Infuriated
Apr. 20th, 2009 08:14 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
stef_tmToday 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.
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.
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no subject
Date: 2009-04-21 05:21 am (UTC)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?