Ceupacs wants designated rooms for puffers?

I thought somebody misunderstood and misreported Omar Osman's call on Public Service Department (PSD) to not impose a blanket ban on smoking in government premises but to provide smokers with designated smoking areas.

Now it seems quite clear. While the PSD wants de­­partment heads to strictly monitor the rule on smoking, Cuepacs feels the rights of smokers, both employees and customers, should be safeguarded. It was reported in the Star's 19 June 2009 report titled 'Huff and Puff Over Rule on Smoking' where Cuepacs president Omar Osman said the blanket rule was unfair and called on the Government to provide designated rooms for smokers.

Yesterday's NST (24 June 2009) upped the ante on the issue when they got Prof Dr Rahmat Awang from USM's National Poison Centre and Malaysian Trades Union Congress adviser on indoor air quality Dr T. Jayabalan to comment on it. Both expert gave their piece of advice to Cuepacs on the protection of rights of both smokers and non-smokers. They said it had been proven that ventilation systems could not filter the particles and gases in tobacco smoke to safe levels.

Dr Rahmat said tobacco smoke contained more than 4,000 chemicals, including more than 200 that were poisonous, and at least 69 that were carcinogenic. He disagreed to the notion that designated smoking areas was a responsible alternative to a smoking ban.

Both expert also disagreed on having designated smoking areas due to certain factors:- smoking sections without floor-to-ceiling partitions between the non-smoking section and smoking section do not prevent exposure to second-hand smoke;- designated rooms pose a threat to those who have to clean and work in them; and - smoke escapes through the open door when people enter or leave the smoking room.

Another point of contention brought out by the experts was the report produced by International Labour Organisation which showed that 200,000 workers were killed each year by exposure to second-hand smoke at work.

In wrapping the non-bylined report on page 13, a report by a purported survey carried out in Malaysia found that 61.3 per cent of adult smokers had wanted to quit but found it difficult. It said enforcing eight hours of non-smoking would be a step in the right direction to kick the habit (I have to check on this later).

"It must be remembered that there is no safe level of exposure to tobacco smoke and scientists have concluded that the only effective protection is 100 per cent smoke-free places"- the 11 para report concluded.

- I was just wondering what more excuses do these smokers (supporters included) want to articulate after this to merely justify their cravings? We have smoking rooms with chimneys at airport lounges... so what's wrong with smoking rooms with chimneys in offices...?

NOT CRAVED
Izaham