Help the Zeus not get banned

[Kookie]

Hey, I could use your help please. I will start in this forum since it involves V4L, but If you guys can direct me to the appropriate sub section in the sea of sub sections, I would appreciate it.


I have been using an OMG for the last 4 months and the awesome Zeus for the last month. I use it at work and I work at the airport. They are very very anti-smoking and if caught smoking it starts at a $150 ticket. I have had no problem vaping anywhere I want though, and there are a few others that do as well.


Now, yesterday I had a problem. Unfortunately, vaping took the hit. I’m a fueler and I am currently training a new guy. Because of weather, we had late flights and too many flights coming in at the same time. I work for ASIG and my post is at US Airways. US Air is ASIG’s costumer. Now another company, Prospect ramps for US Air. ASIG’s competitor. I fuel, I do not ramp. A flight came in and was waiting at the J line to be brought in. All the Prospect rampers were busy. I was standing there on the ramp, quite nonchalantly, puffing on my Zeus, watching my trainee prepare his equipment. All the rampers were busy and the pilot is looking at me like I should guide him in. It’s not my job, nor am I allowed to since its Prospects job and I’m not signed off to do so. I would have it was ASIG’s account. So, the pilot thought I was being flippant. Well, the pilot called US Airways corporate, corporate calls my boss, my boss called me. He said that I am banned to use my “electronic cigarette” at US Airways as to not offend any US airways customers and I am to bring him my “electronic cigarette” so that they can investigate exactly what it is. I have to take it in this week. I have the cards V4L sometimes sends me that explain what it is, but its super basic.


This may set a precedent so it’s important I give them the best information. Can you guys help me find the best information to provide?


Unfortunately this all happened because the pilot mistakenly thought I was not doing my job. It’s not that I was using a PV on the ramp, although that’s what it turned into. I have to make sure my trainee can do his job correctly without my help, so it looked like I was ignoring the pilot’s needs. Actually, I was the one who made the ramp crew aware the plane was waiting. Now the pilot got irritated because he had to wait five minutes and I suppose wanted me to get in trouble for it. I can’t get in trouble for what happened, but the act of vaping became the issue and my company has to explain now what I was doing. If I can provide them with good, clear, concise information, it should help us all in not getting banned.

 

[K9Luvr]

Oh man that's horrible! I can't offer any good info, but surely someone will come along that can.

 

[x GRE x]

I'm not sure on the info you need but I think I would ask someone like phil busardo. From what I took from one of his videos he is getting more involved with the politics of vaping. I'm sure if he doesnt have a answer he can direct you where to get it.

Sent from my HTCONE using Tapatalk 2

 

[Kookie]

I'm not sure on the info you need but I think I would ask someone like phil busardo. From what I took from one of his videos he is getting more involved with the politics of vaping. I'm sure if he doesnt have a answer he can direct you where to get it.

Sent from my HTCONE using Tapatalk 2

To tell ya' the truth, I'm not sure what information I need either. They want to inspect my device, the Zeus, and investigate it. At the tail end of my phone conversation with my boss, he said, "I'm not sure how safe this is around fuel." In my mind it’s as safe as a pack of cigarettes and a lighter in my pocket. It's not like I would vape while sumping a tank. I would of course use just as much caution around fuel as a smoker. There are plenty of other fuelers who smoke. I don't know why he said that.

I suppose I tell him it’s as simple as a battery that heats a coil to make basically water vapor.

In case there are any legal issues I should have stated where I am. Michigan. I don't know how to find anything specific about laws against vaping other than google. I didn't see anything.

I just don't want to see this get banned at the airport and I have to hang out with the smokers. I hope he doesn’t get hold of some of that disinformation I've seen out there on the internet. Batteries blowing up in people’s faces. V4L carries a quality product and I very much doubt the Zeus is any more dangerous than the pack of batteries in my field radio on my belt.

Are there any statements by V4L as to its safety? Or in general e-cigarette safety? I guess I should start there, address its safety issue, no legal precedence banning the use, and lastly it’s not smoke. There are no second hand smoke issues.

