In the past three years, discarded cigarette butts outside of designated smoking areas have been responsible for several small fires at the Lab. Each time, the quick action by a bystander or the Lab’s fire crew kept the damage to a minimum. But someday, we may not be as lucky. A serious fire at the Lab could impact multiple research projects — or lives.
The Lab has 19 designated smoking areas. Each site is on a paved area and contains a container that is designed to hold cigarette butts. “Smokers must use these areas if they are going to smoke when they are on Lab property. There is no excuse not to. Smoking in non-designated areas puts the Lab, its resources, and its people at risk,” said Security and Emergency Services Division Director David von Damm.
Non-smokers have a responsibility as well. If you see someone smoking outside a designated area, either say something to the person to gently remind them to use the smoking area for safety or call the Site Operations Center at 1-510-486-6999. The Site Operations Center will ask a few questions and handle the situation so that you can stay anonymous.
To recap, if you smoke at the Lab, smoke only in a designated area, snuff the butt, and dispose of it in the provided container. If you see someone smoking outside a designated area, call the Site Operations Center at 1-510-486-6999. If you see smoke, call 911. The Lab has a fire station and a crew on site that can quickly respond to keep research and people safe.
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