What would you do (Osha....)

[Monomer]

As most here know, I work in a tool & die shop.


Now, I've personally put up with a lot. They're connection two of the large machines in the shop, this requires pull a lot of concrete block out.


Most of yesterday and all of today, they've been running a jackhammer (well over 110db) And that's not even the worst of it - the jackhammer connected to a backhoe. Backhoe's been running the past two days. All I can smell is Diesel. They have all the bay doors half open to help with venting, and it's not doing much besides making the shop cold.

I left early (punched out for lunch and not going back) which I bet I'm gonna get reamed out for on Monday. I'm tempted to call OSHA, but I fear the shop will take our Christmas bonus (which most in the shop are depending on) in retaliation.

Most workers in the shop are over 25, have homes/children to pay for and will put up with anything as long as they keep getting paid. I'm 21, and I know whats contained in those diesel fumes, and I dont have a house or kids (if they get rid of me, I can find other work easy, as they don't pay much anyways...)



Any have something like this happen? It's obvious that the management only care about money, and NOTHING about the worker. "I'm a human being -DAMNIT-my life has value!"

[pj67coll]

Originally Posted by Monomer

"I'm a human being -DAMNIT-my life has value!"

Not really dude You just a worker

- Peter.

[H-townbenzoboy]

After hours, pour some biodiesel into the backhoe's tank. Biodiesel exhaust isn't as "bad" as diesel exhaust, so prolonged subjection to it shouldn't be that bad.

[tankdriver]

OSHA's not really there to help you. It's there to enforce rules. If you do call them and don't want to hurt your coworkers, let them know so they can wear their steel toes, hard hats, gloves, etc. because they will get fined too. And you're taking the chance they'll shut down the shop for a variety of violations.

My suggestion is to first talk to your foreman/boss/whatever and let them know you object to the diesel running all day. Tell your coworkers how bad the fumes are for them. And I would bundle up and demand the doors are opened all the way with a fan running to blow out the fumes.

[Fulcrum525]

Originally Posted by H-townbenzoboy

After hours, pour some biodiesel into the backhoe's tank. Biodiesel exhaust isn't as "bad" as diesel exhaust, so prolonged subjection to it shouldn't be that bad.

Thinking outside the box...Taking it to a whole new level

[TMAllison]

First I'd politely ask management to come down to the floor to discuss the situation. Sounds like thats the only way they'll recognise the noise, smell and cold conditions are beyond acceptable. If that doesnt resolve the issues they could then discuss it with OSHA.

[Monomer]

Originally Posted by H-townbenzoboy

After hours, pour some biodiesel into the backhoe's tank. Biodiesel exhaust isn't as "bad" as diesel exhaust, so prolonged subjection to it shouldn't be that bad.

until every piece of rubber go's out.



that was a quote for "network" I highly suggest youtubeing it.

[John Doe]

If you do it, you better document all the conditions as you plan to state to OSHA before you call them--I don't know how big your company is, but take a survey of who the compliance officers play golf and drink with and you will see what I mean . They aren't always as EE friendly as you might think. Also, I would suggest you google retaliatory discharge before you make a decision and make sure you try and cover your ass from that standpoint as well prior to your report. In other words, don't report them and then wait to see what is going to happen in the aftermath--find out first and prepare for the worst.

btw, I wouldn't harp on that dB thing as my main gripe, as I seem to remember you might be a DJ on the side

[Monomer]

Originally Posted by TMAllison

First I'd politely ask management to come down to the floor to discuss the situation. Sounds like thats the only way they'll recognise the noise, smell and cold conditions are beyond acceptable. If that doesnt resolve the issues they could then discuss it with OSHA.

They know.



all three supervisors are constantly walking around the shop.

[aklim]

Originally Posted by Monomer

if they get rid of me, I can find other work easy, as they don't pay much anyways. I'm tempted to call OSHA, but I fear the shop will take our Christmas bonus (which most in the shop are depending on) in retaliation.

It's obvious that the management only care about money, and NOTHING about the worker.

