Re: Help! New here - in sick building at OHSU

[Guest guest]

well, if I was you I'd be looking for another job,asap.

I know you dont want to hear that but no job, is worth loseing your

health over.

the others may not get far with OSHA, but they need to do something.

there should be mold testing done and being passive about it all will

do nothing but make them sicker.

ripping out the carpet could be very bad at stirring up things

because whats in the air settles to the floor.

they realing should mone everyone out until they discover and have

dealt with the problem.

In , " tammyrussellconsulting "

<tammyrussellconsulting@...> wrote:

>

> Hi,

>

> I've been working in the oldest building at OHSU for 1 month and

two

> days into my new job I began having headaches and dizziness. Two

> weeks after starting I found out that 4 other employees (out of 10)

> have similar symptoms that have even progressed to asthma,

pneumonia

> and other lung issues. I have always been healthy as a horse, but

now

> seem to have asthma as i am coughing all night - and during the

day.

> I am constantly dizzy, fatigued and " sick feeling " . The only air

> quality test OHSU acceded to do was for carbon dioxide,

temperature,

> carbon monoxide, and humidity. They also " begged " my co-workers to

> please not call OSHA. I find this woefully inadequate and their

> proposed next step is to shampoo the carpets - still inadequate

IMO. I

> have left a message with the EPA for a specialist to call me but am

> confused at the next step to take. What should I (we) do next?

>

> Thanks,

> Tammy

>

[Guest guest]

I'm sorry you're not feeling well. Like the others, I'd immediately start to

look for another

job. Do you have sick time? If so, call in sick. Will they let you work from

home? If so, do

that.

Write a letter to HR and copy the safety person at work telling them that you

are not

feeling well and list your symptoms. Say that you are concerned and would like

to meet

about it.

File workman's comp paperwork.

Keep a detailed log of all discussions you have with anyone at work about this.

If you see

signs of leaks of water, etc - take photos. Be discreet about it, but keep them

as you may

need them.

Don't go into that space any more. I know it sounds extreme and crazy for us to

say - but

once again, NO JOB IS WORTH YOUR HEALTH. Get out of there as fast as you can.

Try to

work from home or use sick time while you develop a strategy to get out. I

didn't do this

and I am permanently partially disabled from mold exposure, and Workmans' comp

court

is HELL. Nothing they can give me in terms of health care or any lost pay time

would make

up for my health.

Go to an environmental specialist Dr - you can find one through mold-help.org

(it may be

mold_help.org). Ask for a mold panel. Don't get a skin test for mold - this is

not how you

test if you've been exposed to dangerous molds, nor would it tell you what molds

are

present in your system.

If you're eligible, apply for FMLA. You may be too new.

Find another job - if you can afford it, leave your job now and don't look back!

If you

can't, call in sick or try to work from home.

Imagine how sick your bldg is if you are dizzy and have headaches??? I was on

oxygen in

my bldg after less than 7 weeks - and thought that I had something wrong with

me, never

imagining it was the bldg. I was in my mid 30s, in great health and had never

smoked a

day in my life. Today, I can't walk up stairs without stopping to gasp for air.

Don't let this space take your health - leave, protect yourself immediately.

Email if I can assist in any way. Good luck to you.

> >

> > Hi,

> >

> > I've been working in the oldest building at OHSU for 1 month and

> two

> > days into my new job I began having headaches and dizziness. Two

> > weeks after starting I found out that 4 other employees (out of 10)

> > have similar symptoms that have even progressed to asthma,

> pneumonia

> > and other lung issues. I have always been healthy as a horse, but

> now

> > seem to have asthma as i am coughing all night - and during the

> day.

> > I am constantly dizzy, fatigued and " sick feeling " . The only air

> > quality test OHSU acceded to do was for carbon dioxide,

> temperature,

> > carbon monoxide, and humidity. They also " begged " my co-workers to

> > please not call OSHA. I find this woefully inadequate and their

> > proposed next step is to shampoo the carpets - still inadequate

> IMO. I

> > have left a message with the EPA for a specialist to call me but am

> > confused at the next step to take. What should I (we) do next?

> >

> > Thanks,

> > Tammy

> >

>