Media release: October 20, 2008
Employee and
health groups have urged all Australian governments to end smokefree workplace
loopholes to protect thousands of Australians exposed to toxic tobacco smoke in
their workplaces.
During Safe Work Australia Week (October 19-25), the SmokeFree Australia
coalition has asked Federal, State and Territory governments to strengthen
protection against secondhand smoke exposure in Occupational Health and Safety
and smokefree places legislation.
Said coalition co-ordinator Stafford Sanders:
“Exposure to tobacco smoke remains a major OHS issue. Only Queensland
has satisfactory legislation guaranteeing that no-one is required to work in
areas where smoking is permitted.
“At the other end of the scale, the Northern Territory has very little
protection – but is currently reviewing its laws, and we’re confident
they’ll see the merit of adopting the best-practice Queensland model.
“Other states, notably NSW, Victoria, ACT and SA, have adopted weak
definitions not based on any health evidence, allowing predominantly enclosed
areas to evade the smokefree laws.
“This has resulted in proven exposure of workers and patrons to
unacceptable smoke levels.
“It has also confused the public and opened the way to expensive legal
challenges.
“A workplace allowing exposure to tobacco smoke’s hundreds of toxins
– including dozens of human carcinogens – is not a safe workplace.
“Let’s stop making unhealthy exceptions for tobacco and get these
workplaces cleaned up. All smoking areas should have to be separate and
unserviced – as they are in Queensland.
“This doesn’t require knocking down a single wall – so let’s have
no more misleading claims of venues facing enormous costs to comply with
smokefree laws.
“For decades we’ve had Occupational Health and Safety laws requiring
employers to keep their workplaces safe – so which letter of O, H and S do
these proprietors still not understand?”
Comment:
Stafford Sanders, 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; Cancer Council
Australia; Heart Foundation; Australian Medical
Association; Australian Council on Smoking
and Health;
Non-Smokers’ Movement of Australia; Asthma and Allergy Research Institute.