 

[BHam]

Kookie, check out CASAA. They are the Consumer Advocates for Smoke-free Alternatives. They have a ton a great info on ecigs and the benefits etc. They have printable documents here as well so you can pass out more literature to fight your cause. Best wishes mate.

 

[Kookie]

Aw, that’s awesome BHam. That is just the kind of things that I need. Printing now. Thank you. Think I will print extra's in case I need em' in the future. I'm sure this will not be over. The CASAA looks pretty cool. Looks like I should support them.

 

[HarmonyPB]

How did it go Kookie?

 

[Kookie]

Well I had the meeting last Tuesday. I lost some ground but managed to keep some. They faxed some of the CASAA info to corporate. They stated they were not interested in health reasons in which I thanked them for their concern. I did make sure I pointed out this fact from the CASAA. Allowing indoor use provides smokers with a powerful incentive to switch to a reduced harm alternative to smoking. They were more concerned with safety. I told them it operates at no more than 10 watts. Maybe 130°F. They called the fire department and they stated they had no problem with it. They said “What if it shorts out?” I said, “What if the battery in my radio or my flashlight shorts out?” It came down to a reply by email from corporate giving a list of airports e-cigs are banned on the ramp. DTW was on it. I conceded to not using it on the ramp and in front of customers, but I stated I will continue to use it in the break room or anywhere indoors were customers are not present.

You know, I really don’t understand why this is such an issue. It doesn’t make sense to me.

 

[K9Luvr]

Well I had the meeting last Tuesday. I lost some ground but managed to keep some. They faxed some of the CASAA info to corporate. They stated they were not interested in health reasons in which I thanked them for their concern. I did make sure I pointed out this fact from the CASAA. Allowing indoor use provides smokers with a powerful incentive to switch to a reduced harm alternative to smoking. They were more concerned with safety. I told them it operates at no more than 10 watts. Maybe 130°F. They called the fire department and they stated they had no problem with it. They said “What if it shorts out?” I said, “What if the battery in my radio or my flashlight shorts out?” It came down to a reply by email from corporate giving a list of airports e-cigs are banned on the ramp. DTW was on it. I conceded to not using it on the ramp and in front of customers, but I stated I will continue to use it in the break room or anywhere indoors were customers are not present.

You know, I really don’t understand why this is such an issue. It doesn’t make sense to me.

What people don't understand, they fear. Glad your Zeus wasn't banned.

 

[HarmonyPB]

That's semi-good news. Glad you are still able to use it indoors and don't have to stand out with the smokers.

And WTG with the batt comparisons! That is what I don't understand. Most of the arguments can be associated with other everyday things: vapor = hot food/drink, smell = food/perfume, batts = cell phones, etc. My company recently had a meeting on the safety of everyday items and ecigs were on there, but so were cell phones and laptops. I am glad they are looking at the big picture and not just singling out vapers.

 

[xCybe]

Do you think it would've gone differently if you brought them a standard issue corner store cig instead of your mod? How much emphasis was placed on the device itself rather than the technology behind it?

May as well have told them it was an ultrasonic humidifier. <shrug>

 

[bssage]

I think you got what your going to get. Typically if something looks like a pig, walks like a pig, talks like a pig. Then most people feel its a safe assumption that it is a pig. You sound as if you have done your "due diligence" But the bottom line is they probably don't care what evidence one person with a vested interest brings to the table. They are accustomed to looking at statistics. So they probably dont mean much unless the information comes from someone they know and trust.

The reality is that even though we know there is no way ecigs can be as bad as a traditional cig. I dont think anyone can say there is no harm and will not be any over time. There is simply not a sample size big enough to tell if vaping for 15 or twenty year's will lead to other issues.

Please don't misunderstand me. I am on your team. And commend you on how you have responded. I just think it not likely you have the resources or staying power to take the fight to it conclusion and have a favorable outcome.

Good luck