Massachusetts’ Smoke-free Workplace Law protects employees and the public from secondhand smoke by prohibiting smoking in enclosed workplaces, including private offices,restaurants, and bars. The law went into effect in July 2004.
The Smoke-free Workplace Law has been very successful in Massachusetts. In fact, over 90% of workplaces in the Commonwealth—including restaurants and bars—were found to have no violations during an independent evaluation conducted in 2008.
Laws that protect people from secondhand smoke exposure have been very successful in Massachusetts. A 2008 study showed that the statewide Smoke-Free Workplace Law prevents 577 deaths each year from heart attacks alone!
Resources
For text of the Law and information about specific types of workplaces or exemptions, visit www.mass.gov/dph/mtcp.
To report a complaint or concern about secondhand smoke exposure, call the Department of Public Health’s toll-free, anonymous Smoke-free Workplace Law complaint line at (800) 992-1895.
To learn more about these, or other tobacco laws visit mass.gov/dph/mtcp and the Massachusetts Trial Court Law Libraries’ website.
