A little more background I think is fair. My last work day was yesterday. I worked at this company for a week+, as a temp. It was my first day at the chemical cleaning station. I spoke with the shift manager about the safety issues I had yesterday at the end of my shift; where he first berated my poor performance for the day, and I gave an honest reply about not feeling comfortable working at the station with so little thought to safety. He seemed receptive too. He even suggested and said that he would plan a meeting with the warehouse safety manager for the next day.
Fast forward to today, I'm in an Uber omw to work [yes on time, with a history of punctuality], and I get a call saying not to come to work. 2 hours later I filed an OSHA complaint for retaliation and contacted some lawyers (first replied no with a generic 'keep fighting were on your side' email).
The chemical is Safety Kleen. A quick Google search provides you with all you need to know about the chemical. There is a carcinogenic warning sticker hidden on the bottom corner, but most of the gentlemen in my corner of the shop are English second language and temp also. They don't know. We are not union. We are not trained on these dangers. The process is expedited and cost rationalized at human expense. There is little-no ventilation. No respirators or masks or face shields. Only gloves and a smock are provided. The chemical is constantly agitated, you can feel it in your nose, and on your face and skin. It's on your clothes when you leave. People do this all 8 hour shift. P3 will be a picture of the station.
Here were the notes I prepared for that meeting with the warehouse safety manager that never happened.
higher effort;
there are safer, natural cleaners for grease and loctite both, unclear best options without further research and knowledge, but doable with planning.
and/ or power washer, also with some planning.
and/or closer to open air passages/ relocation.
or 'walk in' auto washer as used with finishing cleaning carriers (most ambitious). effectiveness and cost effectiveness unclear (additional employee cleaning labor likely required, if only minimized).
lower effort;
if cleaner, and process, and location remains unchanged;
basic ventilation system indoor/up. respirators most effective.
or basic aerosol masks can be up to 90% effective. face/ head shield combo with latter. (way to clean these)
easier, more routine glove washing station(s).
disposable under suit.
a corp head didn't want to work cleaning station either. ventilation is needed for chemicals and their containers as they have the potential to release dangerous quantities of vapours or gases that are damaging, flammable, corrosive, irritating or toxic. These vapours quickly accumulate and present a considerable hazard if left unventilated. that is why almost every lab has them.
with application elsewhere on the floor, depending on exposure; masks with increased ventilation (gloves already standard) and…
a basic awareness relayed to staff of these or other methods to reduce exposure via inhalation/skin contact to [which] cancer causing chemicals