I’m trying hard to mind my own business about this, but it’s bothering me.
There’s a house being remodeled across the street from me. They’ve brought in a crew to pave the walkways and driveway with some sort of composite stone material. As part of the work, they use a power saw to cut some of the pavers to fit. When they do this, it sends out big clouds of dust from the composite. Most of the workers have no breathing protection, which means they’re inhaling this stuff. For instance, today there are three people working on it, and only one of them is wearing a mask. The guy operating the saw, who is closest to it, has no mask. The other two don’t even step back when the saw is going.
It also appears to me that they have no hearing protection, although I could be wrong. They could be wearing earplugs that wouldn’t be visible without being close to them. Also, one’s ears aren’t as critical to one’s health as one’s lungs.
I’ve been tempted to go over there and ask these guys whether they know what sort of risk they’re taking with their health. I’ve been tempted to contact their employer and report them. I’ve been tempted to call OSHA or Cal/OSHA and report them. I haven’t done any of these things because, in some sense, it’s none of my business. In another sense, though, it is my business. The workplace safety laws and regulations exist for a reason, and I care enough about other people not to want them to get silicosis (or worse), even if I don’t know them personally.
I’m not really looking for advice here, although I’m happy to listen if anyone wants to give it. My main purpose in posting here is to vent (so to speak).
I doubt they would react positively to any comments from the public.
I worked construction in college. Getting guys to wear safety gear requires a no nonsense site supervisor. That will chew some ass when necessary.
Especially hearing and eye protection. You’re twenty, in great shape and think accidents happen to other people. It’s a tough mentality to shake.
The roofing crews I worked with were more safety minded about ladders, ropes and harnesses. But we all had our shirts off tanning and staying cool. Skin cancer? Other people get that.
Young and dumb.
My neighbour had a crew cleaning his gutters the other day as a storm with 75km winds was hitting the city. One of the workers was standing on a steeply sloped roof holding a leaf blower with no safety gear. :eek:
I am sure these guys don’t carry liability insurance or pay Worker’s Comp!
Yeah, no upside to talking to them.
They know they should do those things. Like others said, “young and dumb”.
Call OSHA or Cal/OSHA and report them. You will have done your bit and it’s out of your hands.
I can think of a few times when I have butted in where I knew it would not be welcome. Having had the thought of what could be or could go wrong I would feel like a dick if I didn’t act. So to relieve myself of the possibility of chastising myself later I have done what I felt needed doing.
Rather common where I live.
I have ear and eye protection from when I worked in a factory. And I have gifted them to the workers I encounter. I tell them that Walmart doesn’t sell ears and eyes.
When I see them the next day, they aren’t using them. I guess it ain’t macho.
When you see them taking cigarette breaks, who are you going to report that to?
As someone who works in an industrial environment I am aware of many situations where choices have to be made between theory and practice. For instance, say I’m grinding balance weights off an old piece of agricultural equipment that needs repair. There’s dirt, caked on dried weeds, probably some manure and rust between me and clean weldable metal. I have my earplugs in. I have my safety specs on. Now I’m raising a lot of dust when I grind, so I’d really like some breathing protection. So I put on my dust mask and presto, my specs fog up. Heavily. You see where I’m going here. Maybe I can rig a fan up to blow the dust away. Maybe not. So I choose to go without the dust mask. In my regard, I’m using the protection that works. We are trying to make a living here and doing the mental dance we all do when we evaluate danger.
I’d guess that the workers you’re concerned with would appreciate that concern, but they have probably already gone through the thought process themselves and have reached their comfort level with the risks. There may be theoretical ways to avoid the hazard, but they may be impractical.
On the other hand, when people are concerned enough to question practices, sometimes that drives better solutions to the problem.
Your own business is exactly what you should be minding.
It’s not like they’re going to respond, “Mask, you say? Huh! Hadn’t thought of that, thanks!”
mmm
Yes call them. I work for an agency that deals with this kind of stuff (just not in your state) and sincere reporting from the public is a huge help. And you may end up indirectly saving one or more people from injury or illness.