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.