Staff Development
and Health Sciences Library

Our Fragrance Free Policy

 In our efforts to provide a healthier place of work and care the BCHS promotes a fragrance free environment to minimize the potential adverse allergic and/or medical reactions that can occur among patients, visitors, staff, and volunteers. Employees, medical staff, volunteers, contractors, patients and visitors are to refrain from using fragrances as defined below while at the BCHS.

Definition of Fragrance: A substance that emits a distinctly noticeable scent, which includes but is not limited to; perfume, cologne, aftershave, body spray, some air fresheners and cleaning products.

Procedure:

• Hospital staff who experience discomfort, an adverse allergic or medical reaction to fragrance will bring the issue to the attention of their supervisor at the earliest opportunity. The supervisor will investigate and if appropriate will inform the person that the fragrance is noticeable, causing discomfort to another individual and advise of the hospital’s fragrance free policy.
• Patients and visitors who experience discomfort, an adverse allergic or medical reaction to fragrance will bring the issue to the attention of the most responsible care giver, or the Community Relations department at ext. 2472. The receiver of the concern will inform the manager/supervisor of the department who will investigate, and if appropriate will inform the person that the fragrance is noticeable, causing discomfort to another individual, advise of the hospital’s fragrance free policy.

• Each site’s Joint Health and safety Committee will be responsible for promoting awareness of the fragrance free policy during their inspections.
• All managers/supervisors will be responsible for promoting awareness of the fragrance free policy during their departmental inspections.
• The policy will be reviewed with all new employees and volunteers during orientation and existing employees during regular department meetings as required.
• This policy will be incorporated into patient orientation literature.
• This policy will be publicized and promoted for public visitors through appropriate signage, literature and hospital website.