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.   
In your blog groups, share your ideas for what the elements of an ideal chemical/fragrance policy should be. How would your policies eliminate/decrease our body burdens and exposures?   

One of the first steps would be to put together a team of staff, management, health and safety representatives, and leadership to put together a draft.  Deadlines need to be set about the policy drafts. It is important to address any concerns that the employees or patients gave about the new policy draft and make adjustments to the policy draft to accommodate as much as possible. 
Get management on board from the beginning as they need to be the ones on the front line implement the new policy among staff. Whether it is through letters or presentations, all staff need to be aware of the new policy change. 
I feel it would be important to educate the staff on the harmful effects of fragrances, especially for institutions that are working with children. With the education, the new polciy can be justified. People should know that it is decreasing the burden and exposures for a number of people, and to expresses that it decreases that exposure mostly to that person wearing it. 
It should become a safety protocol. It should also be convenient to adhere to by providing wipes or scent free soap where people can remove their fragrance products. A culture needs to be created where fragrance products are not tolderated. It will take for everyone to participate to fully implement this policy. To make people feel more comfortable they should know that the rules apply took both the patients and the staff. Give patients and staff a sample list of products that are approved scent free that have positive reviews as an example. Make sure that the scent free policy doesn't apply to just perfumes and colones. It needs to apply to the products that are used within the facility. 

Lastly, post signs to educate everyone of the new policy change and how it is for everyone's benefit. 

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