Q: What does OSHA say about prohibiting candles in a doctors' office? We have nurses who like to have them burning, but the smell from them is awful. So how can I get them out of the office?
A: Medical practices are classified as business occupancies not through OSHA but by the Life Safety Code (LSC) of the National Fire Protection Association and your local fire authority, which do not prohibit candles.
Of course, you are free to make a corporate policy prohibiting open flames.
There are other occupancies classified under the LSC, such as ambulatory and healthcare, that prohibit open flames.
If the scent is the problem, you might want to develop a scent-free corporate policy. OSHA does not have a standard on this, but scent issues are recognized as a potential problem.