"I'm a human being -DAMNIT-my life has value!"

While you can insist on your rights, it might make you less popular and an "accident" might happen while you are at work. So, maybe this is time for you to go find other work.

What's your point? Are you and the company married? When you were hired, did you and the company representative recite the sentence: I, [name], take you [name], to be my wedded employer/employee, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part, and hereto I pledge you my faithfulness.? If not, you are merely a number. After all, if someone offers better, are you not gone too? They are a paycheck, you are a tool. It is that simple.

To you, yes. To them, no.

[Monomer]

Originally Posted by John Doe

If you do it, you better document all the conditions as you plan to state to OSHA before you call them--I don't know how big your company is, but take a survey of who . They aren't always as EE friendly as you might think. Also, I would suggest you google retaliatory discharge before you make a decision and make sure you try and cover your ass from that standpoint as well prior to your report. In other words, don't report them and then wait to see what is going to happen in the aftermath--find out first and prepare for the worst.

btw, I wouldn't harp on that dB thing as my main gripe, as I seem to remember you might be a DJ on the side

I was going to have a friend call from a payphone and give them my complaint.

I mentioned the db thing because they've come around with meters before (and on that day, all the cnc's were shut down for some reason...)


I wore earplugs and a respirator almost all day. Being sick and wearing a respirator does not work well. (when I dj - even for practicing loud; I wear my musicians earplugs)

[Monomer]

Originally Posted by aklim

While you can insist on your rights, it might make you less popular and an "accident" might happen while you are at work. So, maybe this is time for you to go find other work.

What's your point? Are you and the company married? When you were hired, did you and the company representative recite the sentence: I, [name], take you [name], to be my wedded employer/employee, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part, and hereto I pledge you my faithfulness.? If not, you are merely a number. After all, if someone offers better, are you not gone too? They are a paycheck, you are a tool. It is that simple.

To you, yes. To them, no.

Trying finding a shop that offer insurance.



it's the only thing keeping me there. I have a feeling I'm gonna leave right after jan1st (after I get my 2 weeks paid off)

[John Doe]

Originally Posted by Monomer

I was going to have a friend call from a payphone and give them my complaint.

See, in my opinion, that wouldn't be the way to go, because your employer will obviously know it originated from you and then fire you, but you can't sue for retaliatory discharge, because of the anonymity of the report to OSHA--"what the hell are you talking about Mr. Monomer? We didn't fire you because of any complaint you made because you didn't make one--you just suck and we all put it in your personnel file and backdated everything once OSHA knocked on the door", ect.....

[Mistress]

Originally Posted by John Doe

If you do it, you better document all the conditions as you plan to state to OSHA before you call them--I don't know how big your company is, but take a survey of who . They aren't always as EE friendly as you might think. Also, I would suggest you google retaliatory discharge before you make a decision and make sure you try and cover your ass from that standpoint as well prior to your report. In other words, don't report them and then wait to see what is going to happen in the aftermath--find out first and prepare for the worst.

btw, I wouldn't harp on that dB thing as my main gripe, as I seem to remember you might be a DJ on the side

X2. We had similar situation in a darkroom where I worked, one of the guys I worked with was complaining about the fumes from the stop bath and fixer not being properly ventilated and he called OSHA to come out. They did respond and feathers were ruffled but come to find out the ventilation was good. Personally I thought the guy was a wus and should be printing in a climate controlled environment but thats what you get when you go to an overpriced tech school vs. going to an art school. DOCUMENT EVERYTHING and make sure YOU GO BACK TO WORK AFTER LUNCH TODAY. Buy an industrial mask to use and you'll be o.k.

[John Doe]

Originally Posted by Monomer

I wore earplugs and a respirator almost all day. Being sick and wearing a respirator does not work well. (when I dj - even for practicing loud; I wear my musicians earplugs)

So Mr. Monomer, you wear earplugs when you DJ, and they protect your ears from the music noise, correct? Yes. And you were wearing earplugs the day that you are complaining of, correct? Yes, but.....No further questions