Smoking in the Workplace

[hans4u]

Was wondering if anyone out there has
to put up with breathing second hand
tobacco smoke in their place of employment?

Any advice on what to do when the management
continues to defy legal responsibility and fines?

Some employees are having adverse health problems,
but are fearful of losing their jobs.

Thanks for any help in this matter!

 

[a 1 player]

I thought it was illegal everywhere?

 

[red]

ministry of labour

 

[hans4u]

Yes it is illegal but how is it enforced unless someone complains?

The tobacco enforcement officers from the City Health Dept.
have responded and fined the company twice.

The third time no one showed up..

 

[oldjones]

Talk to your union. Oh, you don't have one? PM tboy, Lancs or one of the other TERBitalists who say unions are no longer needed in today's workplaces.

 

[333conan]

You could always use a friends computer to email your boss about the Maximum $10,000 fine that can be issued to companies for not enforcing the Smoke free laws. Not that you would need to be worried about your job. If there were reprisals about your complaint, the government would jump on your bosses head so hard his eyes would pop out.

 

[Gator3x]

Here's a link to the website for Ontario:

http://www.mhp.gov.on.ca/english/health/smoke_free/fact_sheets/employersandemployees.asp

Leave one of these around the workplace and see if anything changes.

There's a number to call.

Good Luck

 

[Cycleguy007]

Its a tough call....

Yes, I had to put up with this for awhile... I quit smoking 15 1/2 years ago, but I went into business with another guy about 8 1/2 yrs ago who was a smoker. He kept on smoking occasionally in the office, but since we have separate offices, it wasn't that big a deal for me... Then as business grew, we hired a couple more associates, and it became a problem. They were coming to me since I was a little more approachable, and because I was the non-smoker of the partnership, so they "elected me" to deal with it. I spoke to him and although it took a few months and it was somewhat stressful for the rest of us, he finally just ended up quitting himself! That was 3 years ago now.

So the solution- get a senior person on your side to take up the battle for you, if that's possible.

Note to oldjones: I'm with tboy and Lancs on this one...

 

[tboy]

Talk to your union. Oh, you don't have one? PM tboy, Lancs or one of the other TERBitalists who say unions are no longer needed in today's workplaces.

Ah so, the union would strike if the smoking persisted? LOL ok....what if it is some of the union members who were smoking? We don't know that they aren't....

As stated: what work do you do? What kind of "workplace" are you in? Who is smoking?

If you're outside, there isn't any law in the books as of yet that bans smoking outdoors.

As explained to me by the Health and Safety Inspector when I was a site manager: Smoking is prohibited everywhere there is a "roof" or overhang. This includes fronts of buildings (although the last one isn't enforced much).

This includes open parking garages even if there are no walls, just support columns.....

On a different track, I actually fully SUPPORT (yeah, lol unbelievable eh?) the smoking ban in the workplace as when I was an office worker the air got infinitely better once the ban took effect. But I still say that a business owner should retain the right to allow or disallow smoking in his or her establishment and hire people who smoke and cater to smokers

 

[333conan]

What I would love to see are smokers having to pay money to the people who had to breath in their poison. It's great for the government to collect fines, but non smokers are the ones being hurt, why shouldn't we receive compensation for our suffering? If that law was brought in, non smokers would never have to breath second hand smoke again.

 

[tboy]

What I would love to see are smokers having to pay money to the people who had to breath in their poison. It's great for the government to collect fines, but non smokers are the ones being hurt, why shouldn't we receive compensation for our suffering? If that law was brought in, non smokers would never have to breath second hand smoke again.

Ok, so if you're for that, then I guess you're also all for people who commute by car paying the people who commute by public transit and then people who take public transit pay the people who work from home?

 

[Cycleguy007]

Actually...

Ok, so if you're for that, then I guess you're also all for people who commute by car paying the people who commute by public transit and then people who take public transit pay the people who work from home?

Isn't EVEYONE helping to pay for public transit via the huge subsidies given to them from provincial and municipal governments?

 

[tboy]

Isn't EVEYONE helping to pay for public transit via the huge subsidies given to them from provincial and municipal governments?

Well yeah but that's not what buddy was talking about. He was suggesting that the smokers pay the individual non-smokers directly. I have to assume because of the risks they are exposed to.

I say non-smokers should start paying us smokers. They've been getting free smokes from us for YEARS........

 

[Cycleguy007]

I say non-smokers should start paying us smokers. They've been getting free smokes from us for YEARS........

I am... The SO still smokes!

But thankfully she has the "right" attitude about it. She won't smoke in my truck, and won't smoke in the house. I made a nice little smoking area in my garage for her... patio table and chairs, even bought her a space heater... I wouldn't want her to catch cold while she's out getting some "fresh air" LOL!

 

[Anynym]

Ok, so if you're for that, then I guess you're also all for people who commute by car paying the people who commute by public transit and then people who take public transit pay the people who work from home?

Even better - in Ottawa, when they aren't on strike, many bus drivers treat their bus as their own personal smoking shelter between runs. And in the summer, many drivers ignore the bylaw banning smoking at transit stations and smoke away in full view of the public.

 

[HT_Bob]

Outlawing smoking, whats next? Maybe Outlawing Beer?

****BERP****

 

[Aardvark154]

Was wondering if anyone out there has
to put up with breathing second hand
tobacco smoke in their place of employment?

Any advice on what to do when the management
continues to defy legal responsibility and fines?

Some employees are having adverse health problems,
but are fearful of losing their jobs.

Thanks for any help in this matter!

Your employer is a chump if they tolerate this. Not only is it illegal in Ontario, but if they are aware of it and fail to enforce the law. . . If you don't want to talk with a Crown, contact a civil litigation lawyer, I'm sure they would be happy to take your case.

 

[hans4u]

Thank you all for the helpful advice........

BTW... It's in an industrial mall (non unionized) in Etobicoke.
The owner(s) are the ones smoking!

My only concern is not having enough to pay legal fees,
as the boss has big shot lawyer friends and money coming
out of his wazoo!