Smoking is a fire hazard and a public health hazard.

All public and patient-care areas are "Smoke Free."

Smoking is not generally permitted within its buildings or vehicles. This restriction includes offices, restrooms, stairwells and other areas. 

Limited exceptions related to research protocols require specific written approval by the Director.  
(*See below.)

Smoking by patients with passes, staff, and visitors, is limited to outside (street-level) areas away from entrances.

Smokers will not congregate around entrances or exits so as to impede the flow of pedestrian traffic.

Smoking by inpatients who are restricted to the premises is limited to the Patients' Park at the south end of the hospital building.

No patient under the age of 18 will be permitted to smoke while hospitalized at NYSPI.

All staff are expected to cooperate in the implementation of this policy. Safety Officers and other staff will enforce this policy as required.

Smoking cessation programs are available to interested patients and staff.

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* Recognizing that certain biomedical research protocols may involve smoking by consenting adult research subjects, NYSPI's Medical Executive Committee has approved a process for waiving the No-Smoking policy under very limited circumstances. Criteria for waiver include:

IRB-approved protocol      IRB

space dedicated to the smoking-related research which is isolated and access-restricted

additional fire-safety measures/equipment are in place

additional air-quality-related equipment is in place

the area is reviewed by the Chief Safety Officer

the waiver is approved by the EOC Chair

the waiver is approved by the Director.


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