Guidelines For Employees and Supervisors

If you are an employee who suffers reactions to scented products and there is a scent in your surroundings that is causing you to have a reaction, you should do the following:

The direct approach

• If the scent is being worn by someone in your office and you know the person well, you could approach them directly. Explain what the problem is — what you think you are reacting to and explain the kind of reaction(s) the fragrance triggers.
• Ask him or her to visit this website for more information.
• Ask your co-worker to consider switching to unscented products.

The indirect approach

If you feel that direct contact with the scent would worsen your reaction or if you don't feel comfortable approaching the person wearing the scent, speak to your supervisor. If necessary, ask your supervisor to relocate you to another area until the scent is gone.

If you become ill, follow the normal procedures for reporting illness at work. If the situation does not improve, seek further advice by emailing contact on website.

If you have sensitivities towards scents and start working in a new department, or you have recently developed an adverse reaction to fragrance:

• Tell your supervisor and co-workers.
• Explain what causes your reactions and what kind of problems you are experiencing.
• Ask for their assistance. Offer more information by directing them to this website.
• Ask your supervisor to alert those people responsible for facilities management in your building so they can warn you when activities such as painting, varnishing, fumigating or carpet cleaning are scheduled.

If you are a supervisor and you have an employee in your department who suffers from health problems triggered by scents:

Be proactive. Talk to the employee so he or she knows that you are approachable about the subject. If the employee reports a problem to you, respond as quickly as possible.

If the employee reports a problem to you:

• Get the employee away from the scent that is causing the problem.
• Discreetly approach the employee who is wearing the scent and politely discuss the problem. Point out that the University has a scent-reduced program and encourage the employee to visit this website for more information.
• Get back to the employee who is experiencing a reaction with an account of what has been done on her/his behalf. Continue to monitor the situation until the problem has been corrected.
• If the problem is not corrected, please contact the Health and Safety Officer at 828-5139.

If you are an employee who is wearing a scented product(s) and you are approached by another employee or your supervisor:

• Do not take the request to refrain from using scented products as a personal affront — this is about the impact of chemicals on people, not about you.
• Work with others to find out what product or products are causing the reaction.
• Educate yourself about the need for a scent-reduced program.
• Become part of the solution and switch to fragrance-free products.