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Redding assignment,View Group Consensus-I – Dirty Jobs: (2 points) One of the dirtiest jobs around is working in restaurants and bars, especially if there is no smoking ordinance. Most people don’t realize this, but the occupational health effects of (what amounts to) involuntary second-hand smoke exposure for restaurant and bar workers was a primary justification for enacting restaurant bans for many jurisdictions. . Workers have a right to clean air at the workplace! Now e-cigarettes are on the scene. They are smokeless nicotine delivery products that emit a vapor.

The Columbia City Council recently added e-cigarettes to our current tobacco ordinance which effectively bans e-cigarettes from restaurants. . However, there are arguments for and against this idea, and of course a need to make an evidence-based decision. Check out the CDC Grand Rounds at . The whole thing is good, but the toxicology discussion starts at about the 18 minute mark. Discuss among your group and especially focus on the potential occupational health issues for restaurant and bar workers who may potentially be exposed to these vapors for 8 hours a day (versus individual right to use e-cigarettes).

Discuss under “Dirty Jobs” forum and submit 2 page consensus of your group recommendation under group assignments. Group Consensus-II (2 points) – “Keep Calm and Don’t Panic” Discuss the worker safety issues described in these law suits regarding 1) protection of health care professionals caring for ebola patients, and 2) quarantining of health care professionals following exposure to ebola at the workplace. Consider unintended consequences (eg health/mental health) and possible future implications for health care workers and managing ebola. In your group, come to a consensus on whether these two nurses should win their lawsuits. How do we best protect our health care workers from ebola?

Should we quarantine asymptomatic health care workers returning from West Africa or any that care for ebola patients in US? Should we only quarantine them if they become symptomatic? Include your rationale and justification in 2 pages. Discuss under forum “Keep Calm and Don’t Panic” and submit consensus under group assignments. CJUS 381 Discussion Assignment Instructions There are 3 Discussions in this course.

You will post an initial thread by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Thursday of the assigned Module: Week. You will then post 2 replies to other students’ post by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Monday of the assigned Module: Week. Initial post must have words, while replies must have 50-100 words. There is no word or citation requirement for any posting, but each post must add substantively to the conversation. Only post plain text content.

Do not include formatted elements if pasting content from a word processor. If referencing outside sources of information, include URL links to the source if available.

Paper For Above instruction

The occupational health risks faced by restaurant and bar workers due to secondhand smoke have been a significant public health concern for many years. Historically, secondhand smoke exposure in these environments led to numerous health problems among employees, including respiratory illnesses, cardiovascular issues, and increased risk of lung cancer (CDC, 2014). This recognition prompted legislative actions restricting smoking in public places, particularly restaurants and bars, to protect workers’ health. The advent of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) has introduced new complexities into this debate. As smokeless nicotine delivery devices that produce vapor rather than smoke, e-cigarettes are often perceived as safer alternatives; however, growing evidence indicates that their vapors contain harmful substances, raising concerns about occupational exposure (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2018).

The City of Columbia's recent decision to include e-cigarettes in the existing tobacco ordinance, effectively banning their use in restaurants, exemplifies precautionary public health measures. The toxicology discussion at the CDC Grand Rounds highlights the potential risks associated with inhalation of e-cigarette vapors, particularly given the prolonged exposure typical of restaurant and bar workers who may be exposed to these vapors for an eighthour shift (CDC, 2019). Inhalation of chemicals such as formaldehyde, acrolein, and volatile organic compounds present in e-cigarette vapor can cause respiratory irritation, exacerbate asthma, and possibly lead to long-term health effects similar to those caused by traditional tobacco smoke (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2018).

From an occupational health perspective, workers are at increased risk of inhaling these potentially toxic aerosols, especially in enclosed environments with inadequate ventilation. Long durations of exposure in settings where e-cigarettes are used could lead to cumulative health effects, similar to the well-documented impacts of secondhand tobacco smoke. As such, there exists a compelling ethical and legal argument that workers have a right to a safe and healthful work environment, free from involuntary inhalation of harmful vapors.

Balancing workers' health rights against individual rights to use e-cigarettes presents a complex challenge. While restricting e-cigarette use in workplaces aims to protect employees, it also raises questions about personal freedom and the potential benefits of harm reduction for adult users. Evidence-based policymaking should rely on current scientific data regarding toxicological risks, exposure levels, and available ventilation measures. Some argue that e-cigarettes may serve as an aid for smokers attempting to quit, but these benefits should not come at the expense of non-smoker workers' health (Breland et al., 2017).

In conclusion, the widespread occupational exposure to e-cigarette vapor in restaurant and bar settings warrants careful consideration. Existing evidence suggests that vapors can contain harmful substances capable of causing respiratory and other health issues in exposed workers. Therefore, policies restricting or banning e-cigarette use in these environments are justified to uphold workers' rights to a safe workplace. Future research should aim to clarify exposure levels, compare health outcomes related to e-cigarette vapor versus traditional cigarette smoke, and evaluate effective ventilation strategies to mitigate risks. Protecting workers from vapor exposure aligns with the fundamental occupational health principles of preventing disease and safeguarding worker well-being.

References

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2014). Secondhand Smoke Exposure and Cardiovascular Disease. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/secondhand_smoke/general_facts/index.htm
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2019). CDC Grand Rounds: Toxicology of E-cigarettes. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/68/wr/mm6804a3.htm
  • Breland, J. E., Kralikova, J., Khlystov, A., & et al. (2017). Pulmonary effects of electronic cigarette vapor in mice: Implications for human health. Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, 29(2), 218–225.
  • National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2018). Public health consequences of e-cigarettes. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.

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