Media release: February 9, 2005
“Smokefree”
bans still allow smoky venues
Rooms
up to 75% enclosed will threaten worker, patron health
Phasing
out of exemptions to the Smoke Free Areas Act at the end of 2006 will not
adequately protect hospitality workers or patrons from the serious health
dangers of secondhand smoke, health groups have warned.
The
SmokeFree Australia coalition of health and trade union groups* says the
legislation will allow some pub and club proprietors to avoid the spirit of the
ban by continuing to allow smoking in rooms that are up to 75% enclosed.
“These
rooms will present a major health risk to anyone going into them,” says
coalition spokesperson Eileen Jerga of the National Heart Foundation (ACT),
“and especially to hospitality workers spending long shifts working in these
smoky spaces.
“Research
shows the health harm from secondhand smoke is serious and can flow from
relatively low levels of exposure,” she says.
Just
in the last four months, new research has linked secondhand exposure more
strongly with COPD and stroke deaths, atherosclerosis, cervical and breast
cancer and adolescent cognitive harm; there’s also new evidence that outdoor
exposure presents a significant risk. #
“The
principle guiding this legislation and its interpretation,” says Eileen Jerga,
“should be to give paramount consideration to protecting workers and patrons
from any repeated or significant exposure to secondhand smoke in these venues.
“We
are not satisfied that the present arrangements do this. The partly-enclosed
provisions as they now stand represent a ‘fudge’ of health considerations
and will jeopardise employee and public health.
“Queensland’s
bans will include outdoor areas where food or drinks are served; Tasmania has specified that smoking areas should be no more
than 50% enclosed. A 75% allowance would put ACT out of step with best practice
in Australia and overseas.”
Health groups attending a
consultation on February 8 again requested the opportunity to assess a
Regulatory Impact Statement prepared several months ago but still not released
publicly.
# See www.ashaust.org.au/SF’03/health.htm
Comment:
Eileen
Jerga, NHF (ACT)
m. 0412-988-955
Anne Jones, ASH Australia
ph. (02) 9334-1876
m. 0417-227-879
Stafford
Sanders, Co-ordinator, SmokeFree Australia
ph. (02) 9334-1823
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; Asthma and Allergy Research Institute.