I/We/ Us, wanted to respond to your latest Neil’s NOTES,
that you posted on your blog and posted in the garages. Titled: “Are You A Wellness Champion?” I/We/Me/Us wanted to know, just who were you
talking about in this post? I/We/Us/ am looking
at this and scratching My/Our/Us/We head, because here You/Management are talking
so casually about health and wellness as though You/Management have really been
at the forefront of preaching health, wellness, and might I/We/Us add in stress prevention to
Your/Management post.
I/We/ Us am that bus operator that gets up in the morning,
goes to work and put in an average day of 13+ hours in uniform (as a full-time
operator). Since I/We/Us am backed into
working a 4 hour split shift with no weekends off, I/We/Us have barely enough time to see My/Us
kids due to the ridiculousness of the companies need to keep spit shifts as a
way to work Your/Management’s budget. If I/Us/We live too far to go home, eat (a
proper meal, not fast food or another type of bad food) and get back to work in
time to catch My/Our/Us next route, then I/Us would have to stay in the garage
or go to the nearest fast food joint. Is
this another reason You/Management are moving to Your/Management “new” offices
downtown? Are You/Management not wanting
to see all-the-bodies in the employee area, sleeping (where they can), trying
to keep moral up in a reasonable light. I/
We/Us do the best I/We/Us can in the hours that I/We/Us have daily, to try and
maintain a healthy enough lifestyle.
When I/Us/We get on the bus for the shift I/Us/We work, I/Us/We have to
be reminded of just how dirty the environment “is”. The busses have not had regular cleaning
since the beginning of 2011, it is now 2013 and winter time, where I/Us/We
cannot open all the windows in order to get fresh air. In this dirty environment My/Us/Our health “is”
impacted the most, the air is “so” thick with contaminants, bacteria , exhaust
and let’s not forget human cotangents that ride for all hours of My/Our
shift. If You/Management don’t know what
I’m/Us/We are talking about, let’s have you sit in the driver’s seat with the
Climate Control on and blowing on You/Management. If you detect a smell of watered down bleach
or biodiesel, then you are getting poisoned, now times that with a 12 hour in
the seat, day? Not to Your/Managements’ liking then “who are you talking about
in Your/Management Neil’s Notes? Also,
without regular cleaning, the duct work (which have never been cleaned) and the
HVACs hold in “all” the contagions and changing the filter only acts like a
plug. In case You/Management wanted to
forget or have forgotten this Oregonian article, let Me/Us remind you: http://www.oregonlive.com/
I/We/Me/Us, am the Maintenance worker that gets up in the
morning, goes to work and put in an average day. Often, I/We/Us have to work in, and work with
sub-par conditions, such as a tool allowance that does not cover My/Our/Us
needs while I/We/Us work on outdated equipment that often breaks down. I/Us/We often work in the morning “bumping”
tires, while starting the busses at the same time. This “is” hazardous work, due to the amounts
of burning exhaust (bio-diesel) that is in the air, in case You/Management don’t
know what I/We/Us am talking about, it is that strong smell of burned crayons,
which causes eye and lung problems. Is that
why You/Management are moving Your/Management offices downtown? Is it that You/Management are concerned about
the impact of this on Your/Managements’ health, or are You/Management not
concerned about admissions around the local neighborhoods where the garages are
located, or the schools and children that play in these areas, so far, You/Management
“show” no concern. I/We/Us am also the
one who has to work around hazardous chemicals that get on my work clothes (of
which I/Us have few, due to a clothing allowance that does not give me an adequate
amount). You/Management did not care to tell
me such things as “I/Us” would have to clean these contaminated uniforms on My/Our/Us
own. Taking these things home, I/We am
cross contaminating My/Our/Us home, cars and families, not to mention the possibility
of blowing up My/Our/We dryer due to the chemicals such as biodiesel (that does
not come off in the wash). In case
You/Management don’t understand, then let Me/We show you something about “flash-points”
and dryers: Flash Point (ASTM D93)
The flash
point, as specified, is not directly related to engine performance. It is,
however, of importance in connection with legal requirements and safety
precautions involved in fuel handling and storage that are normally specified
to meet insurance and fire regulations. The flash point for biodiesel has been
set at 93°C (200°F) minimum, so biodiesel falls under the non-hazardous
category under National Fie Protection Association codes. (http://www.hydro.mb.ca/your_
How Hot Does a Clothes Dryer Get?
