My day job has me making the world a better place 125 7th graders at a time, and the board of education is putting a small addition onto the school. It of course is going to be concrete, and of course all the cutting is occuring with a partner 2-stroke saw (NOT WET) under the air handler intakes of the classrooms. The rooms have a lovely smell of two stroke exhaust and the distinct odor of cut concrete. This could not possibly be good for the kids. The air handlers have been shut down, but there are no dampers on them, and the odor (and particle flow continues…)
Now onto the job site, rebar was set and left uncapped for the duration, and none of the workers are using any eye, respiratory or ear protection or head protection… as they are doing the work, and the scaffolding is dicey at best ( and they are sawing the block on top of the dicey scaffold…. oh boy…)
So, my coworkers are pissed, we have headaches and the thing that would really make my day perfect is having my kids witness a day laborer take a header off the scaffolding with a concrete saw…
any thoughts?
I am willing to put up with lots of dumb stuff, but if my colleagues (well, some of them) or my kids (ALL OF THEM) are at risk, I start getting upset…
Replies
I would contact the office of the contractor responsible, and fax them a list of your concerns. Any contractor worth his salt would jump to make the corrections.
CaliforniaRemodelingContractor.com
push over the scaffold right after ya send that list..
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
I think I'd call the school principal and speak about your concerns with her/him as my first move.
If you want to keep your job, I'd suggest that you ask anyone you speak with to take the information you give them and use it as if it came from their own observations, not an anonymous member of the work crew.
My job is very secure, and I have talked to my principal... the cutting has been moved to a different location, but I still think it is an unsafe jobsite, my principal has outlined the problems to the contractor, and we shall see what happens.
jmmmm
OK, sounds like you had the problem pretty well surrounded before you came here.
Have you called OSHA? Typically, their office will be in the state capitol. I guess it's closer to the bribe money that way. Why else would everyone on big jobs know exactly when they were coming to inspect? How do I know? We were all told, "Hard hats today. OSHA inspection."
That happened, year after year, on every job I worked on where a big contractor was involved.
Anyway OSHA will tell you that they are terribly understaffed and can't make it to your job site until the week after next and only if you write them a letter, etc., etc. So, don't hold your breath waiting for them to care about violations of safety. It's apparently not in their job description.
You might try calling your US Congressman's office and asking them to get OSHA out to inspect because it's a school which receives federal funds, etc., etc. Worth a shot. Some aides are better at that kind of thing than others.
Those block cutters are brutal with the amount of dust they produce.
I would add to Hucks post that a picture or two should get some reaction.
A complaint to OSHA would get the job shut down most likely, or if you're in Jersey maybe you'll just get beat up. <g>
Mike
Trust in God, but row away from the rocks.
Call OSHA and tell them your name.
When you get fired, you will be able to sue and collect millions.
Bob's next test date: 12/10/07
Suggest the use of a hydraulic block splitter. Faster, dustless, quiter, portable. Cost about the same as that saw. Dollar says they don't know it exists.
They look like this:
View Image
Edited 1/23/2008 12:53 pm ET by peteshlagor
I am floored that there is no protection for the workers, and I thought that they make a wet saw version of the partner style saws just to keep the dust down... its brutal stuff!
jmmmm
All of the gas powered Partner masonry saws come with the wet cut attachment that shoots water on the blade in the guard, so they either have a saw that is old as dirt without it or they choose to not hook it up to water.
Two things come to mind.
This is an addition on a public school, (1) there are public records of the contract, specifications, site conditions and whole lot of other stuff that you and your principle have acces too, and need to know. (2) worker and public protection are covered under your state OSHA agency which generally follows federal regulations, also available to anyone.
You and your priniple are educators. What would you have your kids doing, given the above information?
Research and write a paper most likely.
Lead by example, don't just be one of the herd.
The other thing that comes to mind on a public project is "low-bid", which is easier to achieve if you don't bother with those pesky hard hats, ear plugs and safety glasses.
Use the workers as an example.
Tell the kids that these are the working conditions if they don't graduate HighSchool
<G>
Shep, Thanks for a memory. Back in the late 70's I had an entire crew (6 guys)of college grads working for me. Some had multiple degrees. I was the only one who had never graduated. Owner comments to me one cold, wet, miserable day that she used to tell all her students to go to college so they wouldn't end up doing work like that . I started laughing as I was inside, no degree and warm as toast putting up a mantle piece. Owner wanted to know what I found funny about her comment. I went to the window by where she stood and listed off their degrees one by one , then told her I signed the checks with no degree.
They can't get your Goat if you don't tell them where it is hidden.
my dad, a life time carpenter, always told me to go to college.
I did. I lasted 2-1/2 years before I quit and started working for him.
People underestimate the amount of smarts needed to be successful at this career.
there is a Superman on just about every job,
does not need to see
does not need to breathe
can't hear a thing
has a size 2 hat and 14 neck
so there is not much room for a brain let your administrators deal with the problem, it's about the only thing you can do that or pull the Fire Alarm.
.
.
., wer ist jetzt der Idiot ?
Most masons in my area are immigrants and do not speak english.
Jobsite safety takes too much time and infringes upon the GC's bonus....
My .02
Take some pics of obvious violations, send them to OHSA
Inform your local news reporting organizations ( Newspaper, TV etc.)
You are responsible for the kids!
What Dovetail says. "Film at 11!" "Children at peril"
I'd bet you'd see a change in 12 hours.
...The unspoken word is capital. We can invest it or we can squander it. -Mark Twain...Be kind to your children....they will choose your nursing home....aim low boys, they're ridin' shetland ponies !!
