Way OT, Big brothers lack of morals for the blue colar man

[basketcase0302]

Need to vent guys...mods move it / delete it if you must...
Been on my job for about 8 months now, (just enough time to get my company "caught up" on the workload). Now I'm being asked to do something that will put my health into a very dangerous situation. I have documented the seriousness of this, and have been subjected to the issue already. Without going into details, (as I believe that I will have to call OSHA on Monday morning) it involves toxic levels of gases that would require a permit with a SCBA. Yet "Big Brother" will force me to do it-or leave my job, probably next week?
The sad part...most of my family here tells me to do it (when I've made them aware of it possibly being lethal) I keep getting the same story..."jobs are too hard to find Jeff".
So I ask ya'll...do any of you want to deliver a death certificate to my Son next week?
Time to leave the job and call OSHA right?

[forrestbump]

Jeff, Right is Right, but more importantly, Wrong is Wrong, simple as that. There IS a reason that your heart is telling you that your employer is demanding you, NOT asking, DEMANDING you to do something that's illegal...they're cutting corners and playing on the lack of jobs situation that we are all dealing with today. I scream B.S.!!!!!!

Turn the law breakers in!!! Your life IS worth it, for yours' and your families' sake.

DON'T DO IT!!!! Do what's RIGHT!!!! If not for yourself, do it for the next guy that your employer WILL take advantage of.

Off my soap box now...returning to the regular broadcast programing...

[Swegner99]

Thats a tough one, I dont know how the job market is in Tennessee, but out here in Arizona jobs are hard to come by. Do you have an HR dept or something similair that you could express your concerns too. That has worked for me in the past, your not really stepping on your bosses toes that way and your not putting yourself in that hazardous situation...

[nadams]

Jeff you definately need to call OSHA on this, if you do the work and something happens they will say you agreed to do the work knowing full well what the dangers are and hope to get off. I understand the fear of your family with the job market the way it is but the flaw in their logic is that if you die or get injured who will pay the bills?

[Bumpside Collector]

If you know for sure that what they are asking you to do is an OSHA violation then I would be on the phone right away. The company must provide you with the proper PPE and proper training for any hazardous job that you are asked to perform. If they don't do that then they are in violation. Where I work we don't go into confined spaces without a permit, and air sniffer, and a pre-job briefing about what to expect while in there. We are also required to have all of our PPE on and in good condition. The company must supply all of our PPE. You should be able to view the OSHA regulations online and if you know specifically what applies then you can take it to your company and show them in black and white. PM me if you need some help sorting out the regulations.

[fireguywtc]

Are you not getting the PPE that is required for the job? It is hard to understand your position without the details, but in the end you must answer for yourself and choose what will let you sleep at night. Good luck with your thoughts and decisions. I hope you get a good resolution.

[fordman]

truely i would want more info before i posted what to do. i mean if you could supply your own gas mask . and do the job. maybe you could make them pay for the gas mask if you got a receipt. i dont know. i dont know enough to know what to say for sure. but if you do call osha. also call the local news station. they wil also help you get a new job. instead of just being out there by yourself. if thats the way it goes.

[67mann]

Jeff ...it's a brave new world we live in and not knowing the full severity of your job, it's hard to say how extreme you need to be. Sad fact is that I believe your doing the right thing and in the end..it's probaly not going to amount to anything ,but the loss of your job If you don't stand up for yourself...who will Good luck to you and it's your life....DON"T LET ANYBODY LIVE IT FOR YOU

[fbomb100]

yes jobs are hard to get right now, but no job is worth your life over doing some thing thats bad for you! You could get on your clothes than bring it home to your family and it may hurt them as well.. any thing that involves toxic levels of any thing is not good!! call OSHA!! and live to be here see your grandkids and building your ford bumps

[basketcase0302]

Guys,

All very well spoken and thank you. As I said above I can't go into more details until the end of next week when, I see what "card" they play in this poker game game with my life. Rest assured this is a very dangerous situation they would put me in. It is in fact a required "confined space-permit required" space as bumpside collector advised on above. Ironic to the fact is that I just completed required OSHA training.
I guess the "burning in my soul" is once again asking why would a company ask me to do this-when I've busted my rear for them and made a noticeable difference by the fruits of my labor. I should have more on this by next weeks end-for now though I grit my teeth and hold my breath wondering if I'll have a job next week. It took me three long hard months to land this job with over 200 applied via internet and 70-80 faxed copies of my resume. So yes, jobs are very hard to find.
I need some bump therapy...I believe going to look at a Mercury truck is in order this weekend.

[goldies67]

just one piece of advice,follow your heart and do what you feel is right! im sure the need to support your family weighs heavily on your decision,but is being sick or gravely injured goin to help them too? im sure your family would rather have you ok than an invalid or totally dependant on them for all your basic needs! just my good luck and im sure you will do the right thing!
Mike

[goldies67]

oh,still eagerly awaiting pics of the merc!!!

[Ranchero50]

As said above, hazards must be identified, confined space entry must be permitted with lock outs, attendants, meters and PPE for any hazards involved. You must be able to access any MSDS for chemicals involved per Fed law. Process hazards can be harder to pin down but even off gasses etc. should be permitted via state EPA guys.

You may have better / quicker results by contacting your state OSHA dept. It's all confidential but you must be very specific about the hazard because when they enter the plant on an OSHA call they can only look at the hazard for the call. On an OSHA inspection they can look at anything. You may also be able to call the companies insurer and ask for help or liabilities, again, a dangerous road to go but it's a card to be played quietly.

Your long term health isn't worth their short term profit. You can not be disciminated against over safety issues but make sure your other ducks are in a row.

Your state should have an employment board (I forget the correct name) and your company should have an employee advocate in HR. Your compnay may also have a corperate level HR and safety department you can contact and get help or at least satisfaction that it's not a hazard.

One thing, documentation rules the day. Find out what the hazards are and document it via MSDS or confinded space. Pics or photocopies but again keep a low profile. If it goes to court you'll need the documents to get your back pay etc.

Good luck, stand firm and be sure you are right in doing so.
Jamie

[woods]

Without going into a long winded story of my life...I have been in similar situations where I really wish I would have stood my ground and taken the punishment (whatever that may have been) instead of just letting them do as they please.
In Corps, I was injected with so many things that I lost count. When I would ask what it was or why I needed it, I was told to shut up. Oh, they pretend to give you the right not to have it, but that really did not exist. There are some very strange health problems that seem to be very similar in the group of guys I keep in touch with. One of them is this odd violent shaking and feeling like your freezing to death on occasion, even though it 60 degrees outside. It's bad enough that my muscles hurt for days after. We all have it and not one of us has been able to get an answer from the medical profession, they can't find anything wrong. Well, something is wrong with us. I'm sure they will track it down when one of us falls over dead. The common answer is they all lean toward neurological damage of some kind.

I really wish I would have just stood my ground and let the chips fall where they may. It would have been better than what is going on now.

[Whateverman]

around here you have the right to refuse unsafe work ,if they fire you because you won't do something unsafe you can go to the labour relations board for a hearing and then the company generally ends up coughing up a whack of $$$$$$$$$