OSHA inspection

[Conrad]

The building that I work in was the subject of a OSHA inspection for the last two days. The lil OSHA woman apparently received her training by the Gestapo. I thought that I was going to be detained for 'interrogation' or maybe sent to the Russian front!   

My workshop has a list of violations as long as your arm. Did you know that all of my power equipment, tables saw, band saw, radial arm saw, grinder, belt/disk sander and the like are supposed to be bolted to the floor? (she seemed not to notice that I've removed most of the safety devices on the saws, they get in my way) The cabinet where I keep all my solvents is not a flammable liquids cabinet and why do I not have Material Data Sheets on each and every chemical that I have in that cabinet? Why have I not received training in the safe handling of these dangerous chemicals? Just how long have those chemicals been in that cabinet anyway?

I'm not alone at least. After talking with others in the building it seems that they all had the same opinion of this woman. They had some very choice names for her.

[Jeremy Mitchell]

You should have told her that you don't work in a kitchen so she has no business telling you how to be safe in your shop.  I love messing around with women that have a chip on their shoulder, it is almost as fun as messing with men that have a Napoleon complex.   








Disclaimer:  I am joking of course, I wouldn't want a sexual discrimination/harrasment claim to be made against me.  But that doesn't mean it isn't funny.

[Conrad]

You're right Jeremy. I've been working in these unsafe conditions since 1984 without a mishap. It's a miracle that I haven't lost a leg or been killed.

[Toxz Qwaste]

+1 Jeremy but without the disclaimer.

[Taff]

The building that I work in was the subject of a OSHA inspection for the last two days. The lil OSHA woman apparently received her training by the Gestapo. I thought that I was going to be detained for 'interrogation' or maybe sent to the Russian front!   

My workshop has a list of violations as long as your arm. Did you know that all of my power equipment, tables saw, band saw, radial arm saw, grinder, belt/disk sander and the like are supposed to be bolted to the floor? (she seemed not to notice that I've removed most of the safety devices on the saws, they get in my way) The cabinet where I keep all my solvents is not a flammable liquids cabinet and why do I not have Material Data Sheets on each and every chemical that I have in that cabinet? Why have I not received training in the safe handling of these dangerous chemicals? Just how long have those chemicals been in that cabinet anyway?

I'm not alone at least. After talking with others in the building it seems that they all had the same opinion of this woman. They had some very choice names for her.

Person concerned probably didn't get any for such a loooooooong time 

[Conrad]

Person concerend probably didn't get any for such a loooooooong time 

Right before she 'dismissed' me, she told me that I was lucky that she didn't have to get tough with me because she can get very tough if she needs to, just ask her husband.          

[VirginiaJim]

Why am I not surprised at this revelation?  However, it's just the 'man' trying to do you in.

[Outback_Jon]

You're right Jeremy. I've been working in these unsafe conditions since 1984 without a mishap. It's a miracle that I haven't lost a leg or been killed.

Looking at "safety" regulations these days, it is surprising any of us survived childhood...

When I was 17, and working at a summer camp doing maintenance, the camp director said that I couldn't use the radial arm saw (or a lot of other power equipment) because I wasn't 18.  My boss, who had been a handyman most of his life, and was working there for his 'retirement', commented that I used most of the tools better than he did.  So the rule became "If you're under 18, don't use the power equipment when the director can see you."

[Walker18]

Hey Conrad, she's getting paid to be an ass. If she doesn't find something wrong, then why is she there?
Incidentally, as for the chemicals, reluctantly you do have to have MSDS sheets on everything in your shop,
just in case wrongful contact/ ingestion, etc. would occur, the sheet could be pulled right away, and see if the individual needs
to be ambulanced or if a wash/flush is in order. As for the machinery, again, yes, it all has to be bolted to the floor. This was probably
instituted well after your department received the machines. But I do feel sorry for her husband, just think if she didn't find any
violations at your company.. Look out, it's cat o' nine tail's tonight for that poor bastard..

[Conrad]

Hey Conrad, she's getting paid to be an ass. If she doesn't find something wrong, then why is she there?
Incidentally, as for the chemicals, reluctantly you do have to have MSDS sheets on everything in your shop,
just in case wrongful contact/ ingestion, etc. would occur, the sheet could be pulled right away, and see if the individual needs
to be ambulanced or if a wash/flush is in order. As for the machinery, again, yes, it all has to be bolted to the floor. This was probably
instituted well after your department received the machines. But I do feel sorry for her husband, just think if she didn't find any
violations at your company.. Look out, it's cat o' nine tail's tonight for that poor bastard..

Oh I do understand the reasoning behind these rules and I don't disagree. I just have a problem with someone coming into my shop acting the way that she did. She could have accomplished the same thing without acting like a nazi.

I wonder if her husband is bolted to the floor?

[VirginiaJim]

Her husband may like being dominated......just saying.  I see plenty of that around, especially in my wife's family.  There's someone for everyone.

Now quit being a baby and get that equipment bolted down, get your chemical sheets and training done, and get on with it.   

[rcannon409]

I went through something similar. We ended up working like crazy and correcting every violation on the list.  I cannot even tell you how long it took, or how much money it took.

On the return visit, she busted us for not having a spring on the womans bathroom door.  We dont have any ladies working there, so the womans room gets cleaned and the door pulled shut.  The room is off limits to all of us so it will always look nice should  a woman happen to visit.  However, the visiting lady will be required to close the door herself.

I never fixed the bathroom door, and I get written up for it every visit. I've dealt with them long enough to know not to take care of every violation. If you do, they will dig deeper. The deeper they dig, the more money it costs to correct.

[Conrad]

Her husband may like being dominated......just saying.  I see plenty of that around, especially in my wife's family.  There's someone for everyone.

Now quit being a baby and get that equipment bolted down, get your chemical sheets and training done, and get on with it.   

Yes Sir, um, Sir!!!

I'm gonna just get rid of a BUNCH of those old chemicals, that way I don't have to mess with the MSDS for each one. I'll be dumping them down the storm drain momentarily.   

That's what I told the OSHA woman and I thought that she was gonna stroke out right then and there!      She had no sense of humor at all.

 

[Kazairl]

phhhft! I work for a pipeline. Not only do we get OSHA inspections, but we also have to deal with DOT, FERC, PHMSA, EPA and various DEQ agencies. Plus our own internal EHS audits. You got it easy.

[stevewfl]

Its the American way forward?