Social Activist Urges Government To Ban Smoking At Workplaces Including Toilets In Offices
He argues that smoking inside toilets should not be allowed as the smoke affects non-smokers using the same toilets in offices and in other buildings.
By Sadho Ram — 13 Jan 2019, 03:21 PM
Social activist Lee Lam Thye, who is the Chairman at National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), has urged the Health Ministry to consider the implementation of the smoking ban at workplaces and closed areas in offices, specifically the toilets
According to a report in NST Online, Lee Lam argues that the actions of some smokers who smoke in the toilet could be detrimental to other people's health.
"I myself had encountered such act in the toilet. I know some smokers want to smoke at work and they often do it in the toilet," he was quoted as saying, adding that the matter, however, should be thoroughly discussed between the ministry and employers.
Lee wants employers and the Health Ministry to instead provide smokers with designated smoking areas inside workplace premises
Earlier this month, Lee had said that it is quite "common to see smokers taking a puff in the toilets in offices and in commercial and government buildings."
Lee, who is a former politician of the Democratic Action Party (DAP), argues that while some claim they smoke inside the toilets to get rid of the odour, smoking in the toilets should be strictly prohibited as their smoke affects non-smokers using the same toilets, according to a report in The Star Online.
He claims that due to the current nationwide smoking ban at eateries, people who are die-hard smokers light up in public toilets
"I have received numerous complaints from the public and it is happening very often now. My concern is that there could be a rise in the number of cases of smokers sneaking into the toilets for a puff," The Star Online quoted him saying.
Meanwhile, earlier this week, Najib Razak penned his dissatisfaction over the implementation of the smoking ban: