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#Post#: 17482--------------------------------------------------
It's really NOT funny when I can't breathe... more info #7
By: Writer of Wrongs Date: October 29, 2018, 8:23 am
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As I mentioned in the thread about conference swag, we're going
to have new leadership after the first of the year, and a
(minor-ish) reorg is possible. This is long, but please bear
with me.
My office is currently on a separate floor from the rest of my
colleagues, which I actually like. I go into the main office 3-4
times per day, including first thing in the morning to put my
lunch in the refrigerator and make my tea, but other than that,
I work alone. One of the directors, Amy, (not mine) and another
employee, Carol, are borderline germaphobes - I don't mean just
washing their hands carefully, but Lysoling every surface in the
office anytime someone so much as coughs. Clouds of Lysol. I
wish I were exaggerating on the "clouds."
Last week I could literally smell the Lysol down a stairwell and
50+ feet away from the closed, solid wood door. I walked in, not
realizing the reek was coming from inside the office, and had to
flee immediately because I started coughing and my throat closed
up. Unfortunately, I was scheduled to work in the main office
all day on a special project.
When I returned, after giving the stuff a while to dissipate, it
still smelled quite strongly but I was able to breathe through
my handkerchief to filter it. Carol had been the one spraying
the Lysol and knew I'd had to leave fast. She apologized and
asked if I was okay. During the course of the conversation, I
mentioned that my aunt had been hospitalized for several days
after a reaction to a similar situation. Carol seemed horrified
but said she was following Amy's instructions since someone had
gone home sick the previous day.
Amy came in during this conversation, and Carol mentioned that
I'd had to leave for a while. Amy said, "Oh, yeah, hee hee, the
(neighboring office) employees think we're crazy because we're
always Lysoling. Ha ha. But I've got kids, and I can't afford to
get sick."
This morning, I went in to make my tea, and while I was
finishing it, Carol came in and started wiping the table down
with Lysol. I grabbed my stuff and said, "Okay, I'll see you
later. I've got to get out of here before y'all make me sick."
(My tone wasn't passive-aggressive; it was the same way I'd say,
"I've got to go; got a lot to catch up on.")
Carol said she's assigned to wipe everything down every morning
and every afternoon from now on. (This doesn't include the
random times they'll Lysol everything because a customer coughed
or had body odor.)
Right now, I can simply make my tea at home and keep my lunch in
a cooler in my office. The smell will be gone by lunchtime, when
I need to go to the main office to heat it, and I can avoid the
area during the afternoon wipe-down. But the new management may
very well decide to reassign me to the main office, and I'm
worried about that. I'm willing to go to our other building, or
I can stay where I am, but the main office simply will not work
for me.
I understand needing to keep things clean, especially since
we're entering cold and flu season, but I literally will be
unable to breathe every day. Which is kinda important to me! ;)
I know the new managers and have good relationships with them.
Is this something I should bring up now? During interviews (they
will interview all employees before the actual transition
occurs)? Or should I just wait, and if they tell me I'm moving
to the main office, object then?
#Post#: 17484--------------------------------------------------
Re: It's really NOT funny when I can't breathe...
By: camlan Date: October 29, 2018, 8:33 am
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I would wait until they assign you to that office, if they do.
But in the meantime, this sounds like a medical issue. I think
if you were to get a note from your doctor stating that you
cannot be exposed to Lysol in particular and other sprays/scents
in general, the company would have to accommodate you--either by
banning the Lysol or having you work in a different office.
This is your health that we are talking about. I don't know if
this would fall under the ADA or not, but clearly you can't be
subjected to this on a daily basis. Check with HR now about what
would be necessary to keep the Lysol away from you and your
desk.
You could also post this question over on Ask A Manager. She
might have more insight into the protections that you have, and
how to deal with the system so that you can stay safe.
#Post#: 17485--------------------------------------------------
Re: It's really NOT funny when I can't breathe...
By: Model Date: October 29, 2018, 8:40 am
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That is absolutely insane and I would definitely bring it up to
management now. Even without a breathing issue, NO ONE should
be breathing that stuff in! Those chemicals are so toxic, how
do people not realize that? Much worse for your health then
getting a cold.
#Post#: 17486--------------------------------------------------
Re: It's really NOT funny when I can't breathe...
By: STiG Date: October 29, 2018, 8:42 am
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I'm having similar issues, though with all kinds of chemicals,
not just cleaning products. I'm currently working towards
getting an accommodation to work mostly from home because of the
issues - headaches, nausea and lung irritation.
Absolutely start the ball rolling with your doctor, NOW.
Because these things take time. If there is testing available,
get it done; get everything you can documented with your doctor.
Personally, I would talk to new management as soon as you have
some documentation so they can take it into account when they
are doing the reorganization. If they know ahead, it's easier
to work around it than to have to change a plan after it's been
executed.
(Amy is being ridiculous; if she wants to make sure she doesn't
get sick, she needs to wash her hands and use hand sanitizer
regularly. That much chemical exposure isn't good for anyone,
let alone anyone sensitive to it.)
#Post#: 17495--------------------------------------------------
Re: It's really NOT funny when I can't breathe...
By: Bada Date: October 29, 2018, 9:56 am
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Like Stig says, it's easier to change things at the planning
stages than after everything is in place. Since you have a good
relationship with management, I'd raise it now casually. See if
they even need confirmation from a doctor. They might just take
your word for it if they've been victims of the Lysol Clouds
too.
Yuck!
#Post#: 17519--------------------------------------------------
Re: It's really NOT funny when I can't breathe...
By: Aleko Date: October 29, 2018, 12:44 pm
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[quote]That is absolutely insane and I would definitely bring it
up to management now. Even without a breathing issue, NO ONE
should be breathing that stuff in! Those chemicals are so
toxic, how do people not realize that? Much worse for your
health then getting a cold. [/quote]
Yes!!! And if they are swabbing down table tops lavishly, the
chances are that people are getting it on their hands - which
means, ultimately, into their mouths - and elsewhere on their
skin, as well as inhaling it. Lysol is toxic - that's why it
kills bacteria! - and should never be used for this purpose.
This misuse of toxic chemicals is a health hazard for the whole
workplace, not only you, and you should bring it up to
management as such.
If Amy "doesn't want to get sick", in reality the best strategy
is actually to expose herself to enough everyday bacteria and
viruses to gain decent level of immunity: evidence has been
stacking up for decades that excessive hygiene is actually
dangerous. However, since clearly nobody will ever convince her
of that, she should be advised to use hand sanitisers and
gargles whenever she encounters anyone with a cough.
#Post#: 17522--------------------------------------------------
Re: It's really NOT funny when I can't breathe...
By: lmyrs Date: October 29, 2018, 1:41 pm
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This level of Lysol in the air must not just be a problem for
you. My throat wouldn't close up and I don't have any allergies,
but it would still be horrible to deal with and probably is
causing a bunch of people to get headaches or coughs.
If it's possible to get a formal medical accommodation, I'd get
it asap. Will the new bosses be on Amy's floor? Because
hopefully they'll put a stop to this.
I think for you, get the accommodation and have it filed
immediately. Then your best bet is to not say anything unless
they try to move you. You'll have accommodation as back up then.
#Post#: 17526--------------------------------------------------
Re: It's really NOT funny when I can't breathe... more info
By: Writer of Wrongs Date: October 29, 2018, 2:14 pm
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I don't know that I would qualify for any kind of accommodation,
but I've never actually thought about checking. It's not an
allergic reaction, and I don't have respiratory issues. It's
just … a massive cloud of toxic chemicals. (This was the same
thing that happened to my aunt: she walked into a bathroom stall
with a cloud of Lysol hanging in the air. Before she could get
out of the stall, she had breathed some of it and the mist
settled on her. It affected her skin and her lungs, which meant
it also went to all her organs. She was in the hospital on the
verge of renal failure for quite a while. Not an allergy, just
overwhelmed by the amount of chemicals in the air.)
Apparently Amy and Carol both do this on a regular basis in
their homes, too, so they're used to it. I don't know how
everyone else reacts, but the three of us are usually the first
to arrive. (I'm just working to avoid this for now, but my
concern is after the potential reorg.)
Last week wasn't the first time I've had to leave abruptly, and
on those previous occasions, Amy's reaction was basically the
same: "Oh, haha, sorry, but we have to do this. Giggle."
I actually said something to Carol about it - something like,
"It really can't be good for all of you to be breathing that
stuff." Her response was, "I like the smell of it." ::)
But you're right - exposure to some germs is a good thing,
assuming one isn't completely immune-compromised. Hello,
drug-resistant diseases!
#Post#: 17534--------------------------------------------------
Re: It's really NOT funny when I can't breathe... more info #7
By: Lula Date: October 29, 2018, 3:10 pm
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Amy said, "Oh, yeah, hee hee, the (neighboring office) employees
think we're crazy because we're always Lysoling. Ha ha. But I've
got kids, and I can't afford to get sick."
::)
#Post#: 17542--------------------------------------------------
Re: It's really NOT funny when I can't breathe... more info #7
By: Hmmm Date: October 29, 2018, 3:33 pm
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Can you ask them to use a natural disinfectant instead of Lysol
that contains ethanol?
Cheap vodka mixed with lemon peels is very good disinfectant.
But I'm sure there are other commercial products that would work
too.
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