Smokers Need Not Apply

Starting in October, all applicants for county jobs in Escambia County, Florida will be tested for tobacco use.

By: Christian Stapleton | WKRG-TV
Published: July 26, 2008

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PENSACOLA, Fla. (AP) - Escambia County will have a tobacco-free
hiring policy starting in October.
All applicants for county jobs are currently required to take a
drug test, which will be expanded to include testing for tobacco
use. Any applicant testing positive for tobacco will not be
eligible.
Officials say the policy is aimed at improving the health of
employees and to get the county's health insurance costs under
control. It's one of several policies county commissioners approved
this week.
The county also is enacting a 50-foot smoking ban from the
entrance or exit of any county building on Oct. 1. In two years, no
county employee will be allowed to smoke anywhere on county
property.