Fragrance-Free Policy Resource Page
Below is a collection of fragrance-free policies from hospitals, schools, businesses, and government entities. Please print these policies or share this page within your community.
Fragrance is NOT limited to perfume and cologne, it includes ALL scented products, such as cleaning supplies, soap, hand sanitizer, laundry products, deodorant, lotion, and hair products.
For the health and well-being of patients, students, visitors, and employees, it is essential that staff are educated about fragrance-free policies and adhere to them. Fragrance pollution affects everyone and can create barriers for vulnerable individuals.
Download FFCs Model Template for Hospitals
Case Precedence
Theresa Canavan v. Brigham & Women's Hospital, Boston 12/26/2000 (DIA Board No. 33320-93, Dept of Industrial Accidents;The Department of Industrial Accident (DIA) oversees the Massachusetts workers’ compensation system.) https://www.mass.gov/decision/theresa-canavan-v-brigham-womens-hospital
Theresa Canavan, suffered permanent and total incapacity as a result of more than thirty symptoms attributable to her employment at Brigham & Women’s Hospital.
“Section 34A: Permanent and total incapacity; compensation
Section 34A. While the incapacity for work resulting from the injury is both permanent and total, the insurer shall pay to the injured employee, following payment of compensation provided in sections thirty-four and thirty-five, a weekly compensation equal to two-thirds of his average weekly wage before the injury, but not more than the maximum weekly compensation rate nor less than the minimum weekly compensation rate.”
John Barrie -vs- the California Department of Transportation. (Case No. C085175) John Barrie, an employee at California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), in Nevada County. Attorney, Lawrance Bohm. Nevada County jury’s $3 Million verdict for a state worker who was harassed and discriminated against because of his perfume allergy. (C085175) Jury found and awarded him $44,413 in economic damages and $3 Million in Noneconomic damages. (emotional support)
Erin Weber -vs- Infinity Broadcasting Corp, et al, d/b/a WYCD-FM. (Case Number: 2:02-cv-74602-GCS-WC.A) former DJ at Detroit country station WYCD-FM, Infinity Broadcasting Inc, the company, which is owned by Viacom, wins a $10.6 million federal jury verdict against her former employer for wrongful termination over a co-workers perfume, reduced by a judge. Plaintiff's Attorney: Gregory G. Garre and Raymond J. Sterling of Driggers, Schultz & Herbst, P.C., Troy, Michigan.
Susan McBride a civil servant -vs- City of Detroit, Michigan. (Case No. 07-12794) Won a $100,000 settlement from the city after officials failed to accommodate her allergy to perfume. Court Description: ORDER granting in part and denying in part 23 Motion for Summary Judgment. Signed by District Judge Lawrence P Zatkoff. (MVer)
Pamela Core -vs- Champaign County Board of County Commissioners. (Case No. 3:11-cv-166) An employee sued the County under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and under Ohio disability discrimination law for not accommodating her request for a "fragrance-free" workplace policy. The employee suffered from severe asthma and chemical sensitivity to certain perfumes and other scents. In that case, an Ohio federal court ruled that an employee sufficiently pleaded a claim for disability discrimination under the ADA based on an alleged sensitivity to perfume. Pamela was represented by John C Gerboth , Peterson Ellis Fergus and Peer.
Anne Johnson -vs- City of Edmonds. (Case Number 17-2-00946-31) Snohomish County Superior Court judgment $515,000 in Washington. 2017-2020. Attorney Judith Longquist. Had asked that the police clerk’s office be made a fragrance-free zone so she could work there “without the debilitating migraine headache that she suffered when exposed to heavy fragrances and odors.” The city did not admit to wrongdoing or liability in settling the case.
Sharon Talley -vs- Central Washington University & Charles Reasons ('former' Chair of the Department of Law & Justice). (Case Number 11-2-01846-3) 2013 Settlement $250,000. Seattle Attorney Judith Longquist (70% to Attorney). Discrimination based on MCS disability, failure to accommodate chemical sensitivities, and retaliation by supervisor and coworker) (personal email communication with Sharon Talley by ST 10/2020)
Julee Reynolds -vs- City of Portland (Case 3:13-cv-00792-SI) An employee of the City of Portland filed a lawsuit against the City for not enforcing their fragrance-free policy. The Bureau of Maintenance employee suffers from Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS). For more than two years Ms. Reynolds suffered from numerous exposures to scents that trigger allergic reactions. After each exposure, Ms. Reynolds reported the incident to the City, but those reports were never responded to. One particular exposure lead to an anaphylactic reaction that required her to be hospitalized. Ms. Reynolds filed suit against the City, and she was awarded a settlement of $15,000 in June 2014.
Gwendolyn Hill -vs- State of Missouri, Department of Social Services (Case No. 17CG-CC00319) paid out at least $76,300 to a former social worker who said her supervisors ignored her allergic reactions to perfume, air fresheners and cleaning products.
Denise Frisino -vs- Seattle School District (Case No. No. 63994-3-1) Seattle Public Schools paid a former teacher $750,000 in an out-of-court settlement for firing her in 2005 for refusing to work in a school building that was harmful to her health.
"It is not only involved in worsening diseases but in causing them,
and new diseases that would not otherwise occur are happening because of air pollution" - Sir Stephen Holgate
National Clean Air Conference Nov. 20, 2021