Whiffs of change in the air for work world

[Guest guest]

Whiffs of change in the air for work world

Scent-free policies respond to allergies, asthma

View Larger Image

Signs near Lorna Biddeson's desk at the Edmonton public school

headquarters declare the area a scent-free zone.

Photograph by : Schwarz, the Journal

http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/story.html?id=9ce4b738-

d75c-41d9-9c9a-94d266a2e7e3 & k=40478 & p=1

O'Donnell, The Edmonton Journal

Published: Monday, January 30, 2006

EDMONTON -- All it took was a take-out coffee cup tossed in the

garbage can under her desk to leave Lorna Biddeson gasping for air.

Biddeson, who is extremely sensitive to some scents and chemicals,

didn't realize the cup was there. But the effect of doughnut residue

on the cup was evident as her co-workers at the Edmonton Public

Schools head office rushed her across the street to the Royal

andra Hospital's emergency room.

Today, a prominent sign posted outside her work area outlines the

rules: No markers, no felt pens, no aerosol products, no scented

products and no commercially prepared food and drinks allowed.

The office is one of a small but growing number of North American

workplaces adopting scent-free policies. Some health experts say it

is a medical necessity to address employee allergies and asthma. But

it also raises a question: Just how far should co-workers have to go

to make a colleague comfortable?

Think of the combination of products most of us put on every

morning: shampoo, conditioner, body scrub, moisturizer, deodorant,

aftershave or perfume. Most are scented in one way or another. When

used in moderation, it seems implausible that any of them would make

someone sick.

But they can, said Dr. Roy Fox, medical director of the Nova Scotia

Environmental Health Centre.

" To somebody who is sensitive, you end up smelling like a chemical

factory, " Fox said. " That's very challenging when you're sensitive,

because your system becomes overwhelmed. "

The Alberta Human Rights and Citizenship Commission has yet to deal

with a case based on scent sensitivities. But director Marie Riddle

said it would be no different from any other kind of disability.

" There is an element of human rights to this and there is also an

element of good manners, which has nothing to do with human rights, "

Riddle said.

" Under human rights legislation there would be no right to wear

perfume, " she said. " The right is that the person who has a

disability has a right to be accommodated in the workplace, and that

could mean that the other workers have to make accommodations, too. "

For example, she said, if someone with a physical disability needed

an assigned parking space close to the entrance, the employer would

have to provide one -- even if it meant taking that space away from

another worker.

The same principle applies with someone who is scent-

sensitive. " There's a great balancing required in a situation like

this as in all cases of disability, but with duties on both sides, "

Riddle said.

Biddeson, 52, an executive assistant, became scent-sensitive 10

years ago after a nasty flu and pneumonia left her system weak.

Suddenly, the smell of perfume and deep-fried foods cooked in oils

containing sulfides robbed her of breath. Even containers and coffee

cups from fast-food franchises triggered a reaction.

" I don't even have to smell them, " she said. " Even if it's just

anywhere near me it will cause a reaction. "

The signs of a problem start with her voice, which quickly becomes

hoarse. Her breathing gets shallow. Her cheeks get red and her face

becomes very pale. If her inhaler doesn't help, she has trouble

speaking and feels pain in her chest.

Fox, who treats patients with chronic illnesses thought to have

environmental links, says fragrance-free workplaces such as

Biddeson's are inevitable.

" We spend 90 to 95 per cent of our time in buildings with air-

handling systems where the air is predominantly recirculated, " Fox

said. " You get a cumulative effect when you have multiple people in

an enclosed space with fragranced and other products. "

Biddeson said most co-workers have been very supportive and have

traded in their old shampoos and moisturizers for unscented

products. Some jokingly call her their " canary " -- a reference to

birds that miners used to keep with them to test the quality of the

air.

After the wayward coffee cup caused her last serious attack,

Biddeson's desk was moved to a more secluded nook. An air purifier

now hums beside her and her co-workers gave her a bell so she can

alert them of an emergency.

The office also held a staff meeting to explain her condition and

brought in a registered nurse to teach them how to use an Epipen

containing injectable adrenalin.

Anyone who fails to heed the posted warnings is unlikely to get far

if receptionist Florence MacLean is at her desk. MacLean sees

herself as a scent watchdog.

" I see a coffee cup come through that door and I'm up and ushering

them out before they hit the chairs, " MacLean said. " I just take the

opportunity for teachable moments. "

Biddeson says she does her best to control her own environment

without inconveniencing others in the building.

