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Posted By RT
Those of you who have had anything to do with perfumery - the development of new fragrances, will know it is a bit of a dark art. Perfumers are very skilled people, its takes many years to become qualified.
Common practice in perfumery is to sniff ingredients and the finished product. Perfumers do not trust technology, only their nose will give a reliable result.
Many of the chemicals which go into fragrances have exposure limits and some have risk phrases like R63: Possible risk of harm to unborn baby.
One Perfumer is also an expectant mother. Concern is being expressed due to the deliberate exposure to these chemicals during the smelling process. Exposure is likely to be low - just a quick sniff of the chemicals.
Does anyone have experience of the perfumery industry - what are the control measures used for expectant mothers?
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Posted By lewes
I presume you have done a Pregnancy Risk Assessment which would identify whats risks the lady is exposed to.
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Posted By Jennifer Kelly
RT - don't know where you are based but I had always understood that La Belle France was the centre of all things parfum. Have you tried contacting one of the big houses? If memory serves me right I think Paris has a training college for would be 'noses', cannot recall the name though. Perhaps Merv, 'our man in France' would be able to help?
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Posted By jackw.
Hi Under the management regs you are required to conduct an additional risk assessment for pregnant staff. If you have any doubt's about the effects on this lady re exposure to chemicals you are using you must investigate and determine if they are potentially harmfull. Of course it may well be that being pregnant will tend to make her more likely to feel unwell just snifing the stuff even if it isn't harmful.
Check with you occupational health provider if you have one. Get her to consult her GP he/she may be able to access information. Bottom line you expose this lady to something that harms her or the unborn child. Legally you will get hit hard and morally you won't feel to good.
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Posted By RT
Thanks for the comments.
Risk assessment - yes we've identified the hazards (chemical ingredients/finished fragrances) - it is the level of risk that is difficult to calculate. There can't be many jobs that involve deliberate exposure to the hazard (through the smelling of the chemicals).
In line with recent discussions about risk aversion, I don't think it is right to simply ban the women from carrying out her job.
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Posted By claire lewis
Hi RT,
I too work in the fragrance industry.
As previously said a risk assessement needs to be carried out on the perfumers job, but you have already done this. The next step (which I have done) is to go through your inventory of hazardous chemicals/ COSHH assessments and make a list of those which are harmful by inhalation, toxic, etc, etc. This can then be issued to the perfumer to use as a reference tool to know which chemicals to avoid smelling when developing. I'm surprised you are using R63 materials - have steps not been taken to eliminate such chemicals?
It is a tricky situation - we have the same problem when our flavourists become pregnant also!
If you would like to contact me off forum, please feel free to email me.
Claire.
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Posted By Lorraine Shuker
I am no expert but don't women who are preganant have a heightened sense of smell? Is this going to affect her abilities to do her job nornally anyway?
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