Under normal operating conditions, the internal
temperature of the air in the drum runs at an average temperature of 135°F.
More info: Technically, how hot a clothes dryer gets
depends on which part of the unit you are considering. The hottest area of the
clothes dryer occurs in the heating element. Air is drawn into the heater duct
and heated to temperatures ranging from 200°F-300°F. Once the air reaches the
inside of the drum, evaporating water cools the air to 90°F-170°F.
Factors Influencing Clothes Dryer Temperature
Several factors influence the internal operating
temperature of a dryer including cycle setting, load size, dampness, room
temperature, and airflow. The make and the model of the clothes dryer, as well
as its age will also influence operating temperature. (http://www.sophisticatededge.
As You/Management can tell, there “is” a possibility of this
happening, probably more so with older dryers, yet Your/Management’s newest
contract proposal doesn’t address laundering these coveralls that We/Us ware.
I/We/Me/Us, am the Service worker that goes to work and put
in an average day. Often, I/We/Us have
to work in, and work with sub-par conditions, such as getting that “dirty-bus”
ready for the operators to take the next day.
I/We work hard, yet the working conditions are horrible. The busses have not been regularly (interior)
cleaned since 2011, I/Us blow out the
garbage that passengers leave on the busses, dump the garbage out of the cans,
and sometimes mop the floors, then run it though the exterior washer. Do You/Management wonder why I/Us/We would be
on this type of list, well, let me ask You/Management a question? Since, there are no real interior cleaners
since 2011, the ductworks which have contaminates in them (that have never been
cleaned out) and thousands and thousands of sick people riding each day and
I/We blow trash around with a blower from the back to the front, all the while
things that I cannot see impact my health the most, which causes eye, nose and
lung irritation. What I/We need is a
breathing lung to curb the impact, and all You/Management offer is a paper
mask, which does not prevent anything. These
types of masks would do far more to protect My/We/Us’ health: (http://www.achooallergy.com/
|
Why
wear an allergy mask or respirator?
Allergy
relief masks are great for people who:
| |
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When
worn properly a face mask or respirator can be your best friend. All of the
masks and respirators that we offer present a physical barrier between you
and allergens, and most go further and actually filter submicron particles
such as pollen, air pollutants like benzene, and microorganisms like bacteria
or the flu virus. Whether you are concerned with mold spores while raking
leaves, soot and hydrocarbon pollution while commuting to work or simply
worried about contracting H1N1 or other types of the flu, we have a
respirator or mask to meet your needs.
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Why don’t You/Management come down as see what We/Us go
through, trying to stay healthy while at work.
Lastly, since You are a Wellness Champion as you have
stated, then know this, as an employee talking to you, you are the Manager of
this company, not just the non-union side, and with that responsibility comes
leadership. Leadership that recognizes
of “all” sides of every issue, again not just the non-union side, if you want
to talk about health and wellness then as a leader you must dictate this as a
priority, with respect to the well-being of all the employees under your
leadership. I/Us/We understand that some
personal responsibility is needed to aid My/Our/Us/We long-term health, yet
look at the contributing factors that happen under your stewardship. Are you tired of hearing how many union
employees (who gave their lives for the company?) die, each year, or on the
list of needing additional sick leave? These
are the reasons that the union employees are upset that You/Management want to
reduce My/Our/Us/We health coverage in current and retired employees. Reducing My/Our/Us/We coverage down to 96%
from 100% when You/Management are 100% responsible for the contributing factors
which affect Our/We/Us health while on the job.
Anonymous.
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