Author Topic: Chemical sensitivity  (Read 3098 times)

Offline Maxie

  • !!!
  • Gonzo Member
  • ******
  • Posts: 1328
Chemical sensitivity
« on: May 13, 2016, 04:20:38 PM »
I have a new worker who is supposed to be a printer but in our place everyone does a bit of everything.
He is complaining that the screen cleaning chemicals make him nauseous.
Anyone heard of this before?
Not sure what to do with him, maybe buy him a good mask or say goodbye.
Maxie Garb.
T Max Designs.
Silk Screen Printers
www.tmax.co.il


Offline Frog

  • Administrator
  • Ludicrous Speed Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 13980
  • Docendo discimus
Re: Chemical sensitivity
« Reply #1 on: May 13, 2016, 04:28:53 PM »
Read the MSDS sheets that are available for every ink and chemical.

Also, some places, masks may be required for employee health and safety.
That rug really tied the room together, did it not?

Offline Sbrem

  • Ludicrous Speed Member
  • *******
  • Posts: 6055
Re: Chemical sensitivity
« Reply #2 on: May 13, 2016, 04:35:21 PM »
Andy's advice is right, and you may have hit on your 2 options, get a nice respirator, and if that doesn't work out, then it's a bad match...

Steve
I made a mistake once; I thought I was wrong about something; I wasn't

Offline Croft

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 875
Re: Chemical sensitivity
« Reply #3 on: May 14, 2016, 06:54:47 PM »
I know there are some brands I can't even stand in the shop, so could be true.

Offline mt_signex

  • Verified/Junior
  • **
  • Posts: 61
Re: Chemical sensitivity
« Reply #4 on: May 14, 2016, 09:21:59 PM »
My allergies are pretty severe and I noticed some of my chemicals would cause my nose to run, make me cough, etc and I checked the MSDS and bought an appropriate 3M mask and filter combo and have no issues at all while cleaning now.  It was fairly inexpensive.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Offline Maff

  • !!!
  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 380
Re: Chemical sensitivity
« Reply #5 on: May 14, 2016, 10:16:02 PM »
Is he a great worker?
Are you married to your brand of cleaning chems?

If he's a really great worker, in the long run it may be worth switching to a brand that better suits with the staff.

There are a 101 cleaning chems out there and some I've tried stink like hell, and others smell like oranges.

But if he sucks... than this could be the first of more complaints/annoyances to follow...

Offline Rockers

  • !!!
  • Gonzo Member
  • ******
  • Posts: 2074
Re: Chemical sensitivity
« Reply #6 on: May 15, 2016, 02:53:33 AM »
Have you heard of MCS-Multi Chemical Sensitivity. There are people out there who suffer from it.

Offline SoccerMom

  • Verified/Junior
  • **
  • Posts: 33
Re: Chemical sensitivity
« Reply #7 on: May 16, 2016, 12:46:05 AM »
    I would cover yourself by buying the mask, and making the MSDS are made accessible to him (although apparently that's no longer mandatory) and work him hard till he either proves himself or quits.

Offline mk162

  • Ludicrous Speed Member
  • *******
  • Posts: 7862
Re: Chemical sensitivity
« Reply #8 on: May 16, 2016, 09:32:04 AM »
MSDS are no longer mandatory, but SDS sheets are.

I've heard of this before, but usually it was from people that didn't come back after lunch or for day 2.

What chemicals are bothering him?  Maybe you can swap a couple of those out, heck, you might even get a great recommendation here.


Offline CCI

  • Verified/Junior
  • **
  • Posts: 34
Re: Chemical sensitivity
« Reply #10 on: July 11, 2016, 11:23:40 AM »
I have a new worker who is supposed to be a printer but in our place everyone does a bit of everything.
He is complaining that the screen cleaning chemicals make him nauseous.
Anyone heard of this before?
Not sure what to do with him, maybe buy him a good mask or say goodbye.


Check SDS from manufacturer for recommended PPE; probably 3M mask with organic vapor filters would help. Could try Enviroline but can’t guarantee it will smell better if we don’t know what he is using. Different people seem to tolerate smells differently maybe a change of chemical will help.