- April 19, 2024
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Flagler County Sheriff’s Office employees are making a major change in their lives as a result of a new policy that prohibits the use of tobacco products.
The policy, which went into effect on Friday, was issued in April to allow employees sufficient time to adjust to a smoke-free work environment.
The purpose of the policy is to create a healthy environment for all employees by limiting their exposure to the hazards caused by tobacco smoke and tobacco related products, according to a statement from the Sheriff’s Office.
“Evidence on the harmful effects of tobacco has been published for years,” Sheriff Jim Manfre said. “The research has shown that people who use tobacco products or are exposed to secondary smoke run a higher risk of developing medical problems in the future. In the workplace, this drives up the cost of health care to both our employees, and eventually, to the taxpayer.”
The Sheriff’s Office and Flagler County’s human resources department worked Care Here, the county’s employee health clinic, to implement employee smoking cessation programs and to make nicotine patches, lozenges and gum free to all employees trying to stop smoking.
Now, all Sheriff’s Office facilities and agency vehicles are smoke-free. Employees are prohibited from smoking tobacco or any synthetic tobacco product, snuff or chewing tobacco while on duty or while attending any agency authorized training seminar or school.
Visitors to any Sheriff’s Office facility or riding in any agency vehicle will be held to a similar standard.
As a condition of employment, newly hired employees will be tested and must successfully pass a tobacco free test as a part of the hiring process and must remain tobacco free as a condition of their employment.
