Tht WashingTOn POST:
Firm Bans Smoking at Work or Home
Workers to Be Given Lung Tests to Verify Compliance
Ansociatod Presn
ers in eight states, Colitti said, but. by thelr phyniciana. After the six- to
will not apply at USG'e corporate · cight-week chinic: conductedby
CHICAGO, Jan. 20-Smoking at
headquarters in: Chicago. It raised
Smoke Endecs, a: national organi-
work or at home will cost cmployes.
questions anong legal scholars and.
zatioo that counsels smokers on.
their jobs at nine USG Acoustical.
upset the Tobacco Institute, an in--
quitting. USG will givo workers a
Producte plants, and the company
dustry group that called the ban an
grace period of about one week to
plans to conduct lung tests to riake
invasion of privacy.
kick the babit, Colitti said.
sure workers are complying with
USG is adopting the policy for
"Then! we sdminister'a pulmo
the smoking ban.
health reasons, noting statistlcs
naty function test that mesouree
"It will apply to everybody in the:
that show nonsmokers have fewer
lung capecity, among other things.
plants, from the newest bouriy.
sick days, Colitti said.
he said. "we'll kniow then If they are
worker on up to the plant manager,
He said smokers wilt be given an
still smoking. If they are, we'll have
without exception," spokesman. Paul
opportunity to participate in organ-
no choice but to let therm go.
Colitti said at USG Corp., holding
ized kick-the-habit programs in May
Worters at the planta, which use
comprny for the: building-products.
or June. They can enroil in a com-
mineral fiber and rock wool to make
manufacturer.
pany-sponsored Smoke Enders ctin-
thermal iosulatioo and acoustica!
The quit-smoking-or-quit policy
ic: on. company time or be reim-
! Sung jo Lronsy ou_omey 'ta!
will apply to 1,500: to 2,000 work-
bursed for programs recommended
ments, Colitti said.
WEdNEsOaY, JaNArY 21, 1987 A7
Donald Cohen, cochairman of the: that and say you can't smoke in
American Bar Association's com-
your backyard .. . obvriously peopic
mittee: on employe rights. in the
are going to: have some problems
workplace, said he thinks the ban is
e m
questionable but not illegal.
He said the institute received
"A company becomes a little in-
several calls from USG workers
trusive when it attempts to regulate
who: opposed the policy and said
conduct' outside the workplace.
things such as, *Did I wake up this.
Cohen said.. "I question. whether.
morming im the Soviet Union?"
that's advisable."
Repeated attempts to reach tbe
Federal and state: laws bar dis-
company for further comment were
crimination on the basis of a phys-
unsuccessful. Coltti was in a meet-
ical ailment if it does not hamper job!
ing all morning, said his secretary.
performance. he said. Legality.
who asked not to be identified. And
could become an issue, he added, if
USG President Roy Schneider was
It were shown: that: a USG em-.
Out of thie office..
ploye's cigarette addiction were a
Calls to 'several USG Acoustical
physical ailment.
planta were referred to Coliti.
But: that would be difficult to:
The plants where the smoking
prove, Cohen said in a telephobe:
ban will take effect are in Gypsum.
interview from his Chicago office.
Ohio: Wabash, Ind.; Walworth, Wis.:
"It's: one question to restrict
Cloquet and Red Wing. Minn.:
89685528
smoking on the job." said spokes-
Tacoma, Wash.: Greenville, Miss.:
man Scott Stapf at the Tobacco In-
Birmingham, Alal, and Corsicana.
stitute. “But whlen you go beyond
Tex.
