4.5 Think about it / Group Exercise

Given that there are potential health effects associated with the fragrances in our personal care products, how might you develop and implement a fragrance-free policy in a hospital, school, or other institutional setting? Consider how you would deal with the fragrances that are in employees’ personal care products. 

The big concern in my office is perfume and scented personal care products. I can't really think of a policy that can be implemented without funding or subsidizing employee purchases. I also think this encroaches on personal rights outside of the office and can't see telling people what to do with their bodies going well. What I could see as successful is an air purifier in the office and free showers. And perhaps an employee meeting to review the risks of toxic chemicals in our care products to provide reasoning for the new approach.

Since I work at UCSF, my mind goes to the environmental health sector or pulmonary division leading didactics on campus and then UCSF initiating a campus-wide policy to restrict fragrances on site. Enforcement would be challenging which is why I think air purifiers and a slow roll out would be needed. That way any hyper-sensitive folks can request to work from home while management introduces each employee to the guidelines and reasons behind it. The goal is honorable, it's just difficult to implement considering it has to do with personal care on personal time.