EFFECTIVE: This policy addition is effective July 23, 2015.
PURPOSE
A fragrance-free environment helps create a safe and healthy workplace. Chemicals in fragrances from personal care products (shampoo, hair conditioner, aftershave, lotion, hand soaps, disinfectants, and laundry soap, dryer sheets), spray and plug-in air fresheners, potpourri, candles and cleaning products are associated with a variety of adverse health effects including asthma, allergies, sinus problems, skin rashes, headaches and migraines.
Persons with environmental sensitivities can experience disabling reactions to low-level chemical and/or electrical exposures. Reactions are triggered by everyday substances and products including fragrances and fragranced products, insecticides, lawn care pesticides, fresh paint, new carpeting and adhesives, particle board, tobacco smoke, and auto and diesel exhaust among many other exposures. These individuals can experience headaches, fatigue, shortness of breath, difficulty concentrating, and neurological problems. An increasing number of individuals also can experience debilitating reactions to electromagnetic fields from electrical appliances and devices such as microwave ovens, portable phones, cell phones and smart phones, computers, Wi-Fi and similar exposures.
ABIL’s building management works to ensure that products used to clean the workplace are fragrance-free and follows best practices to limit employee exposure to cleaning chemicals. ABIL policy is to accommodate employees, consumers and other participants in ABIL activities who have sensitivities or intolerances to environmental exposures by keeping a safe and healthy workplace environment. It is also the policy of ABIL to accommodate employees, consumers and other participants in ABIL activities who react to electromagnetic exposures from equipment and devices. This policy applies to all of ABIL’s facilities and any ABIL sponsored events held outside ABIL facilities to the maximum extent possible.
POLICIES
All offices and spaces used by the staff and their visitors shall remain free of fragrances and scented products.
Personal care products such as perfume, cologne, body sprays, aftershave, scented lotion, scented hair care products, scented deodorant, scented laundry products (i.e. detergent, dryer sheets, fabric softener) and/or similar items are not to be worn or used in the facilities owned and operated by ABIL including ABIL vehicles.
Use of spray or plug-in air fresheners, deodorizers, potpourri, incense, reed diffusers, candles and similar fragranced products are prohibited from the facilities owned and operated by ABIL including ABIL vehicles. Even “unscented” candles are prohibited.
Use of cleaning products other than those purchased by ABIL is prohibited for cleaning personal workspaces.
PROCEDURES
All employees shall receive training on how to comply with this policy and how to accommodate visitors who are adversely affected or disabled by chemical and electromagnetic exposures.
ABIL will provide employees with a document providing “Suggestions for Transition to a Fragrance-Free Life” that can guide them in this process. ABIL celebrates and values diversity in the workforce. ABIL understands there are cultural factors that affect the fragrance free transition. ABIL will maintain a safe inclusive workplace environment while all employees transition to fragrance-free.
Visitors will be informed of the ABIL Fragrance-free Policy by their hosts, the meeting invitation, event announcements, all promotional materials, email correspondence and signs posted throughout the properties owned and operated by ABIL including ABIL vehicles.
Sample Email Signature for employees:
“This is a fragrance-free workplace. Thank you for not wearing or using any of the following during your visit: perfume, cologne, body sprays, aftershave, scented lotion, scented hair products, scented deodorant, scented laundry products and/or similar items. Our chemically sensitive co-workers and visitors thank you.”
Upon request for accommodation, wherever possible, ABIL employees shall unplug or turn off electrical equipment and devices such as computers, microwaves, cell phones, Wi-Fi and similar sources of electromagnetic pollution.
Upon request, wherever possible, ABIL employees will turn off fluorescent lights and use natural or incandescent lighting.
Wherever possible, ABIL will endeavor to block electromagnetic exposures in part by using only hard-wired phones and computers and minimizing or blocking sources of electromagnetic pollution from Wi-Fi and Smart Meters.
In order to conduct business with visitors who need to avoid electromagnetic exposures, employees are encouraged to be flexible by meeting with visitors in the least harmful environment such as outside, in their car or in their home as necessary.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
By signing below I acknowledge my understanding of the above Environmental policy and I understand that I am expected to abide by this policy, and that violation of this policy may result in disciplinary action, up to and including my termination.
[Employee PRINTED Name]
[Employee SIGNATURE]
[Date]