New job woes...attn: processing plant employees

[usetaboost]

Started my new job this week and went out to work today. Soybean processing plant for anyone that is wondering. Not that bad of a deal doing cleanup but once the dust started flying it really got to me. Eyes started watering bad and it was a little exhausting breathing with a dust mask on. Couldn't tell if I was sweating from the work or breathing. I've had a headache all day, even still now. When I did the breathing test they made me do it 3 times and I had a tough time even doing that. I've had heart surgery when I was 6 months old but I'm more concerned about the sudden headaches from too much exertion and chest pains that come in go which niether had been remidied. THe money and benefits is good but it isn't like I was struggling before when I worked at the cookie plant. I'm seriously considering trying to get my old job back-14 bucks an hour, work whatever shift and job I want if seniority allows, sign to go home if I want to, weekends off, paid holidays off, I had 2 weeks vacation and 2 unpaid days off. Only thing that sucks about it OVERTIME is pretty much on the fly out there. I'm not trying to get anyone to make decisions for me, but just wondering if I should be concerned with what happened today and what COULD happen.

 

[TR Custom Parts]

Get out of there!

Reminds me of an old job I had in a wire manufacturing plant. Here son, take these nice rolls of asbestos and put them on this machine. When they run out, put new ones on. What to do about those pesky fibers all over your hands? Just rub your hands together sort of like clapping, that will get them cleaned off. Nah, you don't need a mask, that's for wussies.

That was 30 years ago, no symptoms of asbestosis but the thought is always there. Your health is more important than OT.

Of course, the day job I have now might not be any safer as I run the maintenance dept of a skilled nursing home, who knows what germs are floating around there. At least the Buick business doesn't have any hazardous conditions.

 

[usetaboost]

At least the Buick business doesn't have any hazardous conditions.

Except when the other half finds out what it costs

I still got a fricken headache Bad part is I gotta go back tomorrow. Got too many bills racked up to miss a day's pay. I was thinking the pay/benefits was gonna outweigh the labor and having to work some weekends and holidays but after actually doing the job it just sucks all over. Then what makes it worse my buddy works out there so I'm sure he's half the reason I got the job so I gotta deal with that too:frown: Another friend I talked to today about a job (he's an electronics engineer, does a lot of area communication) says he did that job for 7 bucks an hour way back in the day and he even said it sucked. Wish he would've mentioned that earlier . About the only thing I like doing is working on cars and hooking up car stereo systems and home theater. No money in this but makes me think running and hooking up wires would be way more fun. It always seems like I gotta figure out a new way to fluck myself

 

[turbopete]

Widsom

Life is too short to do jobs that suck...

If you don't have your health, everything else is meaningless.

Make that wisdom.

 

[DailyDrifter]

You could get a respirator. Dont get those paper masks that go over you face, get the good ones with the charcoal filters.

 

[Little6pack]

Can you wear a mask?

 

[usetaboost]

Yup but i have yet to see them. i called a buddy back at my old job he's gonna talk to the plant manager and see what he can do. There's people that have been fired and got their job back with everything and been gone longer than I have. I've already decided this job isn't worth the pay. Lesson learned. Even if I got put on an actual job there I would probably still not want to be there. It's definitely not my thing and I don't need the money that bad. I find out tonight about my old job.

 

[lnkncontiverto]

I have somewhat similar of a reaction to soybean, wheat, and hay dust. Whenever I'm around the stuff with the dust kicked up, I end up all f-ed up the next day. As it turns out, I'm allergic to the mold that exists in the stalks once they've been cut from the field. Wouldn't ya know it- my father-in-law is a farmer whose signature crops happen to be all three of the above. IMHO, lose the job- its not worth the health consequences for a few bucks an hour.

Umm- besides the pay, I can't see a downside to getting a job back at the cookie factory:tongue: Yum..

 

[Jerryl]

BEFORE you quit, here is my advice;

1 - Report the incident, and make sure you get medical evaluation specific to this.
2 - Ask for a copy of an "industrial hygene / air quality" study of the area, as performed by a CIH (Certified Industrial Hygenist)
3 - Request a respirator, AFTER you have received training per the standard. Respiratory Protection. - 1910.134
(Your company better have a written respirator program before they issue you one)
4 - If you get the "run around", explain to your supervisor the "General Duty Clause" under 1910CFR, and ask them if this incident will be on the OSHA300 log (as required by law).

