Occupational Health and Safety Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Occupational Health and Safety - Essay Example According to the author, smoking bans are part of public policies, which include criminal laws and regulations on occupational health and safety prohibiting tobacco smoking in workplaces or other public spaces. Moreover, smoke-free laws are solely meant to protect workers from the harmful effects of smoke from second-hand sources. These effects include higher risk of cancer, heart diseases, emphysema among others. The author affirms that laws banning indoor smoking have been implemented by many countries, with most countries citing evidence to establish the harmful effects of tobacco to smokers and inhalers of second-hand smoke. Part of the evidence brought forth to establish the harmful effects of smoking at workplaces include a study conducted in 2002 by WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer, which revealed that non-smokers are equally exposed to carcinogens as active smokers are. The study also indicated that side-stream smoke has 69 known carcinogens and radioactive decay products. In addition, research by tobacco companies has proven that well-established carcinogens are highly concentrated in side-stream than mainstream smoke. The Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) gives workers the right to enjoy a safe workplace free of hazards. OSHA has air quality standards. Tobacco smoke, however, hardly exceeds these limits. In extreme situations – such as when tobacco smoke mixes with another airborne component in the workplace – OSHA standards could be exceeded thereby requiring the employer to correct the situation. Several lawsuits have been filed seeking employer compensation for smoke hazards. The current position is that OSHA does not regulate exposure to tobacco smoke; state laws do. The author may be on the frontline in advocating smoke-free workplaces, but he failed to consider the possible demerits of the same. Firstly, smoke-free workplaces will necessitate a change in worker habits, which