Do You Need a Scent-Free Policy in Your Workplace?
Patrick Boshell
Marketing Director @ SC Johnson Professional, North America. Helping people create safe, healthy & sustainable workplaces.
Did you know that up to 30% of the population is especially sensitive to fragrances? Scents can be an asthma trigger resulting in headaches, nausea and other symptoms. People have different tolerance levels to scented products, but typically children and women and those with asthma, allergies or environmental sensitivities are generally at more risk.
Most of the chemicals in fragrances are volatile, meaning that they remain in the air for a long time. Each of us leaves behind a little bit of scent which ultimately creates an unseen cloud of chemicals in the air we all breathe – having a negative impact on both our environment and our health.
Health Effects
The chemicals used to add scents to products can cause serious health problems for some people – especially those who have a lung disease such as asthma or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). COPD is a long-term lung disease usually caused by smoking. COPD includes a few lung diseases: the most common are chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Scents enter our bodies through our skin and our lungs causing many different reactions such as headaches, dizziness, shortness of breath, nausea, cold-like symptoms and worsening asthma symptoms.
Use fragrance-free skin care products including cleansers and creams in your home and workplace.
Scent-Free Policies
So what can we do? Avoid wearing scented personal care products such as perfume, cologne, aftershave, scented lotions, creams, hairspray, mousse or gel, scented deodorant or antiperspirant. Also, use fragrance-free skin care products including cleansers and creams in your home and workplace.
Deb Refresh Clear Foam, for example, is a perfume-free and dye-free gentle foam hand wash ideal for the office washroom. Refresh Clear Foam is specifically designed to help reduce the potential for allergic reaction and skin irritation and is perfect for people who are sensitive to fragrances. Learn more about Deb’s scent-free foam soap at the following link and request a free trial for your facility.
A scent-free policy is one example of a workplace-wide initiative meant to minimize allergic reactions. As employers do have a duty to accommodate, it is crucial they recognize concerns amongst their staff and have a process in place to overcome any issues. The University of Toronto has developed a strategy for creating a scent-free workplace. It helps employers develop a step-by-step plan of action. For more information on this, please visit the following link.
Educating staff about the facts and health effects of scents is another way to get things started in your facility. We all play an essential role in creating a safer and healthier environment and knowledge regarding scents and sensitivity is the easiest way to begin.
Passionate about conservation of history and our environment.
5 年I'm an MCAS sufferer which is getting progressively worse. I've tried a few times to get a fragrance-free policy implemented at numerous workplaces without success.
Owner of C. Robbins Marketing & Photography. Marketing Consultant, Content Creator, Ads Specialist & Photographer
5 年Hi Patrick,?Thank you for getting this out there. A few months ago I developed a sudden allergic reaction to fragrances. I now have to carry an epipen in the event that my throat closes up again and an emergency inhaler. I'm finding it difficult to navigate this in my current workplace and in seeking other job opportunities. I wish that more companies were aware and educated in this every important topic.?
The Guru of Cleaning(R) - Consultant in Hygiene Management & Cleaning: President and part-time station manager ArtSound FM Community Radio - Canberra
6 年Hi Patrick. Here in Australia I have found it very difficult to purchase fragrant-free cleansers. Even eco-friendly products from the health stores are perfumed. There is one company, Krystalshield, I know makes scent-free cleansers, but only on request. I have also noticed most cleansers in super-markets during the past couple of years have been updated and now have a stronger perfume. About eighteen months ago a couple of articles were printed in well known Australian newspapers and a book was published explaining the problems experienced by many individuals when they are around people saturated with perfume. This I believe has helped others become aware of the situation, though I am not so sure the manufacturers of cleansers have caught up with this dilemma as yet. Hopefully the more the problem is discussed and especially in such places as hospitals and hotels, some enterprising organisation will take the concept on board and become an exclusive provider of scent-free cleansers. Obviously there is a market.
Owner of Ecofy | Co-Founder of The Facilities Forum | Cleaning Industry Disruptor - for the good of people, animals and planet
6 年Finally ...someone speaking sense. Thank you for sharing Patrick Boshell
Communicable Disease Investigator
6 年I would love this scent free policy.