She avoids the main elevator and walks up the stairs in the mornings

since that is the most common time for people to bring coffee into

the building. On the day staff sold doughnuts in the main lobby for

a United Way fundraiser, she worked from home.

She said she tries to keep talk of her condition informative but

light.

" Most people are very understanding. In this building I have only

run into a couple of people who didn't understand. They'd bring

their food or wear perfume. They just didn't understand until they

saw me have an attack. "

The most important thing, she said, is for people in all workplaces

to know that they should never take offence if someone says perfume

or food is bothersome.

" This is such a good place for me because they protect me and look

out for me, " she said.

sodonnell@...

SCENT-FREE IN FORT MAC

While some workplaces designate special fragrance-free zones, others

adopt a blanket approach. The Northern Lights health region made

Fort McMurray's hospital and the rest of its facilities " scent-

controlled " four years ago.

The rule of thumb is that no scent should be detected an arm's

length away, said Valetta Lawrence, the region's vice-president of

health service.

The policy, which applies to staff, visitors and patients, is posted

throughout the region, even in hospital emergency rooms. It is

mentioned in job postings and addressed during staff orientations.

" We did it because there appears to be rising concerns that there

are health problems related to exposure of scented products, "

Lawrence said. " There appears to be more people who have allergies

to this sort of thing than was apparent before. "

At first, the policy required educating both the public and staff,

she said. Today, it doesn't seem like such a big deal. It helps that

fewer people are wearing strong scents.

If an over-perfumed patient does come through the door, he or she is

still treated, Lawrence said.

" We're not going to say we're going to refuse you just because

you're wearing perfume, " she said.

" But it is an opportunity... to say, 'Do you realize we are a scent-

controlled organization? And when you come to visit us again, it

would be nice if you didn't wear perfume because some people have

allergies.' "

[Guest guest]

Amazing! things are looking up indeed if you can get this type of

treatment in the workplace! My chiropractor now has so much mold

growing in his waiting room, because he saw no reason to use the de-

humidifyer that was provided when he bought the place, that I have

to wait outside for my app. When I explained why- the secretary

promptly lite a scented candel to cover up the problem!!!!!

-- In , " tigerpaw2c " <tigerpaw2c@...>

wrote:

>

> Whiffs of change in the air for work world

>

> Scent-free policies respond to allergies, asthma

>

> View Larger Image

> Signs near Lorna Biddeson's desk at the Edmonton public school

> headquarters declare the area a scent-free zone.

> Photograph by : Schwarz, the Journal

>

> http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/story.html?id=9ce4b738-

> d75c-41d9-9c9a-94d266a2e7e3 & k=40478 & p=1

>

> O'Donnell, The Edmonton Journal

> Published: Monday, January 30, 2006

> EDMONTON -- All it took was a take-out coffee cup tossed in the

> garbage can under her desk to leave Lorna Biddeson gasping for air.

>

> Biddeson, who is extremely sensitive to some scents and chemicals,

> didn't realize the cup was there. But the effect of doughnut

residue

> on the cup was evident as her co-workers at the Edmonton Public

> Schools head office rushed her across the street to the Royal

> andra Hospital's emergency room.

>

> Today, a prominent sign posted outside her work area outlines the

> rules: No markers, no felt pens, no aerosol products, no scented

> products and no commercially prepared food and drinks allowed.

>

> The office is one of a small but growing number of North American

> workplaces adopting scent-free policies. Some health experts say

it

> is a medical necessity to address employee allergies and asthma.

But

> it also raises a question: Just how far should co-workers have to

go

> to make a colleague comfortable?

>

> Think of the combination of products most of us put on every

> morning: shampoo, conditioner, body scrub, moisturizer, deodorant,

> aftershave or perfume. Most are scented in one way or another.

When

> used in moderation, it seems implausible that any of them would

make

> someone sick.

>

> But they can, said Dr. Roy Fox, medical director of the Nova

Scotia

> Environmental Health Centre.

>

> " To somebody who is sensitive, you end up smelling like a chemical

> factory, " Fox said. " That's very challenging when you're

sensitive,

> because your system becomes overwhelmed. "

>

> The Alberta Human Rights and Citizenship Commission has yet to

deal

> with a case based on scent sensitivities. But director Marie

Riddle

> said it would be no different from any other kind of disability.

>

> " There is an element of human rights to this and there is also an

> element of good manners, which has nothing to do with human

rights, "

> Riddle said.