Trust me, you follow this advice you won't get pushback.
Sometimes, when you get that deep, you may get promoted - THAN you got to watch out.
Although copies of this incident must be kept in your personnel file, keep your own copies!!!

 

[DailyDrifter]

Is this cookie factory in a tree?

 

[By-Tor]

The only cookie factory I know of in your area would be Interbake in North S.City.

 

[usetaboost]

ding ding. You are a wiener:biggrin: Hey, I told my buddy about your car he wants your number. He said if you still have it around income tax time he'll come get it. I get my old job back I'll get a couple good checks and I'LL come get the sumbitch

I don't know if it's the dust or difficulty breathing with the mask, but the job itself sucks too. I had an actual filtered mask on today and started feeling tired after about 10 mins with it on. I ended up taking it off and going outside. I'm Outside at least half the time, gotta punch out for lunch, which means you don't get off till 3:30. I have yet to hear anyone say they have the weekends off unless they take it off. Oh here's another example of suck: Say I work graveyard and get off at 7. There is a meeting at 10. I have to come back for the meeting! Yeah it's great pay and great benefits, but this is as bad or possibly worse than working at a tire shop. I had a gut feeling it was a bad idea, and as soon as I got out there to help with cleanup I finally realized it. Next time I start thinking I'm gonna be hero dad and make some money I'm gonna remind myself of what I have and that I'm doing a hell of a lot better than all of my friends and 90% of my family.

 

[Jerryl]

............ I don't know if it's the dust or difficulty breathing with the mask, but the job itself sucks too. I had an actual filtered mask on today and started feeling tired after about 10 mins with it on. I ended up taking it off and going outside. ........

Exactly the point I made earlier!
A medical evaluation and questionaire are required BEFORE you wear a negative pressure respirator.
Even if you did not complete the evaluation, it can be considdered a "violation", if you were not trained under the requirements of the "Voluntary Respirator Program".
Good luck.

 

[usetaboost]

they did do a breathing test and had me do it 3 times before I passed it. And from what it seemed like to me I barely did. I damn near passed out. I'm going to talk to the HR at interbake and see what's what. I talked to my friend out at interbake and he said the HR person first said they'd hire me back but at start at the bottom which is no good. THen before he left she told him to have me come in and talk to her. I'll find out tomorrow.

 

[By-Tor]

I know of Interbake because my Grandmother worked there. I don't remember when she started, must of been in the late 80's to about the time my Grandparents move to Sioux City. Which was 93-94, so they could be closer to the Hospital.
I'll send you a PM with my number.

Btw, when I was a Kirkwood learning Autobody they made us take a training course for the 3M respirators. We were trained how to put on the mask and give a lung strength test before we were allowed to wear our masks.
The model mask I wore was a one peace that you could attach different filters to. We had a charcoal filter for the fumes and one for dust.

 

[jdpolzin]

Dude, if you are wearing a paper mask, those things are junk. I work in very crappy conditions all day every day in the cunstruction trade. One thing I have always learned, get a resperator. Much easier to breath and much more filtration. Clean air is worth the cost. Might try it out and make more money. Respirators are much easier to breath through.

 

[jpwalt1987]

This is what we wear while making carbon anodes.

I work in a ALCOA carbon plant here in town. We have coal tar pitch fumes and mold release oil that gets sprayed in a mist in addition to carbon dust. These are the masks that we have to wear in certain areas. The 95 series masks are approved for organic vapors and are not as hot to wear as the half face masks. We must be fit tested on the breathing machine yearly and must pass a lung capacity test every three years. Hope this helps


3M 8577 Odor Respirator with Valve S-12526 - Uline

3M 6000 Half Face Respirator - Medium H-1081 - Uline

 

[usetaboost]

Well I went and talked to HR at interbake. She said I could come back but no seniority. So I told her no thanks, then when I was walking out she offered me a job in back in ovens department. 15 bucks an hour. Working inside. Yeah I'll be hot but I'd rather be sweating to death than huffin dust and freezin my b@lls off.