Tuesday, Sep. 01, 2009

Richland council shouldn’t tamper with smoking ban

A WEEK AFTER Lexington County Council stepped up and adopted a strong workplace smoking ban, Richland County Council is contemplating taking a step backward to adopt an ill-conceived exception to the ban it approved late last year.

The Richland council is scheduled to take a final vote today on a proposal that would allow an establishment to operate “a portion of its workplace” as a “designated smoking area” as long as that area is separate from its nonsmoking area and has its own outside entrance and a separate heating and air system. This preposterous proposal would defeat the primary purpose of the smoking ban, unnecessarily exposing workers to secondhand smoke.

Councilman Jim Manning said his intention in pushing the change is to allow a bingo parlor to compete with others in municipalities in Lexington County. But Richland shouldn’t tamper with its ban to pander to bingo halls — or any other business. The truth is that the exemption would not be limited to bingo halls but would, in fact, apply to every business in the county. Besides, Lexington County’s approval of a ban increases the chance of its municipalities, even some that once rejected the idea, following suit. And even if they don’t, Richland shouldn’t waver in its effort to protect captive workers and improve the general public health.

Under the proposal, employees could be sent into smoking areas to serve customers. Mr. Manning said job applicants would be warned that there is a smoking area in the establishment and would be asked to sign a waiver if they’re willing to work in a smoke-filled room; they would not be required to work in the smoking area, he said. This is an insulting assurance, especially in this economy: Does anyone really believe that someone who did not sign the waiver would be hired? Or that nonsmokers already on the payroll wouldn’t be forced to “volunteer” to work the smoking section. People would be forced to choose between their health and a job — which is the very thing that all of our other workplace safety laws are designed to prevent.

This proposal hasn’t gotten ample public vetting. It received the second of three required positive votes from the council prior to the council’s August recess. A public hearing — most often held prior to second reading — has yet to be held. It’s scheduled for today, prior to a final vote.

The council should hold the public hearing, but it must not vote. A final vote should be postponed to give the public ample time to react. And when the vote is held, the only acceptable decision is for the council to reject this idea.

There is growing sentiment among local communities that a web of smoking bans should be approved to protect workers and the public. Richland County wisely joined that movement by passing its smoking ban. This is no time to give ground.

It hasn’t yet been proven that patrons abandon bars and restaurants — or bingo parlors — that don’t allow smoking. Richland officials concerned about that have an alternative to making unwise changes in the county’s smoking ban. They could — and should — approach neighboring governments about adopting uniform smoking bans. It makes sense for all parts of Lexington and Richland counties to have similar bans. Making public accommodations in the two counties smoke-free would address businesses’ concerns that patrons will abandon them for nearby competitors.

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