FRANCAIS

June 24, 2003

An all-party committee examining the issues of environmental tobacco smoke has received recommendations on the impact of smoking in the workplace, committee chair Stan Struthers said today.

"Along with public consultations, these recommendations will aid the committee in its efforts to reach a consensus on how to deal with the issue of smoking in public places," said Struthers, MLA for Dauphin-Roblin.

The recommendations from the Labour and Immigration Minister’s Advisory Council on Workplace Safety and Health were submitted by council chair Wally Fox-Decent. They were commissioned as part of a review of workplace health and safety and issues.

"The impact of environmental tobacco smoke in the workplace is one of many issues the all-party committee will have to consider," Struthers said. "That is why these recommendations are being included as a key component of the all-party process."

Struthers also announced the appointment of Conservation and Interim Labour and Immigration Minister Steve Ashton as government member of the committee to replace former intergovernmental affairs minister Jean Friesen who did not seek re-election.

Other government members of the committee include MLA Greg Dewar (Selkirk), and Transportation and Government Services Minister Scott Smith.

The official Opposition is represented by MLAs John Loewen (Fort Whyte) and Denis Rocan (Carman). The Liberals are represented by Jon Gerrard (River Heights).

Written submissions can be sent to the All-party Task Force on Environmental Tobacco Smoke c/o Stan Struthers, chair, Room 155, Legislative Building, Winnipeg, MB R3C 0V8. Further Information is also available at:

http://www.gov.mb.ca/health/taskforce.html.

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RECOMMENDATIONS.

May 20, 2003

1. Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS), composed of numerous carcinogens and other toxic compounds, is a scientifically proven, universally recognized health hazard;
2. Workers are exposed to harmful levels of ETS where smoking is permitted in enclosed places;
3. The Manitoba Workplace Safety & Health Act specifies that it is the employer’s duty to maintain a safe and healthy work environment;
4. The Manitoba regulations specify that exposure to airborne carcinogens must be controlled to as close to zero as practicable;
5. Tobacco smoking is not a work requirement;
6. Exposure to ETS is most readily and easily prevented by eliminating the hazard from the work environment;
7. The Manitoba Workplace Safety & Health Act applies to all provincially regulated workplaces equally.

First stage – A complete ban of smoking in all enclosed workplaces, but allowing for the continuation of designated smoking rooms used by workers and/or clients.

• Time frame: Sufficient time should be given for workplaces to accommodate to this new direction - perhaps six to 12 months.

Second stage – A complete ban of smoking in all enclosed workplaces. This stage does not allow for a designated smoking room (DSR) - present DSRs would be discontinued.

• Time frame: a limited time, perhaps one to two years, is suggested.

Third stage – A complete ban of smoking in all workplaces (indoors and outdoors). This final stage moves beyond simply controlling workers' exposure to ETS. It is however, consistent with the public health perspective on smoking.