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Environmental Health Network |
EHN P.O. Box 1155 Larkspur, CA, 94977-1155 Support and Information Line (SAIL) 415.541.5075 |
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The following suggestions were developed by me, based on my own common sense and some recommendations of JAN (Job Accommodation Network - http://janweb.icdi.wvu.edu/)., and with the assistance of a representative of the EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission at http://www.eeoc.gov/). Since the days of my experiences in being denied accommodation, both JAN and the EEOC have brought forth new documents. JAN -- March 2008: JAN's Accommodation Ideas for Multiple Chemical Sensitivity or
With equal disdain the Human Resources Manager also dismissed Sen. Milton Marks' suggestions in Access for People with Environmental Illness/Multiple Chemcial Sensitivity and Other Related Conditions, a document published by the California state senate and available for you at http://www.ehnca.org/www/books/eimcsf1.htm. With a meant-to-be-obvious sniff, the HR manager stated: "It has not been peer-reviewed!" Pathetic! Access for People ..., was only published by the California state senate. Please visit the document, print it out, use it. It has excellent advice. Of course, I sincerely hope you have an excellent management team willing to work with you toward cleaner, safer air for you, which will, in turn, benefit all staff. This -- my last -- request for accommodation was turned into the HR manager in May 1997 and the next month I was ostracized -- railroaded, if you please -- to two floors away from fellow staff with whom I was supposed to work. I love irony. Good thing, for that kept me going. Down through the years, my employer had steadfastly refused to allow me to telecommute during critical maintenance projects because "each and every employee is so valuable to the agency at all times." They forced me to use my accrued vacation and/or sickleave hours during their major rehabs, thereby guaranteeing I'd NOT be available to staff in any way. But, they trumped their own ace, so to speak, when they banished me to an office two floors away from my colleagues. The only way I could effectively function was to develop my own means of telecommuting within the agency. I am, if nothing else, tenacious and resourceful. As the office to which I was ostracized was even more toxic for my already-chemically-injured-in-the-workplace body (OSHA, take note on behalf of all OSHA-covered workers), my health deteriorated to the point that I had to take early retirement in October 1998. I sincerely hope someone, somewhere, can benefit from the following suggestions for accommodation, and the other information appearing on EHN's website. The thing to keep in mind is that no one can be too smug about not getting MCS. I firmly believe that the steps you and your employer take today to improve air quality will serve you and all staff better in all of your tomorrows. And, please remember, when one thinks air quality, think indoors as well as out of doors. Our government agencies dwell on outdoor air quality, but according to the US EPA, most people spend about 90 percent of their time indoors . . . and indoor air is 2 - 5 times more polluted than outdoor air! And, the EPA goes on to state that depending upon the project, indoor air can be 1000 times more polluted than outdoor air. (I bet that that was the case when twice within one week in February 1997 my workplace did roofing sealant work during core hours, sending those toxins -- which included reproductive toxins -- throughout the workplace.)
It is in improving the indoor air quality that we can make great strides, with very little effort, to eliminate superfluous toxins. Often, it is just a matter of making purchases of safer, less toxic consumer products, while using safer, cleaner methods of grooming, cleaning and pest control. They do exist.
May 10, 1997 To: [Human Resources Manager] Fr: Barbara Wilkie Re: My Request for Reasonable Accommodations
My medical file contains documents that give the diagnosis of chemical-induced asthma and multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS). Asthma and MCS are permanent disabilities. I am to work as fragrance- and chemical-free as possible. I can remain functional with certain accommodations, which will ultimately benefit all staff.
Under the guidelines for Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), the following would do well to satisfy my requests for accommodation:
I believe I am not asking for anything unreasonable. If you cannot comply with my request, kindly explain why.
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time and energy, as well as your support through membership.
Comments? (Barb's email is no longer valid, please contact EHN). Please put WWW in subject line. Thanks.
Return to EHN's Take Heart! (http://ehnca.org/www/ehnhompg/takheart.htm)
Return to EHN's homepage (http://ehnca.org/ehnindex.htm)
mcswkac.htm -- 2/9/99
The Environmental Health Network (EHN) [of California] is a 501 (c) (3) non profit agency and offers support and information for the chemically injured. Learn from the work of Julia Kendall, get The BEST of the Reactor, join EHN and receive The New Reactor. See what influence the Chemical Manufacturers have had against those of us with EI. The URL for EHN's homepage is http://ehnca.org/ehnindex.htm