Canadian Human Rights Commission on ES

[Redaktion Buergerwelle e.V. (BI Omega-CI Omega)]

[Omega Group]

See also: http://omega.twoday.net/search?q=EHS

[Omega Group]

Full story on Canada for posting

Many thanks to Dr Magda Havas of Trent University, Canada, who has
supplied the following links to expand our understanding of Canadian
ES and general environmentally triggered illnesses, - surely one for
all web sites and newsletters.

To have ES is a burden but to know that there are countries bringing
acceptance and recognition to this affliction is a step forward.

We now need to see ES recognised officially in the UK and Ireland.

http://www.agoracosmopolitan.com/home/Frontpage/2008/02/01/02182.html
http://www.agoracosmopolitan.com/home/Frontpage/2008/02/11/02216.html
http://www.chrc-ccdp.ca/legislation_policies/policy_environ_politique-en.asp

See environmental sensitivities and legal perspective.

http://www.chrc-ccdp.ca/legislation_policies/policy_environ_politique-en.asp


Canadian Human Rights Commission

http://www.chrc-ccdp.ca


Policy on Environmental Sensitivities

Individuals with environmental sensitivities experience a variety of
adverse reactions to environmental agents at concentrations well below
those that might affect the "average person". This medical condition
is a disability and those living with environmental sensitivities are
entitled to the protection of the Canadian Human Rights Act, which
prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability. The Canadian
Human Rights Commission will receive any inquiry and process any
complaint from any person who believes that he or she has been
discriminated against because of an environmental sensitivity. Like
others with a disability, those with environmental sensitivities are
required by law to be accommodated.

The CHRC encourages employers and service providers to proactively
address issues of accommodation by ensuring that their workplaces and
facilities are accessible for persons with a wide range of
disabilities.

Successful accommodation for persons with environmental sensitivities
requires innovative strategies to minimize or eliminate exposure to
triggers in the environment. These may include: developing and
enforcing fragrance free and chemical avoidance policies, undertaking
educational programs to increase voluntary compliance with such
policies, minimizing chemical use and purchasing less toxic products,
and notifying employees and clients in advance of construction, re-
modeling and cleaning activities. Such measures can prevent injuries
and illnesses, and reduce costs and health and safety risks.

For further information on environmental sensitivities, click on the
following Commission publications:

The Medical Perspective on Environmental Sensitivities

Accommodation for Environmental Sensitivities: Legal Perspective

Policy approved by the Commission on June 15, 2007.

http://www.chrc-ccdp.ca/research_program_recherche/esensitivities_hypersensibilitee/toc_tdm-en.asp



The Medical Perspective on Environmental Sensitivities

By: Margaret E. Sears (M.Eng., Ph.D.), 2007

Abstract

Approximately 3% of Canadians have been diagnosed with environmental
sensitivities, and many more are somewhat sensitive to traces of
chemicals and/or electromagnetic phenomena in the environment. People
experience neurological and numerous other symptoms, and avoidance of
triggers is an essential step to regaining health. The Canadian Human
Rights Commission commissioned this report to summarize scientific
information about environmental sensitivities. For those interested in
the original scientific and technical literature, an annotated
bibliography is available on request from
environment...@gmail.com This report addresses issues such as
the definition and prevalence of environmental sensitivities;
recognition by medical authorities; education and training within the
medical community; origins, triggers and symptoms of sensitivities;
impact of environmental sensitivities in the workplace; government
policies and standards for building codes, air quality and ventilation
as they affect individuals with environmental sensitivities; and
guidelines for accommodation within the workplace. For people with
environmental sensitivities, their health and ability to work rests
with the actions of others, including building managers, co-workers
and clients. Accommodating people with environmental sensitivities
presents an opportunity to improve workplace environmental quality and
workers' performance, and may help prevent the onset of sensitivities
in others.

http://www.chrc-ccdp.ca/research_program_recherche/esensitivities_legal_hypersensibilitee/toc_tdm-en.asp



Accommodation for Environmental Sensitivities: Legal Perspective

By: Cara Wilkie and David Baker, 2007

Abstract

Environmental sensitivities are a group of poorly understood medical
conditions that cause people to react adversely to environmental
triggers. The Canadian Human Rights Commission commissioned this
report, in which the researchers seek to establish the status of the
issues related to environmental sensitivities from a legal perspective
and as these relate to the protection of human rights. The researchers
examined case law, consulted experts and examined secondary sources on
accommodation of people with environmental sensitivities in Canada,
the United States, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, in
order to answer several questions in the Canadian context: What is the
status of the case law in these jurisdictions? Do building codes act
as barriers to people with environmental sensitivities? What best
practices emerge from the case law? How are conflicting interests
reconciled? How can third parties be involved in the accommodation
process? Where is the threshold of undue hardship? How are conflicts
regarding accommodation preferences resolved?


Posted by: Sarah Dacre