health and safety issue at work

juanveron45

Basically I started work in a soils lab 2 months ago and while its not a chemistry based lab, there is a small chemicals lab.I have to say im not the most gifted when it comes to chemistry,I scraped a pass in 3rd level I do think I know whats safe from working as a lab analyst with a former employer.

Basically in the chemical lab the fume cuboard is broken and the company say they cant afford to pay for it, they use an extraction fan that you would find on top of a fan oven instead(no joke)

There is no safety glasses or fizer

Certain chemicals are heated on a heating mantle and the fumes go all over the lab.

Conc acids such as sulphuric acid/hcl/nitric acid and phosphoric acid are used without a fume cupboard

No one is trained in case of spillage

There are no sops or procedures in the lab.

My only regret is that I haven't noticed this sooner but there have been people here for years and I don't really work in the chemicals lab but I did feel a little sick today when I smelled the fumes today.I didn't think something like this could go on

A meeting is being called tomorrow to discuss this, what would you all advise.I feel like calling the health and safety authority

nesf

Don't cross post the same thread to multiple forums, it's considered to be spamming.

juanveron45

bump

Wishbone Ash

Under section 13, sub-section (h), part (ii) of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, you are obliged as an employee to bring this matter to the attention of you employer.

If you don't think that they are taking you seriously, put it in writing and send it to the person in charge by registered post. That way, they cannot state that they were not informed about this defect..

nesf

juanveron45 wrote:

bump

Remember when I asked you not to bump threads on here? Please don't do it, thanks.

juanveron45

nesf

I don't remember you telling me not to bump threads, I do remember you telling me not to post the same thread in different parts of the board

what is wrong with bumping if one is not satisfied with the responses they have received so far.

This very reply will bump the thread back up anyway

dudara

Lodge an official complaint with your employer. Failing any improvement, contact the HSA for advice.

nesf

juanveron45 wrote:

nesf

I don't remember you telling me not to bump threads, I do remember you telling me not to post the same thread in different parts of the board

Possibly, I could be mixing the two up. Apologies if I did.

juanveron45 wrote:

what is wrong with bumping if one is not satisfied with the responses they have received so far.

This very reply will bump the thread back up anyway

Generally bumping is frowned upon because some people will for some reason keep on doing it in order to keep their thread at the top of the forum when there is little to no interest in it. This is not a good thing and clutters up the forum. It's as much a convention as anything else.

Posting just "bump" is a no no, it doesn't add anything to the thread other than spam really. Posting a reply is a bit different and is fine within reason (ie posting a reply late so it "bumps" the thread is fine, being the only one replying to the thread for ages day after day is pushing it a bit).