"It is fundamentally wrong" to leave casino workers unprotected
Rep. Teresa A. Tanzi introduced legislation (2023 H-5237) to include casinos in the state’s law prohibiting smoking in workplaces.
“Casino workers are
Rhode Islanders, parents, caregivers, taxpayers and human beings, and they
deserve the same protections as everyone else in our state. It is fundamentally
wrong to say that no one should be exposed to secondhand smoke in the
workplace, but carve out an exception that leaves one group of workers not only
unprotected, but in fact, bathed in smoke every day. There’s no excuse for
continuing to endanger their health, and we need to pass this bill to let them
breathe safely like everyone else,” said Representative Tanzi (D-Dist. 34,
South Kingstown, Narragansett).
Casinos are currently exempted from the 2004 Public Health and Workplace Safety Act, which workers and advocates say has a detrimental impact on casino workers.
When Rhode Island’s two casinos reopened in June 2020 following the COVID 19 shutdown, they prohibited indoor smoking as a safety measure. In March of 2022, they reinstated smoking in designated gaming floors.
“This has affected my
whole life and the lives of my coworkers,” said Vanessa Baker, who has worked
in casinos for 30 years. “During COVID, I could finally breath again, I was off
of my asthma medications, I was feeling healthy. Now my asthma is flaring up, I
struggle even going to the gym or going hiking because I’m so short of breath.”
Supporters point out
that allowing smoking is no longer necessary for successful business in
casinos. Casinos in Massachusetts and most Connecticut casinos do not allow
indoor smoking. In fact, competition from the 100% smoke-free Encore Boston
Harbor casino, which opened in June 2019, is considered to be biting into Rhode
Island’s revenue from table games, video lottery terminals and sports.
The legislation failed
to move out of committee last year, but advocates are hopeful.
“Thousands of our
neighbors work in casinos, providing entertainment to people from across the
region and crucial tax revenue for our state,” Representative Tanzi said. “It’s
time to do the right thing and stop treating them like second-class citizens.”
“I love this business,”
Baker said. “It’s my way of life, it’s been my whole career. Everyone else gets
to do their job in a smoke-free environment. Why are we still left behind?”