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7 January 2005 - Northern Ireland Campaign
to Eliminate Passive Smoking in the Workplace
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A major public information programme by the Health Promotion
Agency (HPA) in Northern Ireland has been launched in order to try to eliminate
passive smoking in the workplace.
The campaign is aimed at employers and the welfare sector, as
part of the latest public information programme by the HPA.
A television campaign will run for one month and a pack will be
provided for employers to help with implementing a no smoking policy within
workplaces.
Distribution of the pack will be provided through the Health and
Safety Executive (HSE) and environmental health officers in local councils.
Dr. Henrietta Campbell, Chief Medical Officer for the Department
of Health, Social Services and Public Safety said:
“Passive smoking kills. I cannot stress too strongly the
importance of all employers having in place clearly defined policies on smoking.
Should the Government, or a future devolved administration, decide to introduce
new legislation in this area, it will take some time for a ban to come into
force. That is why it is vital that we continue to promote the adoption of
smoke-free facilities in order to protect employees sooner rather than later”.
Chief Executive of the HPA commented:
“Many workers are totally unaware of the damage second-hand
smoke can do. 85% of second-hand smoke is odourless and invisible but it can
still cause deadly damage. The government’s Scientific Committee on Tobacco and
Health (SCOTH) states that passive smoking significantly increases the risk of
serious illness and no infant, child or adult should be exposed to it.
"With this in mind we are encouraging smokers not to expose
others to the damaging health effects of their habit and hope it further adds to
the number of smokers likely to make a quit attempt, as well as supporting
ex-smokers who want to stay that way.
Research carried out by the HPA revealed that when people were asked how much
they were bothered by other people’s smoke almost 8 out of 10 women and 7 out of
10 men said they were bothered by it. The message is clear, non-smokers do not
want to put their health at risk.
"We know that already a number of businesses and organisations
in Northern Ireland have been operating a smoke-free policy for years, and we
want this campaign to encourage those employers who don’t have a no smoking
policy in their workplace to implement one.”
The pack, Protecting your workforce from tobacco smoke
- A guide for employers, can be obtained by calling the Smokers
Helpline on 0800 85 85 85.
Article by Alexandra Johnston
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