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Smokin' Hot Reason For Tradies To Quit

13th June 2019

According to Cancer Council QLD CEO, Ms Chris McMillan, about half of all Queensland smokers have a trade qualification. “Current estimates suggest about one in four trade workers smoke, a much higher rate than the Queensland average of 12 per cent,” Ms McMillan said. 

“Smoking not only impacts individual tradies, but can also create a workplace social culture of smoking, increasing the risk that non-smokers will take up the lethal habit and exposing other tradies to the dangers of second-hand smoke.”

Research carried out by Cancer Council Australia indicates that tobacco smoking is responsible for more cancer deaths in Australia than any other single factor, and is also directly responsible for many heart and lung diseases.

With National Tradies Health Month approaching (August 1-31), there is now a call from Cancer Council QLD for sector-wide action to be taken against smoking. Employers and unions are being urged to assist in promoting a smoke free future for their tradies by doing all that they can to support them with quitting.  

There are a large number of benefits that come hand in hand with quitting, including sense of smell and taste starting to improve after just 72 hours. After one year of being smoke free, a person’s risk of heart disease is half that of those who continue to smoke, and after 10 years, the risk will be the same as a person who has never smoked before.