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<br />10 Minutes CASE #15: <br /> <br />VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT <br />NO SMOKING POLICY <br />By: Judy Thul, Personnel Coordinator <br /> <br />Backgr ound: <br /> <br />The Fire Safety Committee has been developing procedures for accepting <br />applicants for membership to the Ramsey Volunteer Fire Department. Recent <br />changes in legislation regarding Workers' Compensation has raised the is sue of <br />adopting a no smoking policy for all members of the Volunteer Fire Department. <br /> <br />Enclosed is the amendment to Minnesota Statute 176.011, Subd. 15 regarding <br />Occupational Diseases. In summary it states that firefighters unable to <br />perform duties in the department by reason of a disabling cancer of a type <br />caused by exposure to heat or suspected carcinogen is presumed to have an <br />occupational illness. <br /> <br />The Fire Safety Committee feels that due to the high exposure to heat, smoke, <br />and other carcinogens firefighters may experience, and the increased risk of <br />smokers contracting a related disease, a no smoking policy would minimize the <br />dollars spent on Workers' Compensation claims made due to non-job-related <br />illness. If adopted, the no smoking policy would be provided to all interested <br />applicants prior to completing a membership application. A nicotine test would <br />be conducted during the physical examination to screen for smokers who <br />intentionally choose not to disclose information about smoking habits when <br />completing health questionnaires prior to the physical exmaination. The <br />nicotine test would be part of all physicals conducted on incumbant <br />firefighters in the future to consistently enforce the policy. <br /> <br />It is the opinion of the Fire Safety Committee that such a policy should be <br />adopted prior to accepting applications for membership, but may reduce the <br />number of eligible applicants. <br /> <br />Recommendation: <br /> <br />The Fire Safety Committee requests that the City Council pass a resolution <br />establishing a no smoking policy for all members of the Ramsey Volunteer Fire <br />Department. <br /> <br /> <br />Review Checklist: <br /> <br />Administrator <br />Attorney <br />Engineer <br />Community Development Director <br />Fire Safety Committee -X- <br /> <br />Chief of Pol ice <br />Finance Officer <br />Public Works Superintendent <br />Personnel Coordinator <br /> <br />l <br /> <br />!l5 <br />