Protecting the residents of Goodhue County from the health risks caused by breathing secondhand tobacco smoke in the workplace is one of Public Health’s six priorities.  These priorities were established by you, the citizens of Goodhue County, through the Community Initiated Decision Making Process that took place in 2004-2005.

Each year in America, 49,000 nonsmokers die from lung cancer and heart disease caused by breathing secondhand smoke.  In a report released last summer the U. S. Surgeon General, our nation’s top public health official, warned that there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke.  He also concluded that the only effective way to fully protect nonsmokers from secondhand smoke is to eliminate smoking in indoor spaces.  There is no doubt about it, smoke-free workplaces save lives and prevent serious illness.

The Public Health Service is actively working to support a smoke-free workplace law for Goodhue County.  We have partnered with Citizens for a Smoke-free Goodhue County, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota, the American Cancer Society, and ClearWay Minnesota to reach this goal.  For more information, contact Tom Wolff or Susan Johnson.

Citizens for a Smoke-free Goodhue County is a group of concerned citizens who believe that everyone deserves smoke-free air at work.  You can get lots of information about secondhand smoke on their website.