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LAST REVIEWED 9/26/11
SOURCE:
SAFETY SMART
SAFETY TALK ON NO SCENTS POLICY
BENEFITS
Many workplaces have scented products in them, such as hand soap, air fresheners, deodorants, laundry
products and cleaning products. Although these items may smell nice to most workers, they may literally
make others sick. So you might consider implementing a no scents policy. But workers may not take the
policy seriously or may believe it infringes on their personal style.
HOW TO USE THE TOOL
Tailor this handout to comply with your company’s no scents policy and give it to all workers. The talk
explains to workers how serious scent sensitivities can be for some people and encourages all workers to be
respectful of each other when dealing with scent issues on the job.
OTHER RESOURCES:
Want more safety talks like this one? Go to S A F E T Y S M A R T O N L I N E , which provides safety coordinators
with tools to help them reinforce learning and manage their safety program, such as safety talks, quizzes,
cost-of-injury worksheets and injury tracking forms.
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SAFETY TALK ON NO SCENTS POLICY
TAKE SCENT POLICY SERIOUSLY
WHAT'S AT STAKE
In a world filled with scented soap, fragrant shampoo and even sweet-smelling cleaning products, staying
upwind can be a constant challenge. For people sensitive to scents, the workplace can be downright
hazardous to their health.
WHAT'S THE DANGER
You may be wondering why we have a policy forbidding the wearing of scented personal care products and
use of scented products in the workplace.
Fragrances are everywhere, in everything and on everyone—or so it seems. Today, despite increased
awareness about chemicals and their impact, aromas are added to everything from toilet tissue to cleaning
products. Some of the scented products routinely found in the workplace include hand soap, air fresheners,
deodorants, laundry products and cleaning supplies.
For people with allergies, asthma or a sensitivity to scents—and it’s estimated that up to one-fifth of North
Americans are afflicted with some sort of breathing problem—fragrances can cause a host of adverse
reactions, including:
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Sore throat, runny nose, sinus congestion, shortness of breath, wheezing
Headaches and migraines
Fatigue
Dizziness, mental confusion
Anxiety, irritability, anger
Muscle pain
Nausea
Seizures.
Although a person may be allergic to just one of the hundreds of chemicals in a cologne or perfume, it’s
virtually impossible to know which one. These afflictions can be made worse by strong scents from colognes,
aftershaves and other personal care products. And a recent study has shown some perfumes can actually
cause respiratory problems for certain people.
HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF
If you’re sensitive to scents and fragrances:
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Examine product labels carefully, remembering that “unscented” doesn’t mean a product is
fragrance-free; it just means that it has no detectable scent.
Identify offending scents and look for simple ways to eliminate them (such as by changing cleaning
products).
Talk to co-workers directly if you’re sensitive to products they wear or use. Ask them to wear a
lighter scent or go fragrance-free. Emphasize that you’re making the request for medical reasons,
not because you dislike a certain product or odour.
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Ensure your work area is well ventilated and that air is constantly replaced with fresh air. HEPA
(high efficiency particulate air filters) remove particles from the air and will help reduce the
number of allergens, as well as other problematic substances, such as dust, pollen, mould and
tobacco smoke.
FINAL WORD
Be respectful when approached by co-workers with scent sensitivities or when asking others to go fragrancefree. Talk in general terms, rather than pointing fingers. Remember that everyone shares the same goal - to
enjoy a safe and healthy workplace.
THIS
T OO L A N D H U N D R E D S M O R E A V A I L A B L E I N T H E
O HS T OO L B O X
AT
ww w .o hs ins id er . co m