Can people with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity work? What kind of work can they perform?

I used to work with people. I can no longer do so. I can not be around others unless they are chemical free. If you can find a position to work from home in a safe enviro, that would be best.

3/30/17 by KilkennyGirl 1000

yes, if they have managed their disease to a point of being able to tolerate what they cannot control

10/9/17 by Andrew 1300

A person with MCS may be able to be productive depending on their variety of triggers and level of impairment. They may be able to do things that do not require a schedule, total 100% concentration, interacting with others, or being in places that contain their specific triggers.

10/24/17 by Paul 3000

I have been designated by the Oregon State Dept of Employment as "unable to work" because no one would be willing to accommodate me. How's that for discrimination?! However, we can work. We just need the accommodations to be able to do our jobs safely. Obviously jobs with toxins, like pesticide applicator are out. But with some inginuity you could work for organic farms, or silviculture. Paperwork can be done over the internet, etc. There are ways to accommodate people who are hypersensitive. The employer just has to be willing and the sufferer creative enough that they can make it feasible for the employer.

10/27/17 by JLMcK 5550

Working from home or in isolation is the most realistic option. Being around people or vehicles is not realistic. I'm guessing 50% could work a few hours each week, mostly from home.

10/28/17 by Katya 1042

Yes, any job where they can control exposure to chemicals.

10/30/17 by Diane 600

They can work in chemical and fragrance-free environments. Home-based jobs are wonderful.

12/21/17 by Candace 800

If you can have proper harmful-chemical-free environment.

4/12/18 by needinfo&help 1500

It depends on the workplace. Air conditioning helps, but it depends on what others are using.

7/7/18 by vicci gates 700

Any kind of work where they have only minimal exposure to offending substances, until there illness progresses to the point that they can tolerate no exposure at all.

1/6/19 by Cindi 3050

It depends on how bad you have MCS. Most people with MCS can only work from home and most have trouble even doing that. MCS effects you physically and often comes with decreased memory, and can effect both your speech and ability to understand others. It usually comes in waves according to what chemicals you have been exposed to. This makes is very difficult to be consistent with a job, even one at home.

2/24/19 by Zimirah 220

MCS has different stages and different symptoms as the disease progresses therefore with proper accommodations to aid in avoidance of triggers work is possible at some levels of the disease. The further advanced the condition evolves the more disabling the individual becomes.

3/26/19 by Sharon 1300

It's very hard to work with other people. Also buildings smell too. Maybe, like me, work for yourself or outdoor gardening work. I think we need to ban dangerous chemicals from public places altogether. People are too hooked on advertising and comparing each other to be able to stand out by being "clean"

4/1/19 by Susan 2500

Yea and no. Outdoors and away from people with smells. Each case is unique.

4/9/19 by MCSzombie 6220

Only if the work environment is scent free and the employer is willing to be flexible. People with MCS get sick fairly often.

6/4/19 by Heather 3000

Yes, people with MCS can work, but what triggers their symptoms and how severe the reactions are determined what they can do and where they can do it. some mcf suffers have to work from home because they can't tolerate being in an environment where people wear fragrances or use scented laundry soap, hair products, and the like. some people don't tolerate electronics, so they have to find ways of working that don't involve using computers, pagers, or cell phones. It all depends on your symptoms.

7/21/19 by Trisha 1350

From personal experience, I would say you could possibly work, in your own ‘safe zone’ but as your condition progresses and changes, the limitations you will encounter my alter in range depending on how your body is reacting to your surroundings. It won’t fit into a typical 9-5 setting, it may require unsociable hours or you may not be able to work at all. You create your own program to suit you and your life, keep yourself healthy and most of all get support in whatever you endeavour to do.

8/22/19 by Carmen Rosemarie 2550

Depending on if they have EHS they can work from home, or some safe space by phone or computer. They could work outdoors if there are no triggers.

11/18/19 by Angie P. 5000

Depending on your condition, your options might be limited. You may also have EMF sensitivity, compounding the problem (you will need an Ethernet connection instead of WiFi). Remote work is probably the best option for you, although you can find other creative options. If you are in a work situation that could be made better, ask for accommodations.

12/12/19 by Joanna 6200

Although work conditions may need adjusting, I personally don't believe someone with mcs couldn't perform a position they are determined to pursue as long as the position doesn't involve using a chemical they react to without proper protection.

