Media release: September 30, 2004
Musicians
have demanded all states legislate for immediate pub and club smoke bans and
enforce workplace safety laws against smoky workplaces, after a NSW musician
showed a dangerously high level of passive smoke intake from a two-hour
engagement.
The
SmokeFree Australia coalition* (including the Musicians’ Union of Australia)
says all governments must act urgently to protect musicians and other
entertainers, after an AMA-supervised test showed non-smoking jazz violinist
George Washingmachine had registered a significant nicotine reading from smoke
in a Sydney licensed venue.
The
test result confirmed similar findings in Perth and Melbourne this year, with
patrons recording nicotine levels almost comparable with those of active
smokers.
Says
Stafford Sanders, SmokeFree Australia co-ordinator and former pub/club musician:
“This is an urgent work safety issue on a par with asbestos both in the
seriousness of its harm and the number of workers affected.
“We
know tobacco smoke contains more than 130 toxic compounds, including at least 40
carcinogens; we know from many studies that it causes cancer and heart disease
and much more; we know that it kills, and is killing bar workers in considerable
numbers. And now we know that musicians are specifically at risk, even from
relatively short periods of workplace exposure.
“This
should not be the subject of any more talk, consultation or other delay. In some
states (NSW for example), governments have talked for more than ten years. And
we’ve had occupational health and safety laws that should have been enforced
to remove this danger but have instead been quietly ignored at the behest of
tobacco-friendly vested interests such as the Australian Hotels Association.
“The
AHA has been especially culpable, in lobbying governments to block, delay or
water down smoke bans. The AHA has long been connected with the tobacco
industry’s opposition to smokefree venues – and continues to conduct
unfounded and inaccurate scare campaigns among its members, wrongly claiming
businesses will be ‘destroyed.’
“The
more responsible course for the AHA would be to encourage proprietors to fulfil
their legal duty of care under OHS law to protect the health of their employees
and patrons.
“This
tobacco-tainted lobbying is frustrating the will of the overwhelming majority of
the community, who want smokefree venues quickly – not in another two years.
Governments should end the delays, ban the smoke from these venues, and protect
these workers. More delay will cause more death and illness.
“Smokefree
venues have been a worldwide success - yielding instant health improvements,
causing no loss of business or jobs, and helping cut smoking rates - especially
among young people. Several countries including Ireland and NZ, and seven US
states, have enacted total bans. It’s time for all of Australia to draw the
line and stop this preventable harm now – we’ve already waited far too
long.”
Comment:
Stafford Sanders, SmokeFree
Australia
m. 0412-070-194
SmokeFree Australia coalition
for clean safe workplaces:
Liquor,
Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers’ Union; Musicians’ Union of Australia; Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance; Australian Council of
Trade Unions; Action on Smoking and Health Australia; The Cancer Council
Australia; National Heart Foundation of Australia; Australian Council on Smoking
and Health; Non-Smokers’ Movement of Australia; Australian Medical
Association.