Helsinki Board of Health in favour of smoking ban during working hours

Threats made against Helsinki Health Centre administrators

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The Helsinki Board of Health decided on Tuesday to back plans for a ban on smoking in city workplaces during office hours. The ban was proposed by the Helsinki Health Centre.
      Smoking would still be allowed during lunch and coffee breaks, for example.
      A final decision whether or not to limit smoking will be made by the City Council.
     
The proposal fora complete smoking ban has angered many Helsinki smokers. Officials have received anonymous abusive e-mail messages. Health Centre director Matti Toivola and head of development Riitta Simoila have received messages containing actual threats.
      "Quite frightening", says administrative lawyer Leena Moisander. "I interpret them as death threats."
      Messages and what Moisander described as "strange" phone calls started to come in already before the board began discussing the ban.
      A stone that was thrown through the door of the health centre was also seen to be a protest of some kind.
     
"We have received mail of all sorts, for and against the ban. Reactions have been rather strong. My life was threatened", says Matti Toivola.
      The Health Centre has not informed the police about the death threats.
      The ban concerning employees of the City of Helsinki is part of the Smoke-free Helsinki campaign, the goal of which is to stop all smoking in city-owned indoor spaces, at sporting events, and in schoolyards by next year.
      According to the proposal accepted by the Helsinki Board of Health, smoking in city-owned and governed spaces would cease. Designated personnel with special training for difficult situations would enforce the ban.
      Smoking areas would not be allowed on the yards of kindergartens, schools, or youth centres. The smoking areas for adults should be situated in such a way that no smoke would drift indoors.
     
The smoking ban would include neither city housing, nor business premises. Psychiatric hospitals would also have their own regulations.
      The city will support those who are trying to quit smoking with increased dedication. The Health Centre plans to establish a detoxification clinic early next year, and to give out the first nicotine replacement package for free.
      According to Health Centre director Matti Toivola, the smoking ban is based on a proposal by a smoking work group. It included representatives from the City Health Centre, the Education and Social Services Department, the Finnish Environment Institute, the Youth Department, national health organisations, and an expert from the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Finland could fall behind other countries in restricting smoking in restaurants (2.5.2006)
  Suggested smoke-free working hours policy puzzles Helsinki employees (26.4.2006)
  Helsinki plans to declare itself smoke-free by year 2007 (25.4.2006)

Helsingin Sanomat