Casino operators are not necessarily the type of business people you expect to be on the right side of history, but even so, their absolute refusal to acknowledge the dangers of second-hand smoke in the workplace and ban smoking on the casino floor in the year 2024 is surprising.
Less surprising is the Legislature’s willingness to buckle under and act in favor of a powerful business interest at the expense of worker health.
The Smoke Free Air Act was passed 23 years ago. The act banned smoking in bars and restaurants — much to the chagrin of bar and restaurant owners — in order to protect the rights of workers to perform their jobs in a poison-free environment.