Contact the school district and ask for the person in charge of new construction...mention your concerns and then contact the state architect's office. They, state architect, should have a unit affiliated with your state Occupational Health and Safety who should look into your concerns. If that doesn't work, contact the local television news group and tell them about the potential danger to the school kids. Anytime you mention "KIDS" and "DANGER" those words get action every time.
Bleeding hearts call teenagers and young adults "KIDS" whenever they want to elicit support, even if the "kids" are over 21 years of age and spending their time in state custody for various crimes.
My bossman (principal) dropped the hammer on someone, and the gas saw has been replaced with an electric angle grinder and all the cutting is now occurring 50+ feet away from the building, the workers are not wearing safety gear, but its not my lungs, eyeballs and ears anymore. sheesh... figure all they need is about 20 bucks in gear, but they are young and tough, and what do i know... :)
jmmmm
Ever actually worked on a construction site?
All that safety gear takes time to put on and it can make you less productive. I have worked for companies that take safety seriously, and those that don't.
Unfortunately, when the bossman is cracking the whip to beat the schedule and make his bonus, speed is the thing that matters most.
Unfortunately, despite the rhetoric, many employers view safety as an inconvenience (time and money) and workers as expendable.
Maybe they should look up the word silicosis.
Yep... I worked as a flunkie for a guy who would have beaten me to a pulp if I ever tried to step foot on the site without safety glasses and ear protection... I was more scared of him than worksite injury... but now, even my son knows, (at 5.5) that before tools get plugged in safety gear goes on. Non negotiable.
I figure as of now we only get two eyeballs.
and I also want to keep my lungs in as good shape as possible...
funny how it is...
jmmmm
That attitude is a good one.
I am the same way. I always wear eye protection, earplugs are nearby and used frequently, I have my own half face respirator (one company told me I couldn't wear it because they did not have an OSHA compliant respirator program in place, I told them to start one because there was no way that I *wasn't* wearing it) and I almost always wear kneepads.
That said, I have also worked on school projects, and that is some of the most unsafe, dangerous and ridiculously fast paced work I have ever done... all because of the low bid mentality (not the lowest *qualified* bid, mind you) and cramming 9 months of work in less than three months... and the GC always tries to get it done faster to beat the schedule and get their early substantial completion bonus.
Fortunately, I am not a drywaller or mason. Those guys have it bad, mainly because of the piecework pay scales.
Young and tough...no, young and stupid! It's not just in your area either, I've seen it many times on my jobs and it comes with the territory I guess.
If you are in Jersey, call the township if you get no results with contractor and voice your concerns.
They, if they dont address it, will refer it to OSHA or the appropriate people.
Jersey is HEAVILY regulated and they should be all over stuff like this.
You actually might have better luck approaching the insurance adjuster for your district regarding the jobsite safety violations.
I suspect that your insurance adjuster would ream the GC a new one because an injured party will most likely sue the school district... not good when the GC knows better and the courts try to prove negligence on the behalf of the school district.
Follow the money....
Your headaches may be caused by carbon monoxide from the gasoline powered equipment. A quick complaint to the fire department with a suspected CO complaint will bring out the sniffer and shut down the job if CO levels are high.
I like the insurance carrier idea or better yet the 6 oclock news.
Jeff,
Does your school district have a health and safety officer? If so, it is their job to protect the welfare of school employees and children. I would also consider calling your state Health and Safety agency and OSHA on the Federal level. There are 800 numbers for reporting unsafe conditions.
I have to post a notification in my office and shop that has the numbers for Texas.
Bruce
Sounds like a complete disregard for the area where they are working.Several years ago I was doing a Hardie siding job.....dustier than heck.We timed our work each day so as to shut down the saw and do other things after the school bus came through bringing the kids home........I don't think that any of the parents in that neighborhood ever realized that we were mindful of their kids well being but it was the right thing to do.
Call your state OSHA folks.
http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_04/29cfr1910_04.html
Thanks!
Now thats some great reading for the bathroom and to keep these clowns honest! Oh now they are wearing dust masks, but they are pushed up on their foreheads. I heard that dust inhalation through the forehead is a big problem on the job sites... ooof...
Jeffjmmmm
Naw, they are safely using those canal plugs in the ears. They are not deaf,.. just holding their breath.
You have a great asset with the kids you educate. The best lessons are taken from life around them. I'd have them do a paper on job choices and their job conditions for that choice. You could use the addition as an example of one choice but open it up to others.
A few of your kids might have construction work in their future. Who knows what impact you might have down the road.
Have them go outside and take some pictures for their class project and use them to describe what conditions they might expect to see in the jobs they will have in the future. Have them describe health issues and saftey issues around different jobs.
Have them describe the procces for change in the work place. Is whistle blowing the best practice or working with management?
To me, these are good questions. Not good or bad, just good questions. Keep you gudgement out of it and let them decide for themselves.
Excellent suggestion!! Fitting it into your science, history, or English classes would be a breeze--maybe even do a cooperative activity with another teacher.
Then be sure those papers get some publicity in the local paper.
Kathleen
Haven't read through all the replies, but think about the politics here. If you say anything, you are potentially seen as a problem. Out of your 125 kids, surely there is a parent or two who would be willing to make a phone call.
You (and a few co-workers) need to watch for any kids who seem a bit lackadaisical (extremely easy with kids in a classroom) or have a cough (pretty easy in January) and send them down to the nurse/office to call their parents to come get them. The hall pass should briefly state why you are sending them down--be sure you keep a copy for yourself. Call the parents that evening to be sure their kid is okay.
One strategically-placed parental phone call and things will change.
Kathleen