It’s been awhile since I’ve been around. I’ve spent the past year travelling and building stores for a high end department store chain and have recently quit over an old issue. Mold remediation. Their latest project was a store damaged by flooding in which mold is currently growing behind all their build out wall fixtures (mdf). Not knowing much about mold except what I’ve browsed through the archives here, I quit the job after the second day of cutting holes and climbing through the midst of mold infestations which make a rainbow seem dull by comparison.
Yesterday one of the upper echelon executives called all my former co-workers pussies for not wanting to do what needs to be done by professional remediation specialists with the proper training and safety gear. We were all working with nothing more than dust masks bought at HD and gloves designed to keep you from getting splinters. Personally, I’ve been hacking and coughing from two days exposure and a friend of mine is going to the doctor for spots on her tongue which she suspects is from her exposure. I’ve already written a letter to the editor of the local paper about the issue but the store is obviously going to try to stay open for the holidays to make their chunk of profit instead of doing the right thing now.
I’m just wondering what everyone would recommend us as workers for a contractor to do in this situation? I’m not looking to get into a lawsuit with them but it sure seems like something along those lines is inevitable with how they’re handling the whole situation.
Replies
Call OSHA.
all comercial work in Canada must be performed by union shops, same down there? 1) If so get the union involved
2) go see a Doc., hacking today could be just hacking today, or the start of something else.
3) see a lawyer
4) we also have a workers health and safety branch
I'ld be suprised after Katrina if there weren't a whole lotta gov. groups to prevent workers from being exposed to mold ..
By quiting you absolutely did the right thing, others will follow get a group together, don't go it allone ..
There aren't any requirements for union shops to do commercial work in any of the provinces that I've worked in. Where you at?Rik
Edited 11/8/2008 8:25 pm by artacoma
Every worker in the US is covered under OSHA and other regulatory agencies, depending on the work they do. Mold remediation is a fairly new area and it is considered hazardous material. Unfortunately, many companies do not know their responsibilities. Ignorance is not an excuse. You should have an on going safety training program in your company. It should be designed to inform you, the worker, about the hazards and safety issues involved in the work you are asked to do. You should be thoroughly trained in what the material is, what it's effects on you may be and how to protect yourself and others. Obviously, your company did not make an attempt at compliance with the laws.
You probably should have made a written complaint. I would contact your local OSHA office as well as your states department of labor. There is no acceptable reason for you to have been put in a work situation that you were not properly trained to do. You have to stand up for your rights or you won't have any. You need to bring your concerns to the proper authorities, not a newspaper. You'll just sound like a disgruntled worker and the info won't get to the right folks. I wouldn't take this lying down. It has cost you your job and may have had an impact on your health.
Beat it to fit / Paint it to match
Call OSHA?
That'll get their attention right away.
I have CDO.
It's like OCD, only the letters are in alphabetical order like they're supposed to be.
http://www.truenorthcarpentry.net
Edit: Sorry to reiterate the earlier posts; they didn't show up for some reason. But seriously, call OSHA
Edited 11/7/2008 10:05 am by True North
True
I have CDO.
It's like OCD, only the letters are in alphabetical order like they're supposed to be.
You have said that several times in various posts.
What does that mean?
Rich
OCD - Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Ever see the show Monk?
ya, just a little humorous play on words.
or initials
pretty good, actually.or would that be actaully?
snorK*Behind the ostensible government sits enthroned an invisible government owing no allegiance and acknowledging no responsibility to the people. [Theodore Roosevelt]
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Since I have a touch of it, I find that tag line very funny.Another one that gets me is for control freaks (thankfully I don't have that problem):"Knock Knock""Who's there?""Control freak, now you say control freak who."I have CDO.
It's like OCD, only the letters are in alphabetical order like they're supposed to be.
http://www.truenorthcarpentry.net
"Knock Knock"
"Who's there?"
"Control freak, now you say control freak who."
LOL. One of the best "knock knock" jokes ever!
But I have a problem with authority, so I'm not going to say "control freak who?"
you just did!
"But I have a problem with authority"You too, huh? I had to grovel to "The Man" recently to get a Colorado Springs license. Not fun.BTW, I really like your screen name.I have CDO.
It's like OCD, only the letters are in alphabetical order like they're supposed to be.
http://www.truenorthcarpentry.net
Thanks for everyone's input and suggestions. I've sent a descriptive e-mail to OSHA about what's going on and where the abatement is happening right now. My friends who still work for the outfit realize what I've done might put them out of work but it also might save some of them the hassle of extended health issues. Anyway, we'll see how the fur flies from here. I guess when I burn a bridge, I'm not happy until it's a pile of ash and nothing more.
I have CDO. It's like OCD, only the letters are in alphabetical order like they're supposed to be.
That is very funny! Vic
I agree. Start with the osha. Reminds me that this is part of why I started my own company in the first place. Sadly you are the only one who really cares about your health, and you have to take charge of it. I keep a tyvek suit and a cartridge respirator in my truck, and while I might feel a bit foolish wearing it, I want to see my kids grow up, and ant client or employer who wants to get in the way of that, well we know where they can go.
I think you have to admit that we in the trades are also often guilty of a stupid macho attitude towards safety. I have lost track of the number of times I've seen guys using angle grinders without eye protection. How do we change that? Me, I keep a shingle in my truck that kicked back into my 'nads last year, and a picture by my daughter on my dashboard, but we rush to finish something , and sometimes it all goes out the window. Finally, paper dust masks are really good for picking up dog ####- nothing else.
Yep, call OSHA. Start with the state office. They probably have a way to report an employer without having to give your name.
While some molds are bad for our health, it's also true that some molds are NOT bad for us.
I'm real surprised that the Haz-mat guys have not been called in to determine the type of mold you're dealing with. In the absence of that knowledge, you're right to react like you have. That is not a company I would want to work for, either.
If worker safety is not the MOST IMPORTANT factor for an employer, then they should not be employing anyone at all.
Make the call to OSHA.
In addition to the excellent suggestions of OHSA and government dept of labor or labor board - is there a 'crusading' reporter in the local media? Either print or broadcast, this is the type of story that a reporter can really work with. Mebbe milk for several articles.
The one thing your high end retailer does not want is bad publicity, especially after the worst retail October in 40 years.
The lawyer suggestion also has merit, protect your health. And have your lawyer send a registered letter to the officers of the high end retailer.
And then duck, cuz the manure will begin to fly.
Good luck.
The city health department might be a good place to begin along with OSHA. I assume that you are classified as an employee of the store as well. The local TV station might also be a good place to go as well. Years ago a lady I knew could not get any action from anyone until she contacted the local TV station in a city of one million. She went through the proper channels and was repeatedly ignored. Immediately she got action after it aired on the 6:00 news that evening.