>

> " Under human rights legislation there would be no right to wear

> perfume, " she said. " The right is that the person who has a

> disability has a right to be accommodated in the workplace, and

that

> could mean that the other workers have to make accommodations,

too. "

>

> For example, she said, if someone with a physical disability

needed

> an assigned parking space close to the entrance, the employer

would

> have to provide one -- even if it meant taking that space away

from

> another worker.

>

> The same principle applies with someone who is scent-

> sensitive. " There's a great balancing required in a situation like

> this as in all cases of disability, but with duties on both

sides, "

> Riddle said.

>

> Biddeson, 52, an executive assistant, became scent-sensitive 10

> years ago after a nasty flu and pneumonia left her system weak.

> Suddenly, the smell of perfume and deep-fried foods cooked in oils

> containing sulfides robbed her of breath. Even containers and

coffee

> cups from fast-food franchises triggered a reaction.

>

> " I don't even have to smell them, " she said. " Even if it's just

> anywhere near me it will cause a reaction. "

>

> The signs of a problem start with her voice, which quickly becomes

> hoarse. Her breathing gets shallow. Her cheeks get red and her

face

> becomes very pale. If her inhaler doesn't help, she has trouble

> speaking and feels pain in her chest.

>

> Fox, who treats patients with chronic illnesses thought to have

> environmental links, says fragrance-free workplaces such as

> Biddeson's are inevitable.

>

> " We spend 90 to 95 per cent of our time in buildings with air-

> handling systems where the air is predominantly recirculated, " Fox

> said. " You get a cumulative effect when you have multiple people

in

> an enclosed space with fragranced and other products. "

>

> Biddeson said most co-workers have been very supportive and have

> traded in their old shampoos and moisturizers for unscented

> products. Some jokingly call her their " canary " -- a reference to

> birds that miners used to keep with them to test the quality of

the

> air.

>

> After the wayward coffee cup caused her last serious attack,

> Biddeson's desk was moved to a more secluded nook. An air purifier

> now hums beside her and her co-workers gave her a bell so she can

> alert them of an emergency.

>

> The office also held a staff meeting to explain her condition and

> brought in a registered nurse to teach them how to use an Epipen

> containing injectable adrenalin.

>

> Anyone who fails to heed the posted warnings is unlikely to get

far

> if receptionist Florence MacLean is at her desk. MacLean sees

> herself as a scent watchdog.

>

> " I see a coffee cup come through that door and I'm up and ushering

> them out before they hit the chairs, " MacLean said. " I just take

the

> opportunity for teachable moments. "

>

> Biddeson says she does her best to control her own environment

> without inconveniencing others in the building.

>

> She avoids the main elevator and walks up the stairs in the

mornings

> since that is the most common time for people to bring coffee into

> the building. On the day staff sold doughnuts in the main lobby

for

> a United Way fundraiser, she worked from home.

>

> She said she tries to keep talk of her condition informative but

> light.

>

> " Most people are very understanding. In this building I have only

> run into a couple of people who didn't understand. They'd bring

> their food or wear perfume. They just didn't understand until they

> saw me have an attack. "

>

> The most important thing, she said, is for people in all

workplaces

> to know that they should never take offence if someone says

perfume

> or food is bothersome.

>

> " This is such a good place for me because they protect me and look

> out for me, " she said.

>

> sodonnell@...

>

> SCENT-FREE IN FORT MAC

>

> While some workplaces designate special fragrance-free zones,

others

> adopt a blanket approach. The Northern Lights health region made

> Fort McMurray's hospital and the rest of its facilities " scent-

> controlled " four years ago.

>

> The rule of thumb is that no scent should be detected an arm's

> length away, said Valetta Lawrence, the region's vice-president of

> health service.

>

> The policy, which applies to staff, visitors and patients, is

posted

> throughout the region, even in hospital emergency rooms. It is

> mentioned in job postings and addressed during staff orientations.

>

> " We did it because there appears to be rising concerns that there

> are health problems related to exposure of scented products, "

> Lawrence said. " There appears to be more people who have allergies

> to this sort of thing than was apparent before. "

>

> At first, the policy required educating both the public and staff,

> she said. Today, it doesn't seem like such a big deal. It helps

that

> fewer people are wearing strong scents.

>

> If an over-perfumed patient does come through the door, he or she

is

> still treated, Lawrence said.

>

> " We're not going to say we're going to refuse you just because

> you're wearing perfume, " she said.

>

> " But it is an opportunity... to say, 'Do you realize we are a

scent-

> controlled organization? And when you come to visit us again, it

> would be nice if you didn't wear perfume because some people have

> allergies.' "

>