Infuriated

[stef_tm]

Today two of my coworkers were injured on the job. It wasn't high voltage, it wasn't catching a hand in a tool, it wasn't even back strain.

These two workers, one of whom who reports to me, are the first in the building and make the coffee. After using the sink in the break room, their eyes began to sting and burn. Rinsing ameliorated the sharp pain but heat and discomfort remained. We took them to our out-patient doctor service about a mile away. While they were being treated, back here a quick swab of the area around the faucet using litmus paper revealed a pH of 1.

Apparently the janitorial staff came in and cleaned the building on Sunday. They cleaned the toilets and rather then go to the trouble to change cleansers, they wiped the kitchen area with the same nasty chemical (phosphoric acid.) and did not rinse off the residue. Our staff members touched the un-rinsed fixtures and then, sadly, touched their eyes.

I am grateful that my coworkers did not have a serious injury; I am livid that they were exposed to this chemical. We're going to press the building management on this but good grief. Cleaning the kitchen with toilet cleaner? Yuck.

Comments

[erikted.livejournal.com]

Livid, indeed.

Major massive FAIL on the building management's part to be sure. Just make sure the management gets the blow-back if it's poor supervision/training etc. I'd hate to see the poor schleps who have use that stuff every day take full weight of it if it's undeserved. And I'm completely sure you already thought of that and are paying attention as much as is possible :-)

And can I just say that I admire you even more now for seeing how much you obviously care about your people?

[yaaresse.livejournal.com]

That's just...gah!

[sdn.livejournal.com]

that's horrendous. keep us posted.

[maetang.livejournal.com]

Oh, that's very unsafe!

I'm glad your coworkers weren't seriously injured. I hope the building management will sort things out so this doesn't happen again.

[mollys-home.livejournal.com]

I feel for your workers. That must have been ever so frightening.
Is the cleaning crew contracted out? Management of the building should be forced to hire people with some brain power so another negligent incident does not occur.

[revdrmarsh.livejournal.com]

There are mistakes then there are criminal mistakes. This is one of those mistakes. This is just pure LAZY. It is one thing to be lazy and cut corners, but when you harm another person for that, GOODBYE! Somebody or bodies should be let go over this. There are plenty of people who WANT to work.

[6-bleen-7.livejournal.com]

Good grief—last lab I worked in, we had to put an corrosive warning label on any solution with a pH that low. And phosphoric acid? Were they trying to clean up hard water deposits or something? Running the sink probably splashed up droplets of acid into your coworkers' eyes, alas.