Workers complaints

Workers have the right to complain to OSHA regarding workplace safety and health concerns. Workers will need to contact the nearest federal OSHA office or state OSHA office if the state has a state plan. A listing of the OSHA offices for each state can be found in Appendix H or they may use the National OSHA hotline (after hours) 1-800-321-OSHA. An OSHA complaint should include the following information  

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY MANAGEMENT A PRACTICAL APPROACH 

Identification of the intensity of the hazard and if there is an immediate danger to life and health Identification of the standard violated Record of a previous violation for this hazard 

Whether the work has been shut down by the employer or by a federal or state agency Time when the hazard was first noticed Notification of employer Request for confidentiality 

Request for an employee representative to accompany the inspector Request for a closing conference 

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While discussing ethers we should mention that the presence of unreacted anisoles or methyl anisoles is highly undesirable in the manufacture of phenol-formaldehyde resoles. These materials tend to be unreactive relative to phenol under normal resole conditions. They are also volatile and have odors detectable at very low concentrations. They have been the source of worker complaints and costly claims in the wood products industry. Benzophenones and methyl phenyl ketones are also common phenol contaminants that are problematic in this regard. 

We should keep in mind that the main difference between level D and C equipment is the amount of respiratory protection. Level C protection requires use of a respiratory device (APR). Requiring workers to work in level C for more than a small percentage of the time can prove to be a challenging situation for both workers and managers. Respirators, especially full-face respirators, can provide excellent protection for workers, but are also found to be a source for worker complaints. 

Studies of workers exposed to high levels of chlordecone indicate that pleuritic chest pain was a relatively common complaint (Cannon et al. 1978 Taylor 1982, 1985). Examination of workers with this complaint revealed no cause for the pains. Since oral exposure studies in animals did not identify any respiratory end points that may have been affected following ingestion of chlordecone (Larson et al. 1979b) and no inhalation exposure studies were located, a possible physiological basis for the workers complaints has not been identified. Insufficient information is available to determine whether persons exposed to low levels of chlordecone at hazardous waste sites would experience adverse respiratory effects, but the possibility cannot be discounted. 

High exposure permanent white, blue, or black smoke heavy soot deposits, especially near emission points widespread worker complaints CO2 levels in excess of 1000 ppm and/or CO levels in excess of 10 ppm or NOj levels above the exposure limit controls likely not adequate immediate cessation of operations and decision on new control strategy before resnming reevaluation required... 

Workers have a right to talk privately to the compliance officer on a confidential basis whether or not a workers representative has been chosen. Workers are encouraged to point out hazards, describe accidents or illnesses that resulted from those hazards, describe past worker complaints about hazards, and inform the inspector if working conditions are not normal during the inspection. 

Certain chemicals cause cancer of the internal organs and systems of the body. Tar, bitumen, anthracene, and their compounds, products, and residues can cause cancers of the skin. Widely used chemicals that are carcinogens are vinyl chloride (liver cancer), benzene (leukemia), formaldehyde (nasal cancer), butadiene, ethyleneamine, trichloroethylene, and a long list of others. Many of these were found only after extensive worker complaints and analytical tests. 

Workers complaints of physical aches and pains related to their work assignments... 

Employers must ensure that supervisors are trained in the effective use of these programs. Worker complaints of stress should not be taken lightly. Employees must take a role by... 

The tragedy followed an earlier one in the company s mines the same year when 17 miners drowned. The wall of the 7 Life Extension project had collapsed and the mine was flooded. There had apparently been worker complaints of lack of safety management by the company. 

Piece rate or machine-paced work for more than four hours at a time Workers complaints of physical aches and pains related to their work assignments... 

Requesting an OSHA inspection is a right that should be used in a prudent and responsible manner and only after all other options have been exhausted. Workers complaints are the most... 

Federal agencies must have a safety and health program that meets the same standards as private employers. Although OSHA does not fine federal agencies, it does monitor federal agencies and respond to workers complaints. There is one exception to this the United States Postal Service (USPS) is covered by OSHA in the same way as private employers. 

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