WOOLWORTHS customer Brian Richards and his cashier at the end register were both forced to inhale second hand smoke from smokers illegally lighting up at the Anson Street taxi rank and he feels fines are the only way to enforce the smoking ban.
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Smokers caught breaching the state government’s laws banning smoking from within four metres of an entrance to a public building risk a $550 fine.
But a recent NSW Health statewide education blitz on the laws only issued smokers cautionary notices, according to Western NSW Local Health District population health director Dr Therese Jones.
Mr Richards said he felt smokers sitting on the bench near the taxi rank posed an OH&S risk for Woolworths staff and shoppers.
“Each time the doors open the smoke would come in,” Mr Richards said.
“I’m an asthma sufferer so it doesn’t help me, but I felt sorry for the checkout girl who is subjected to it whenever smokers sit there.”
Woolworths Orange manager Derryn Linke said people smoking outside the entrance to the store was an ongoing problem especially in wet weather, but he found it very difficult to stop them.
“I have asked people on previous occasions [to stop smoking], but it is usually met with an irate response and we are unable to police this,” he said.
Mr Linke said Woolworths staff were told to smoke well clear of the entrance and also had a designated smoking area at the far end of the car park.
Dr Jones said the non-compliance with smoking bans outside shops in Anson Street has been referred to the local public health unit for investigation as part of an ongoing compliance monitoring program.
But NSW Health’s main focus is on “community awareness, understanding and long-term compliance” of the smoking bans and fines are only issued “where appropriate”.
Dr Jones did not say if smokers in Orange had been fined.
clare.colley@fairfaxmedia.com.au