1/24/20 by Tiffani 1300

No, it is a dibilitating disease and has no cure! Most people work from home or have some form of disibility or family member taking care of them

1/30/20 by Noeleen 2500

The answer to this question depends on how sensitive the person is and which chemicals are their worst offenders and what job they are doing. For example someone with fragrance sensitivities will have a difficult time outside the home - even in a fragrance free environment if they are working with the public. However if said person works alone in a fragrance free office, then they may find they can work. However if someone is sensitive to formaldehyde, vinyl, glues and other materials found in common office furniture and buildings, then working is impossible unless they find legitimate work from home they enjoy.

2/11/20 by Rheama 1600

That's a difficult question to answer as everyone is very different.

3/31/20 by Judie 1860

Yes, *if* they are accommodated properly in a workplace or if the employer allows them to work from safe home environment*. *Many home environments, such as shared housing or multifamily housing, cannot be made safe. *Many home environments are not safe to begin with. Remediation can be a difficult and long process. *Work from vehicle is something that may need to be considered, since a vehicle often becomes a person's home space. I could see how a person could become completely disabled by MCS and also excluded and discriminated by employers. I believe a person could be more successful with work by starting their own independent business and has control over their work environment. Since people with MCS tend to move away from urban areas, employment opportunities tend to decrease. I personally do not work in part because I am disabled by other conditions in addition to MCS, but I would like to work and have work-related goals.

9/27/20 by Rebecca St. Martin 3570

Mostly can not - it is because periodic can it be total crash down with the health because the body is reacting so much that it is very difficult to concentrate at all.

9/28/20 by Michella Svane 850

It depends on your severity and how early you catch it. I suffered for years being told I was just allergic to perfumes. Had I known about mcs, I could have used masks, trisalts, been insistent on scent free at school...and I would likely still be working. In my case, by the time diagnosed I was to far along. I would recommend looking for a job that can be mostly completed from home. As much as you can avoid others, and spaces over which you have no real control, the better off you will be.

11/12/20 by shelley 3650

When I was on Prozac and Klonopin I could work part time, but had to be careful of chemicals (new furniture, building products, glues, molds, remodeling, perfumes, basements) or things (pets) at work, that would set me off. I believe working from home is the best answer, but I loved the social interaction. I had to quit many, many jobs on the spot, due to them changing something in the environment at work, where I would start reacting with the change, even when I was doing better on Prozac and Klonopin. I do not think any field is safe, because employer's can change the environment where someone might react to a change. Since Prozac and Klonopin stopped working 3 years ago, I would not be able to work, even from home. I do not believe many fields are good for people with MCS. Any field with chemicals or smells would set them off. Even offices are unsafe, as they remodel often. I met many people with MCS in Dallas, who were not as severe, and I believe they could have worked in a "safe" job. I do not know the percentage because I did not know everything about the people that I met. I have no idea how many people with MCS could work. It depends on how severe you are. Some people only have sensitivities to a few chemicals. People that have sensitivities to all chemicals could not work outside the house. MCS is extremely limiting and life changing.

2/21/21 by Christi 2350

Yes, any work that is free of chemicals and triggers

7/24/21 by Serenity 2500

Whether or not someone with MCS can work depends on the severity of their MCS. Examples of occupations to avoid for everyone with MCS include: hair dressing, nail technician, mechanic, painter, pesticide/herbicide applicator, carpet store employee, essential oil distributor, and Bath and Body works or Yankee Candle employee.

11/11/21 by kola05 2620

Yes! As long as it's in a "clean" environment without any of their particular triggers. I find remote work to be the safest, as anywhere else involving people is usually wrought with toxins.

7/31/22 by m healthy 500

It is very difficult, as in work environment they. usually use commercial highly toxic chemicals to clean offices. Some even use air fresheners or other products with perfumes that. are very detrimental.

11/3/22 by Eduardo 1700

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Yes, depending on the state of severity and / or gravity. Jobs that can't be exposed permanently to toxic substances, it is still very relative, it all depends on the degree of involvement of the SQM. 80%

5/10/17 by Emilio. Translated

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with sensitivity chemical multiple is impossible to work because in all places there are toxic and must avoid them

6/11/17 by Esther. Translated

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No. Will depend on the degree of afectacion of each person, but the environment is hostile, inks, printers, computers, cosmetics, perfumes, softeners, public transport is impossible, cleaning products, ambipures... A 2% but for survival until peten.

9/9/17 by Karma. Translated

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Depends on the work and the degree of the severity (often the SQM is given in people with CFS or fibromyalgia, which complicates things). I can't speak for the others; in my case, I could work in a favorable environment, such as from home or in an office with a purifier. For the moment I am low because I am a teacher (impossible to be in a class with a variety of products from all the students and colleagues).

9/10/17 by Pilar. Translated

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If. In clean environment

11/9/17 by Marta Elena. Translated