Jason762

So I've transferred out of the department I was in, into the rotisserie room.

I like my boss and my coworkers, but the job is nasty. You get about 4 hours of general chicken prep work, and the like. Then comes the oven cleaning.

We use this really effective stuff, called "Greasestrip Plus" or something like that. This stuff gives you chemical burns like you wouldn't believe! It hurts to inhale the fumes, and it immediately sends mucus to your nose.

I accidentally splashed some in my eye (it was diluted with water) and it burned but didn't cause any blindness like the bottle said it might.

So anyway, I'm wondering what short of preventative measures I might take to prevent future burns. I've got them all over my arms and my face. Goggles will be coming with me my next day into work. Long sleeves aren't permitted in food service, so I can't go that route. I thought about wearing a ski mask, but that would just look ridiculous AND be hot as hell (got 4 ovens that have been running at about 500 degrees).

Any ideas?

warrrreagl

Read the MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) that OSHA requires restaurants to openly display for its employees for all cleaners that are used at your job. That'd be my first preventative measure.

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Sweetpea

Does your employer offer any kind of safety training or safety wear? Seems like if you're working in that kind of environment that something should be offered or you should be able to consult with your boss about it.

And ouch I'm sorry to hear that.

sweetpea

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ShaniFaye

the business doesnt supply you with PPE pertaining to your job hazard analysis? OSHA would have a field day with that (and THEY should be supply safety glasses if its PPE that pertains specifically to your job...unless you want some fancy schmancy ones...then you can buy them yourself as long as they are stamped ANSI Z87.1 to show the are OSHA compliant. I'd read the MSDS about that particular chemical but it sounds like you need at minimum gloves, glasses and a face mask

<--------Safety and Enviro Co-ordinator....I get anal about that shit

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Cynthetiq

regarding the chems, yes OSHA is the rules to follow and I'm going to guess that you work for a company that does try to comply. Know your rights, not knowing them can cause injury to you and to others.

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ratbastid

Ze goggles do nawsink!

Jason762

Well I work in the food section of CostCo. Not quite sure if it qualifies as a restraunt. Haven't seen the MSDS posted anywhere. I'd ask my manager but I don't wanna seem like an ass, I AM greatful she took me in!

No training (that I know of). Apparently there's an instructional video on how to clean the ovens, but I haven't seen it. I had the guy who works there teach me how to do that.

PPE? Job hazard analysis? I did get one for when i was woring at the food court, but I didn't see one for the Rotisserie. I also didn't take the time to look through the papers because the manager came up to me at a busy time while I was working. Kinda smart if you think about it.

We get rubber gloves and latex gloves, but that's about it...

How do I learn my rights without seeming like.... you know, those people that managers hate because they have the knowledge to get them in trouble?

ShaniFaye

they are required by law to post your "rights" in a high traffic area, its usually done in a common break room, its a big colorful poster with lots of information on it.

I would just ask your manager where the MSDS book is kept so that you can look up the chemical you're cleaning with because you need to know what to do if you spill it....if they have a problem with you asking that...then they dont have your safety in mind and I'd in no way be working there

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Cynthetiq

Learning your rights had nothing to do with holding it over a manager's head... being a dick isn't the same thing as knowing your rights.

Learn you rights by reading about workers rights in California

http://laborcenter.berkeley.edu/index.shtml

http://www.workitout.ca.gov/default.asp?id=108

http://www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/

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ShaniFaye

He also needs to know federal rights/regulations too cyn.....not just the state

here is the OSHA site

http://www.osha.gov/

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I want the diabetic plan that comes with rollover carbs. I dont like the unused one expiring at midnite!!

Jason762

Thank you. I'm about to leave, but I will come back and re-read your posts and links, and leave a more proper comment.

Shani, I think know what you're talking about. In the break room there's a bunch of posters, but it's such a cluttered mess of posters, I've never taken the proper time to read it!

Sultana

Knowing your rights and having them enforced in the work area actually protects your company from your future lawsuit.

Do you want to possibly go blind in an eye for a $12/hr job? Be all scarred up on your future (I'm guessing) wedding day? F*ck up your respitory system so you can't run on the beach or play with your future (again, guessing) kids?

Then TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF, even if your company doesn't want to. You only get one life, and one body, and it won't always heal back if you get hurt.

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snowy

They should have the MSDS handy for any and all workers regarding chemicals you use at your job. Having worked at Target and a division of Kroger, ANY TIME you work with chemicals they are required to show you where the MSDS is--regardless of what kind of establishment it is.

