CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Enforcing Kanawha County's smoking ban is not only getting harder for workers with the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department, it's also becoming dangerous.

At Tuesday's health board meeting, members talked about problems inspectors are having while doing smoking checks at bars.

There has been several incidents over the last couple months where inspectors were harassed, had paperwork torn up and thrown in their face and in at least one incident an inspector was followed out to his car.

Board members are preparing to ask the Kanawha County Sheriff's department to provide escorts for health inspectors while they're checking on bars for violations.

If deputies aren't able to provide escorts they may look into hiring off duty police officers.

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