[Mpls] Those damned statistics - ask and ye shall receive

[Michael Atherton]

Mark Snyder wrote:

> So while we sit around and twiddle our thumbs waiting for the 
> scientists to build up the overwhelming pile of research that 
> secondhand smoke is toxic that folks like Michael insist upon 
> before a ban can be enacted, people continue to be harmed.

I proposed a solution to this problem that was ridiculed,
but because I am somewhat immune to ridicule I will propose it 
again.

In any similar situation, in which there is repeated exposure
to airborne contaminates, OSHA normally requires or recommends 
the use of respirators.  There's no need to ban smoking.  If
employees are worried about they health they should be allowed
to protect themselves.  However, given how tentative the 
research is in terms of known probabilities of risk, I don't think 
that many would opt to.

Michael Atherton
Prospect