Heather Crowe never smoked.  She is dying of lung cancer.  Doctors attribute Ms. Crowe's lung cancer to 40 years of work in smoky restaurants and bars.  The courts ruled in Ms. Crowe's favor.  Ms. Crowe, who is 57, has one request before she dies.  She explains in a letter to government officials (excerpted below)...

25 November 2002

Dear Sirs:

I want to be the last person to die from second-hand smoke at work.

I can only realize this goal with your help.

In laws and regulations, all employers have a general duty to protect workers’ health.  Since any exposure to second-hand smoke is hazardous to health, employers are shirking their duty by continuing to allow smoking in the workplace.  You can help employers live up to their obligations by banning smoking in workplaces – all workplaces, with no exceptions.  Exceptions for bars and restaurants only devalue the health and safety of bar and restaurant workers like me.  Waiters and waitresses do not have second-class lungs and there is no reason that we should continue to have second-class protection for our health.

I urge you to act now to ban smoking in all workplaces under your jurisdiction.  I would welcome an opportunity for me to discuss this matter with you in person.

If you should decide to create regulations providing full protection from second-hand smoke to all workers in your jurisdiction, I will be happy to provide whatever support and assistance I can.

I hope to hear from you soon.

Yours sincerely,

Heather Crowe

To send a letter in support of smokefree workplace legislation where you live, go to www.smokefree.org

 

Joseph W. Cherner, President
SmokeFree Educational Services, Inc.
http://www.smokefree.org

 

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful citizens can change the world.  Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."       Margaret Mead