Act Now - The Report of the WCB Legislative Review Panel to the
Act Now - The Report of the WCB Legislative Review Panel to the
Act Now - The Report of the WCB Legislative Review Panel to the
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4.2 Safe Workplaces4.2.1 Environmental Tobacco SmokeSome stakeholders <strong>to</strong>ld <strong>the</strong> <strong>Panel</strong> about <strong>the</strong> dangers <strong>of</strong> environmental <strong>to</strong>bacco smoke(ETS) in <strong>the</strong> workplace. <strong>The</strong> majority <strong>of</strong> respondents <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> Stakeholder Questionnairethought that <strong>the</strong>re should be legislative change <strong>to</strong> regulate ETS in <strong>the</strong> workplace.<strong>The</strong> <strong>Panel</strong> reviewed <strong>the</strong> practice in o<strong>the</strong>r jurisdictions, particularly British Columbia. <strong>The</strong><strong>Panel</strong> also <strong>to</strong>ok note <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> changing environment in <strong>the</strong> workplace and <strong>the</strong> manyemployers who have banned smoking at <strong>the</strong>ir workplace ei<strong>the</strong>r voluntarily or as a result<strong>of</strong> municipal by-laws.<strong>The</strong> <strong>Panel</strong> sees <strong>the</strong> removal <strong>of</strong> ETS from closed workplaces as a trend in <strong>the</strong> changingsafety environment.Recommendations: 4.2.1 Environmental Tobacco Smoke1. <strong>The</strong> legislation should be changed, if necessary, <strong>to</strong> enable <strong>the</strong> Minister <strong>to</strong> prescriberegulations concerning environmental <strong>to</strong>bacco smoke in <strong>the</strong> workplace.2. It is suggested <strong>the</strong> regulations in o<strong>the</strong>r jurisdictions be reviewed <strong>to</strong> assist in <strong>the</strong>development <strong>of</strong> new regulations.4.2.2 Harassment Free WorkplacesSome stakeholders <strong>to</strong>ld <strong>the</strong> <strong>Panel</strong> that a safe workplace is one that is free <strong>of</strong> workplaceharassment. <strong>The</strong> majority <strong>of</strong> respondents <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> Stakeholder Questionnaire agreed. Somestakeholders <strong>to</strong>ld <strong>the</strong> <strong>Panel</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Act</strong>s should be changed <strong>to</strong> regulate workplace harassment.O<strong>the</strong>rs held <strong>the</strong> view that if workplace harassment is regulated, <strong>the</strong> appropriate place <strong>to</strong>do so is human rights or o<strong>the</strong>r legislation not in <strong>the</strong> <strong>Act</strong>s.<strong>WCB</strong> <strong>Legislative</strong> <strong>Review</strong> <strong>Panel</strong> <strong>Report</strong> Page 93 <strong>of</strong> 128December, 2001