Bad habits

Task 1. If you were in a public place, what would your reaction be if someone:

• played their personal stereo loudly next to you?

• threw litter down on the ground?

• parked their car on the pavement?

Do you consider all of these to be anti-social activities? Can you think of any other anti-social activities you would find offensive?

Task 2. The extract below is the first paragraph from a leaflet produced by the Health and Safety Executive in Britain. Skim through the paragraph quickly and decide:

• what the main theme is.

• who the leaflet is aimed at.

HEALTH AND SAFETY AT WORK

Employers should consider how to limit passive smoking at work. There are various methods of preventing or limiting exposure to smoke. Every workplace is different, and there is no universal solution. Full in-depth consultation with employees and/or their representatives is highly desirable for the smooth implementation of policies designed to limit exposure to tobacco smoke. A policy is very much more likely to be accepted by all employees if they feel they have been properly consulted. It is important to take time and make sure that details of restrictions on smoking are worked out and agreed between management and employees, and if necessary arrange a transitional period or a step-by-step approach.

Task 3. Read headings A-H below carefully, so that you are sure what they are about. Then scan the text, summarizing each paragraph as you read. Match each heading with the correct paragraph.

You will not usually find exactly the same word in both the heading and the paragraph, but the content will be similar. In each paragraph, underline the word – phrase or sentence which helped you choose the correct heading. The first heading has been done for you as an example.

1. What is passive smoking?

2. How can passive smoking be a danger to health?

3. What about people who already have respiratory diseases?

4. What are the benefits to employers of taking steps to limit passive smoking?

5. wouldn't it be best to totally prohibit smoking at work?

6. What is the evidence?

7. Why be concerned about smoking at work?

8. What about safety hazards from smoking at work and health risks for smokers?

1. G Why be concerned about smoking at work? Nowadays fewer people are smokers and attitudes to smoking are changing. Smokers are a minority in many workplaces. People have become more aware of the serious health risks faced by smokers themselves. There is increasing concern over the possible health effects of breathing other people's tobacco smoke. Work is one of a few situations where non-smokers may have to spend long periods in close contact with smokers.

2. When smokers and non-smokers share the same room, non-smokers cannot avoid inhaling some environmental tobacco smoke as they breathe. This is called 'passive smoking'. The smoke concerned is mainly 'sidestream' smoke from burning cigarettes, cigars or pipe tobacco, but there is also some smoke exhaled by smokers.

3. In some situations, a complete ban is justified for safety reasons. But elsewhere the imposition by management without proper consultation of any measures to control passive smoking could lead to resentmentamong smokers and problems in enforcing the no-smoking rule.

4. This leaflet does not deal with the well-recognized safety hazards from smoking where there is a risk of fire or explosion. Nor does it discuss the health hazards to individuals who smoke, particularly while working with substances such as lead or asbestos. Such hazards are covered by guidance on each subject.

5. It is now beyond doubt that smoking is a major cause of disease and premature death for smokers themselves. Tobacco smoke contains various substances that can cause cancer or other health problems. Raised levels of airborne harmful substances are found when smokers' homes are compared with those of non-smokers. Still higher levels may occur in poorly ventilated indoor places of work where several people are smokers.

6. There have been many scientific studies on passive smoking. The results of this research were reviewed by the Independent Scientific Committee on Smoking and Health in their Fourth Report. The Committee concluded that 'while none of the studies can on its own be accepted as unequivocal, the findings overall are consistent with there being a small increase in the risk of lung cancer from exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, in the range of 10%–30%'.

7. It has been recognized for some time that exposure to tobacco smoke can cause discomfort and irritation to some people, particularly those who already have a respiratory disorder such as asthma. Passive smoking may cause more distress to this group than it does to most non-smokers.

8. Limiting or preventing smoking by an agreed and carefully implemented policy may improve employee morale, reduce arguments between smokers and non-smokers, reduce time lost through sickness, and diminish cleaning bills. It will reduce fire risk.

Task 4. Do you think smoking should be banned from public places, such as cinemas, restaurants, public transport& List your reason why / why not and discuss them with another student.

? VOCABULARY PRACTICE