Conclusion
We have demonstrated the safety
concerns among individuals with olfactory dysfunction, incidence of
hazardous events over the last 5 years, and highlighted the impact on
mental well-being. There is a need for collaborative strategies from the
government, healthcare sector and high-risk sectors such as gas
companies to address this issue. Key areas of discussion would be the
safety risks faced by individuals with olfactory dysfunction,
cost-effective natural gas detectors to be made widely available along
with simple tools such as scratch and sniff cards as a screening method
to identify and protect vulnerable individuals susceptible to safety
hazards. Routine assessment of olfactory ability in public health
settings, particularly for older people, will also play a key role in
identifying ‘at risk’ individuals.