Smoke-Free Worksites Advocacy Day
May 7, 2003

Every year more than 1,000 people die in Massachusetts from secondhand smoke exposure.  Outside of the home, the workplace is the leading source of exposure to secondhand smoke. To protect workers' health, the Massachusetts Coalition for a Healthy Future, joined by The Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts, is supporting a bill requiring smoke-free worksites statewide.  The Tobacco Industry opposes this bill.  That is why key decision makers need to hear that smoke-free worksites, including restaurants and bars, are important for employees and for the public who patronize these establishments.  On Wednesday, May 7, 2003, the Joint Committee on Health Care held a public hearing to discuss this bill. 

Concerned health advocates and residents of Central Massachusetts assembled in front of Worcester City Hall for a brief, press conference calling attention to the issue, and then traveled to the Massachusetts State House to attend the public hearing.  Advocates visited with local legislators to discuss the issue of smoke-free worksites, and the Coalition provided educational materials to distribute to members of the legislature. 

Thank you to those who joined us on May 7, 2003 at the State House urging legislators to support the passage of Senate Bill 521/House Bill 2599 to make all workplaces in Massachusetts 100% smoke-free! 

Did you know...?
Exposure to secondhand smoke causes cancer, emphysema, heart disease, respiratory illnesses, and stroke in adult nonsmokers. Bar employees are exposed to levels of secondhand smoke 3.9 to 6.1 times higher than the average levels found in offices. Restaurant employees are exposed to secondhand smoke at levels 1.6 to 2.0 times higher than office levels.  Bar and restaurant workers are 1˝ to 2 times more likely to die of lung cancer than they would be if bars and restaurants were 100% smoke-free.