employees work in businesses that have instituted smoke-free workplace policies.
