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Guideline

Concerning the Guidelines for Measures on Smoking in the Workplace

 
Attached Document No.2
Attached Document No. 2

Explanation of Guidelines for Measures on Smoking in the Workplace

1. (Comments on part)
 Smoking in the workplace creates problems related to passive smoking by non-smokers, which requires occupational health measures from the standpoint of maintaining workers’ health and creating comfortable working environments.
    These guidelines prescribe basic measures to be taken in order to prevent passive smoking in the workplace. Furthermore, the promotion of measures on smoking in the workplace must address the practical needs of the workplace. Regarding the creation of comfortable working environments, the Guidelines for Measures to be Taken by Employers for the Creation of Comfortable Working Environments (Ministry of Labour Notification No. 59, 1992; hereinafter referred to as “Guidelines for Comfortable Working Environments”) have been published as stipulated in Article 71-3 (1) of the Industrial Safety and Health Law. In accordance with the Guidelines for Comfortable Working Environments, the Guidelines for Measures on Smoking in the Workplace describe practical measures to be taken in order to prevent passive smoking in the workplace, as part of an effort to improve the comfort of air environments.
    Appropriate measures against passive smoking in the workplace consist of completely banning smoking or space separation. Space separation is generally defined as “smoking in designated areas through the establishment of smoking-allowed areas, with smoking banned in other areas.” To implement space separation, it is important to prevent tobacco smoke and odors from escaping into non-smoking areas from designated smoking areas, etc., and to maintain a favorable air environment in designated smoking areas, etc., wherever possible.

 

2. (Comments on part 2)
 When implementing measures on smoking, top managers and managers must show an active interest in measures on smoking, as well as fulfill their respective roles. The active participation of workers is also necessary.
 

3. (Comments on part 3)
 Programs must be implemented under the supervision of top managers, in light of their decision-making authority within the organization.

 

4. (Comments on part 4)
 “Health committees, etc.” refers to health committees and safety and health committees. However, for worksites that are not required to establish a health committee, the term refers to a labour-management relations meeting, etc., or other opportunity for discussing health-related subjects in the workplace. Furthermore, “sections and persons, etc., responsible for measures on smoking” refers to general affairs sections as well as sections and persons responsible for health management.
    Smoking standards should cover the following items:

(1)   Compliance with smoking boundaries in designated smoking areas, etc.
(2)   Maximum number of smokers
(3)   Treatment of ashtrays, chairs, tables, etc.
(4)   Management of cigarette butts
 
5. (Comments on part 5)
Effective space separation requires facility and equipment related measures. The guidelines contain basic measures for this purpose. “Designated smoking room” refers to an independent room for the purpose of smoking that has almost no openings into non-smoking areas except for its entry point. Furthermore, “smoking corner” refers to a smoking-allowed area that is partitioned through the use of walls such as panels, etc., hung from the ceiling and partitions, etc. Designated smoking rooms and smoking corners feature measures that basically prevent tobacco smoke from reaching a non-smoking area from a designated smoking area, etc. However, it is preferable to select a designated smoking room from the standpoint of more reliably preventing the escape of tobacco smoke and odors.
    Furthermore, due to issues with the inability of air purifiers to remove gaseous elements, the guidelines recommend the use of “ventilation equipment so designed that it intakes tobacco smoke and exhausts it directly outside the building before it is dispersed.” This includes local exhaust ventilation systems, ventilators, etc. To prevent passive smoking by installing such ventilation equipment, it is necessary to select equipment of a type and capacity that is appropriate for the intended designated smoking area, etc., and smoking situation.
    When installing an air purifier that filters tobacco smoke and disperses the filtered air into the room, rather than outside the building, as a last resort, necessary measures shall be taken that are equal in effectiveness to installing ventilation equipment that intakes tobacco smoke and exhausts it directly outside the building before it is dispersed.
    It is critical to observe the following guidelines when installing equipment: (1) ensure air flow from a non-smoking area to a designated smoking areas, etc.; (2) when installing a smoking corner, minimize as much as possible openings into non-smoking areas by means of walls such as panels, etc., hung from the ceiling and partitions, etc.; (3) clearly indicate the place for people to smoke within the designated smoking area, etc.; (4) establish and specifically state the maximum number of smokers allowed in a given area.
    When a building has centrally controlled air-conditioning equipment, etc., which provides a fixed recirculation of air inside the building, tobacco smoke generated in designated smoking areas, etc., is drawn into ventilation ducts and dispersed throughout the building by means of said equipment. Such buildings require necessary measures.
    The following measures shall be taken in individual areas such as meeting rooms, etc., in order to prevent passive smoking.
(1)   Meeting rooms and reception areas
These areas shall be non-smoking. Furthermore, visitors should be required to cooperate with the non-smoking requirement.
(2)   Cafeterias, break rooms, lounges, etc.
These areas shall be non-smoking, except when space separation measures are provided in said areas.
(3)   Common areas including corridors and elevator lobby
These areas shall be non-smoking.
 
6. (Comments on part 6)
 Tobacco smoke contains various substances, of which airborne dust and carbon monoxide are representative examples of substances determined as having an impact on the air environment. The airborne dust concentration and carbon monoxide concentration are to be measured; standards for their concentration in the air environment have been provided. Furthermore, to evaluate the escape of tobacco smoke, the velocity of air flow from a non-smoking area to a designated smoking area, etc., is to be measured, the standard for which has been provided.
 
8. (Comments on part 8)
 Sections and persons, etc., responsible for measures on smoking shall assess the following aspects: installation state of designated smoking rooms; state of compliance with smoking standards; and state of implementation of equipment maintenance and management. Furthermore, the effectiveness of measures on smoking shall be assessed by verifying that the airborne dust concentration, carbon monoxide concentration, and velocity of air flow are within reference values inside of non-smoking areas and designated smoking areas, etc., and at the boundary between both areas, in accordance with these guidelines. These measures shall be observed when installing designated smoking areas, etc., and routinely after the start of the use of designated smoking areas, etc.
    When measures on smoking are not sufficiently effective, it is desirable to investigate their cause and for the sections and persons, etc., responsible for measures on smoking to consider relevant measures and make necessary proposals for improvement.
 
Concerning the Attached Document
 

Regarding the measurement of carbon monoxide concentrations, “equipment of equal or better performance to a detector tube” refers to equipment that uses an electrochemical sensor and controlled potential electrolysis.

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