tobacco polcy

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fmtjfw

Senior Member
You're in construction, do you realize all the stuff that you have breathed in? I think they would be very hard pressed to prove that it was second hand smoke that caused the lung cancer or heart disease.

Actually in maintenance. Almost no exposure to dust (other than what fall in my face from pulling drop ceiling pieces. When wiring new rooms and they were going to sand drywall, we'd just go to one of the other 300 items on our list.
 

cowboyjwc

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Location
Simi Valley, CA
Actually in maintenance. Almost no exposure to dust (other than what fall in my face from pulling drop ceiling pieces. When wiring new rooms and they were going to sand drywall, we'd just go to one of the other 300 items on our list.

Been there done that for seven year. Don't be fooled by the little ceiling pieces. We were working in one ceiling and had to snap off corners and drill holes for chain to hang through. About six months later they decide that they're going to remove the ceiling. We go by one day and all the guys are wearing moon suits and have the whole place sealed and fans and what not.

I can't remember what they were made of, but it was in line with asbestos.
 

fmtjfw

Senior Member
Yep, I had two known asbestos exposures (demo of mine building structure with asbestos sheathing and sanding of asbestos linoleum in an office I worked in) and lots of undocumented ones. Asbestos in old plaster, asbestos in old fluorescent fixture wiring, old drop ceiling tiles.

My boss said there was wasn't any asbestos in the type A wire in the fixtures. I cut a wire in half, gave 1/2 of it to him and sent the other half off to a testing lab for analysis on my own dime. Turned out an old geezer like me knows when he sees type A wire. My lab got results back about 1 month before county did.

Showed him a copy of the report and never touched an old fixture again after the "consultant" for the county who had been denying the existence of asbestos in the buildings for years caved in.

Turns out you had to volunteer for asbestos remediation, be trained, and supplied with PPE and -- get this -- paid an added $10 per day while doing it. They got one of the dumber electricians to deal with it without any of the required things I just listed. This was after I showed him what the wire looked like and the MSDS for it. Beats me!
 

ActionDave

Chief Moderator
Staff member
Location
Durango, CO, 10 h 20 min from the winged horses.
Occupation
Licensed Electrician
I haven't any desire to control your life.

The OP asked about a tobacco free work place policy.

I'm glad you're a polite tobacco user. If more were like you, we probably wouldn't be having this discussion.

Just as you are free to decide to use tobacco, I'm free to decide not to hire folks that use it.
As happens from time to time my attempt to make a point was written inelegantly. I'll try it this way.

I listed four habits, two of which I think would have a worse effect on job performance and safety, and one that is equal in terms of negative health. The only one that concerns you is tobacco..... I don't understand why. A slob is a slob and need not be part of your crew, but being a tobacco user does not automatically make one such.
 

Rewire

Senior Member
As happens from time to time my attempt to make a point was written inelegantly. I'll try it this way.

I listed four habits, two of which I think would have a worse effect on job performance and safety, and one that is equal in terms of negative health. The only one that concerns you is tobacco..... I don't understand why. A slob is a slob and need not be part of your crew, but being a tobacco user does not automatically make one such.

A tobacco user smells of tobacco some people are sensitive to that . When you get a comment card from a customer complaining your tech smelled of tobacco smoke then I need to evaluate our policy to ensure this customer compliant is addressed .
 
As happens from time to time my attempt to make a point was written inelegantly. I'll try it this way.

I listed four habits, two of which I think would have a worse effect on job performance and safety, and one that is equal in terms of negative health. The only one that concerns you is tobacco..... I don't understand why. A slob is a slob and need not be part of your crew, but being a tobacco user does not automatically make one such.

I would not hire a heavy drinker, and would let go (and have) anyone coming to work smelling of alcohol. My standards of personal and work cleanliness are clearing explained during the hiring process, and again, I would (and have) let go anyone that didn't maintain those standards. I also don't tolerate abusive speech, fits of anger, and grooming styles that some customers might find offensive. This isn't my passing judgement on such individuals, just on the choices they make that would impact my business and their fellow employees.

It's not just tobacco, it's life principles.
 
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