Creating a safe workplace: Understanding environmental sensitivities

Have you heard of environmental sensitivities? These are medical conditions that can affect how staff and customers react to everyday elements in your business environment. Whether you run a shop, factory, or office, small steps can make a big difference in keeping everyone safe and comfortable.

What are environmental sensitivities?

Individuals with environmental sensitivities experience adverse reactions to substances (such as strong fragrances or fumes from cleaning products) or environmental conditions (e.g., crowded spaces, fluorescent light fixtures, fabric on office furniture, blue light) that others generally tolerate well.

Why it matters for your business

If someone on your team—or a customer, supplier, contractor, etc.—has environmental sensitivities, they may experience serious health effects from exposure to common environmental triggers. Creating a scent-aware and low-irritant workplace is not only part of your responsibility to provide a safe work environment, but it also supports employee morale and visitors' comfort.

Common triggers and reactions

Common triggers include:

• Perfumes, colognes, and other scented personal hygiene products
• Cleaning agents
• Chemicals
• Mould  
• Poor air quality
• Dust, pollen, animal dander
• High noise levels
• Lighting (e.g., fluorescent lights)

For someone with sensitivities, exposure to a trigger can lead to a variety of symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, fatigue, respiratory problems, and skin irritation.

The health effects can vary from mild to severe, and may present in myriad ways:

• Migraines triggered by a coworker’s perfume.
• Breathing issues due to cleaning product fumes.
• Asthma is aggravated by dust or poor air circulation.
• Nausea and/or dizziness is caused by the fragrance from air fresheners or diffusers 

What can you do to help?

There are practical steps you can take to minimize exposure and create a supportive work environment:

• Implement scent-free policies for staff and visitors
• Choose fragrance-free or hypoallergenic cleaning products
• Maintain good ventilation and air quality
• Offer flexible work arrangements (e.g., remote work or relocating affected staff to another area)

Be proactive with a clear policy!

While there is no provincial or federal law that specifically requires such a policy, all Canadian employers are legally obligated to provide a safe and inclusive workplace. This includes accommodating medically recognized environmental sensitivities under applicable human rights and occupational health and safety laws. Having a policy in place can help demonstrate compliance and protect your business.

Need help getting started? CFIB offers an Environmental Sensitivities Policy Template free to members to help you set clear guidelines and support your team. Download a copy from your Member Portal.

Not a CFIB member? Join today to get access to this and many more resources!

Have questions or need more information? Contact our Business Advisors today at 1-833-568-2342 or hrnow@cfib.ca