So ask. The MSDS is not likely to be posted in the break room, but in proximity to where the chemicals are located. Federal and state labor laws are likely the posters in your break room. Find out who your safety coordinator is--every workplace has one--and talk to them about the situation and what you and your workplace can do to prevent burns.

Should that fail...like Shani said, refer to OSHA.

My roommate works for a freeze-dried food manufacturer...he should have some information for you as to other precautions you can take, so I'll ask him when he gets home tonight.

Oh, and before I forget--if it happens that you are burned badly and/or injured, remember to have workman's comp take care of it. Make the company pay, and they'll start paying attention quickly.

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Elphaba

Costco is so large that I am certain they have done all that is needed and required for employee safety. It sounds like you got put to work before getting a chance to watch the safety tape, and learn about safety protocols, etc.

You won't be viewed as a "trouble maker" by saying that you did splash yourself with the chemical and that you want to learn how to avoid any future accident. Trust me, no company wants an L&I claim for an injury and you will look proactive in trying to protect yourself.

It is usually the lazy, sloppy attitudes that will get an employee injured in my experience.

clavus

Don't take this stuff lightly. I worked with a woman who was scarred for life from spilling that stuff all over herself.

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Sultana

And please be *certain* to document what happened, when you asked for training and information, who you asked, how often, what their response was, etc.

This is Vital. Do Not Ignore This.

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shakran

It doesn't matter what kind of business you work in. If it exposes you to hazardous chemicals in the duties of your job, they have to provide you with protective equipment.

If the MSDS isn't posted somewhere, that's violation 1.

If your rights aren't posted somewhere, that's violation 2.

If they're making you use caustic, burning chemicals and not giving you protection for your hands, lungs, and eyes, that's violations 3, 4, and 5.

You are NOT an ass to insist on safety. I'm sure you're grateful to your boss, but that does not excuse her from her legally mandated safety responsibilities.

I'm grateful that the station I work at right now "took me in" but if they tell me tomorrow to raise my live truck's 56' metal mast in a thunderstorm, I'll tell 'em where to stick that mast. No job is worth your life or your safety, especially if it's a low-wage oven cleaning job.



Personal protective equipment.


Are you wearing them when you clean the oven? If not. . um. . . WTF.

If you are, and it's still burning, then the gloves are not sufficient protection. Insist on better.

And again they also still have to give you safety glasses.


Well the way I see it you have 2 options. 1) talk to your manager and then run it by us and we'll tell you if she's bullshitting you or not. 2) call OSHA directly and ask THEM what your rights are in this situation (note that this might get your workplace inspected if they get the idea that your boss is fucking around with her workers' safety).

newtx

Be carefull. That sounds too dangerous to have not been trained on safety.

Jason762

More detail on saftey equipment before I go to bed.

I get the laxtex gloves that you use when you wash dishes. This DOES protect me but when scrubbing the ovens, water-diluted chemical splashes everywhere. I have burns on arms above the glove line, and a few on my face.

Learned a neat trick from a coworker who takes the beard net and uses it to protect the majority of his face. Glasses and a hat would complete it.

I'm off tomorrow so I'll be able to read all the links and stuff. Thanks!

shakran

well they do make extra long latex gloves that protect you all the way up to your elbow, or even your shoulder. Why aren't you being provided with them?

Jason762

Shakran, I'm sure they're made, but they're just not available to us workers.

The good news is that we're getting self cleaning ovens, so that will take care of the chemical stuff. The bad news is that we still have to clean them until we get those ovens.

I just hope I'm not out of a job when we get those self cleaning ovens.

Martian

I had to regularly clean ovens back in my former life as a baker. I used similar chemicals and my PPE consisted of a pair of safetry goggles, a breathing mask, a set of heavy rubber gloves that covered me up to the elbows and a big apron. I used to get shit if I wasn't wearing the gear, which was pretty rare.

That stuff will fuck up your lungs in a big way, if you keep inhaling it. You did risk blindness getting it in your eye. Oh, and those chemical burns? Some of those scars will be permanent, my man.

By all means, be a dick about this stuff if that's what it takes to get it done right. If you still don't get results, report them and/or quit. The rules exist for a reason and there's no job that's worth risking your health.

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Jason762

Damn bro! That's a helluva lot of gear!

Lucky for me I haven't noticed any permanant burns. When I got burned it was just little pencil lead sized dots, and they seem to have healed.

My lungs concearn me however because I am an athletic person.

I'll start being more anal about getting some protection.

Thanks!

streak_56

I've say some goggles... and possibly some rubber gloves that go to the shoulder... and if they're angry about that... see the stuff about about OHSA and PPE... alllll that fun Jazz.