# I Pit My Workplace **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 4, 2007, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-my-workplace/418025 "2007-09-04T18:10:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BaneSidhe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c5a1d2/32.png) [@BaneSidhe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BaneSidhe)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2007, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-my-workplace/418025/1 "2007-09-04T18:10:07Z")
The office building I work in is supposed to have been built “green” and maintained with “green” products. I call **BULLSHIT.** Every morning when I walk in, my nose starts running, I cough like a 5 pack a day smoker and I sneeze for about 10 minutes. I spend most of my morning blowing my nose and coughing. By lunchtime I’m better, but the cycle starts all over again the next day. When I was off yesterday for Labor Day, I didn’t have one spell of coughing, etc. [And yes, you may insert the “allergic to work” joke here. I would too if I wasn’t so miserable.] On the main floor alone I have counted 4 large patches of water-soaked and moldy spots in the ceiling. Have they been taken care of? Nope. On top of that we have places where the floor tile is coming up and the concrete outside the door that leads to the parking lot has hooved up almost an inch, causing a trip hazard (well, it did till someone put a heavy duty mat over it). Hubby has no problems when he comes into the office. Hell, if he’s having an allergy day, his symptoms go away. Mine get worse. Oh, and here’s the new bit of fun—I’m starting to have trouble breathing. Not badly, but it’s enough to scare me. Grrr. Green building my ass. ---
**Author:** ![hotflungwok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/edb3f5/32.png) [@hotflungwok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hotflungwok)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2007, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-my-workplace/418025/2 "2007-09-04T18:21:47Z")
So the mold isn’t green? ---
**Author:** ![pantheon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/6bbea6/32.png) [@pantheon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pantheon)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2007, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-my-workplace/418025/3 "2007-09-04T18:28:18Z")
[QUOTE=BaneSidhe] On the main floor alone I have counted 4 large patches of water-soaked and moldy spots in the ceiling. Have they been taken care of? Nope. [/QUOTE] If you’ve already reported this to your employer and they are taking no actions, you have the right to file an OSHA complaint…from PDF- [http://www.osha.gov/Publications/preventing\_mold.pdf](http://www.osha.gov/Publications/preventing_mold.pdf) > [@](#): > > \*\*What to do about mold in the workplace. \*\* There are no standards that say how much mold is hazardous to your health. However, there should not be visible mold growth or objectionable moldy odors in your workplace. If you see or smell mold, or if you or others are experiencing mold-related health problems, report the problem to your employer so the problem can be investigated. If you believe that there is a mold hazard, you have the right to file a complaint with Federal OSHA or, in states with OSHA-approved state plans, the state occupational safety and health agency. You can contact your local Area Office of Federal OSHA or state occupational safety and health office or file a complaint online at [Office of the Assistant Secretary | Occupational Safety and Health Administration](http://www.osha.gov/as/opa/worker/complain.html.Links) to the addresses and telephone numbers of the state occupational safety and health agency offices are available online at [http://www.osha.gov/fso/osp/index.html](http://www.osha.gov/fso/osp/index.html). In addition, assistance with filing complaints, receiving workplace health and safety information and requesting OSHA publications, among other types of information, are available by calling OSHA’s toll-free numberat 1-800-321-6742. ---
**Author:** ![BaneSidhe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c5a1d2/32.png) [@BaneSidhe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BaneSidhe)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2007, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-my-workplace/418025/4 "2007-09-04T20:17:30Z")
[QUOTE=hotflungwok] So the mold isn’t green? [/QUOTE] Nah, it’s kinda brownish, last time I checked. ---
**Author:** ![BaneSidhe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c5a1d2/32.png) [@BaneSidhe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BaneSidhe)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2007, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-my-workplace/418025/5 "2007-09-04T20:19:04Z")
Pantheon, I’d love to OSHA these people but this is a state agency and I’ve seen how the system **doesn’t** work for us. I do plan to complain to whoever is over Bldg Maintenance though asap. ---
**Author:** ![Santo\_Rugger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Santo\_Rugger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santo_Rugger)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2007, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-my-workplace/418025/6 "2007-09-04T20:53:49Z")
What does it having mold have to do with it being a “green” building? ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2007, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-my-workplace/418025/7 "2007-09-05T01:32:38Z")
They probably use moss for their air filters. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![BaneSidhe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c5a1d2/32.png) [@BaneSidhe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BaneSidhe)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2007, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-my-workplace/418025/8 "2007-09-05T16:28:02Z")
[QUOTE=Boyo Jim] They probably use moss for their air filters. 😛 [/QUOTE] It would probably do a better job.