Casino employees in Rhode Island have gathered in support of Senate Bill 438 (S438) as they push for a smoking ban in their workplace. Their rally at the State House aimed to draw attention to the issue of smoking in the state’s casinos, which they believe creates a “loophole” in Rhode Island’s smoke-free workplace law.
The Smoking Debate:
Rally for Smoke-Free Casinos: Around two dozen workers from Bally’s Twin River in Lincoln and Bally’s Tiverton Casino, along with lawmakers, non-smokers’ rights activists, and the Rhode Island chapter of Casino Employees Against Smoking Effects, convened to express their support for S438.
The Exemption Issue: The crux of the matter lies in a loophole that permits smoking within Rhode Island’s two casinos, despite the existence of a state law promoting smoke-free workplaces.
Legislative Action:
S438 and Companion Bill H5237: Lawmakers introduced S438 earlier this year, which seeks to ban smoking in the state’s casinos. The Rhode Island Senate Committee on Finance is considering this legislation. In addition, they recently heard H5237, a companion bill that aims to remove the exemption for casinos from the state’s smoke-free workplace law.
Past Smoking Bans: Rhode Island casinos had temporarily banned smoking in June 2020 as a Covid-19 safety precaution. However, this ban was lifted in March of the following year. Currently, Rhode Island law mandates that casinos establish dedicated non-smoking areas equipped with separate ventilation systems.
A Broader Perspective:
A Parallel in New Jersey: The smoking exemption in casinos isn’t unique to Rhode Island. In New Jersey, Atlantic City’s casinos are the sole indoor workplaces where smoking is allowed, mirroring a similar legislative scenario.
Rhode Island casino employees are advocating for a change in the law that would make their workplaces smoke-free. S438 and its companion bill H5237 aim to address this issue by removing the smoking exemption for casinos in the state. As the legislative process unfolds, it is clear that the casino workers are committed to pushing for a healthier and smoke-free work environment.