Are any air fresheners or the like in use?

Kate there is only one thing to do, I would refer her to an Occ Health Physician asap so that some records of her problems, past health history, and an appropriate assessment and advice can be provided. Steve

Thanks for the responses so far folks. The workplace is a standard office environment. I have asked about any changes in circumstances, whether anybody else has similar symptoms and even whether she has changed her own perfume and washing powder. Our initial inclination is that it is more likely to be home rather than work related, but want to cross the T's and dot the I's. Decimo

Until she has patch tests to establish what is the source of her allergy I don't think there is much you can do as an employer. She will have to be quite specific for the patch tests as from previous experience I am aware that a person can be allergic to anything under the Sun, with varying degrees and symptoms.

Must agree with whats written on the posts above - especially #4 & #9, my concern would be what makes her believe it is certain 'strong smelling' items, unless some kind of reaction or sensatisation has occurred previously how would they know? occupational health route is a must, if possible disclosure of medical records to occupational health physician should also be arranged to coincide with first appointment. i had an issue where an employee had worked wearing fireproof clothing for over 30 years he then developed a sensitisation to one of chemicals used in fireproofing his overalls!! Best of Luck Nick

My daughter's school has had a total ban on strawberries (and some other products containing strawberry flavouring) for the past few years due to a member of staff who has a severe allergic condition. This includes strawberry yoghurts so we end up using only half of those little 6 packs.

I agree Rich, Surely common sense approach for a suitable solution that the majority will not miss out?

Identifying what causes this type of reaction is actually more complex than many realise. Without having mroe details it is impossible to comment in any depth. However, just to illustrate the potential for getting the 'diagnosis' wrong, I had a case of a care home worker who had suffered anaphylaxis. A blood test showed that she was sensitised to a number of substances, including latex proteins. It was assumed that she had reacted to the rubber dust from the carpet backing as the reaction occurred when she knelt on the carpet during first aid training. As the rubber backing was a synthetic rubber without any of the proteins needed to trigger a latex allergy, this could quickly be excluded. In fact, whilst she is sensitised to latex she is not allergic. If she handles a piece of rubber thinking it is plastic she has no problem. If she handles a piece of plastic thinking it is rubber she will start to have breathing problems! It is purely a psychosomatic reaction. Incidentally, the condition is called undifferentiated idiopathic somatoform anaphylaxis!!! (Try saying that after a couple of beers in the evening.) Many of the type of reaction you described turn out to be a combination of factors, so proper diagnosis is needed to establish just what you are dealing with before jumping to any conclusions. Chris

teh_boy Yes, so am I - sometimes! There are certain tasks that make me feel ill. However, most of the time my enthusiasm carrier me through. Chris

Chris I don't think the new Act will change things much. Under the previous legislation you had to make reasonable adjustments for any disability, and an allergy is certainly that. However, this presupposes that it is a genuine allergy, i.e. one that has been clinically proven through validated testing. I encounter people who believe that they have an allergy, either 'diagnosed' by one of the so-called allergy clinics or just an assumption on their part. When properly tested by a qualified medical specialist it frequently turns out that there is no such allergy. Then there is the question as to whether the substance to which they are allergic is actually in the workplace at a biologically available level where an allergic reaction can be elicited. Again assumptions are often made that, upon proper investigation, turn out to have no substance. Chris

Absolutely not joking. How else are you going to get the medical evidence. Without it you will run around in circles dreaming up all sorts of scenarios for the employer / client to consider. Steve