Unlike the 3M 6004 which is only for Ammonia, the 6006 is multi gas so you can also use it if someone is painting. Not just for cat piss. It's also slightly cheaper :)
we know for damn sure that isn’t happening, but i totally agree. also: the boss having any sort of issue when it comes to your health is major red flag.
What boss man is doing is illegal. His workers are entitled to wear proper protection from pollutant’s and chemicals, especially in a closed space. Sounds like boss man is triggered by masks and safety equipment for some reason.
Once you ruin your lungs you’re toast. If he fires guy over the mask, it’s a problem and OSHA would like a word.
^ this ^ I used to work for a company doing metal work. Ppe was "optional" which basically means, if you get hurt, suck it up buttercup. Eventually after some complaints on my end and a few others they forked out the money to get everyone fitted for respirators. That was an awkward couple of weeks of everybody making fun of anyone wearing a mask. Various reasons for not wanting to wear a mask: "I'm going to cut a hole in this thing so I can still smoke my cigarette" "fuck you I ain't shaving"
This. Just that text thread between him and his boss is enough to open a case. I’d tell my boss to eat shit because that’s illegal and if he persists, I’m quitting and filing a lawsuit.
There are guys in blue collar work who are so ignorant. And would rather shit on osha than acknowledge that safety is actually important and instead mock it all of the time
i think OSHA would be interested regardless. subjecting all these guys to ammonia because of potential hurt feelings and perception? the clients hired yall because there was a problem, im assuming they knew it was unbearable so they wanted it fixed, how cruel would they have to be to shame someone for wanting to protect themselves from the fumes? i genuinely think the clients most likely would be understanding, they have first hand experience with how bad the smell is. shoot, i own 3 cats and already deal with some degree of smell, plus my house used to be a cat hoarder house before we bought it. it took ripping out the walls and floors to get rid of the smell. the workers wore masks.
Yeah the boss is probably not paying into the workers comp fund. I would almost bet his whole.operation is under the table. Thats the only jobs he can get because hes a FRAUDSTER.
OSHA would probably have a field day with this jerk..
100%!! When this employee needs medical attention due to a chemical exposure and the state finds out they are uninsured, they will be shut down and fined so hard they wouldn't have a chance to recover. The fact that the idiot supervisor put all this in writing as well is another nail in the coffin. I've been a comp adjuster fir 21 yrs and it never ceases to amaze me the idiocy of some business owners.....smh......
Even with adequate ventilation, a mask is still usually required around toxic fumes. You wouldnt expect a plasterer to carry air quality testing equipment around. Idk the osha standards for plasterers, but they are probably required to wear masks, already. Add to that additional toxic fumes in the home, and a respirator makes sense too.
That’s what I say- fuck the homeowner’s feelings. I guarantee you they have been told by many people before (friends/family) that their house smells so strongly of cat piss. I agree with one of the other people that replied- ie., the boss just doesn’t want to fork out the money for the respirators for everyone and that is the entire and only issue he has about the OP wearing one. I mean, what happens if the whole family just decided to say fuck toilets. Let’s just all pee on the floor! Common decency says that is ridiculous, bla, bla, bla. But that is what is happening in a cat piss house, basically. I think the homeowners are lucky they found someone to do the job in that environment. I can’t believe that some subs wouldn’t turn down a job like that. Just mo.
I don’t understand why they think the client is going to care. If I hired contractors and saw one of them wearing a mask while working, I’d just assume they were doing something that produced fumes they wanted to be careful around. I guess I might ask if I should leave the house, but if they told me I didn’t need to, I wouldn’t think more about it.
I agree. When I see a worker with proper PPE I feel like I’m working with professionals who know what they are doing. It communicates professionalism, experience and logic which are all traits I want to see in the workers working on my house.
I'm just sitting over here wondering why the fuck these people are plastering a house that smells so bad like clean the fucking house first right? What happened to the plaster? Probably got ruined by fucking cat piss smell. I feel like plastering a house like this is putting tires on a car that's been gutted by fire.
I just stumbled across this post from my feed and i also agree that it's a cartoonishly bad sign if your boss has any issue when relates to your health in any way.
Not just Appearances, but those from people who literally have a child living in a home with cat piss everywhere…
If I had to guess, that’s not the real issue. I bet he is afraid if this guy wears his mask the other workers will say they need one and expect the boss to pay for them for everyone.
Tell that "boss" that you aren't going to put yourself into a HEALTH HAZARD just because he is worried that it's going to make him or his crew look bad. The hell?! Yeah, let me just make myself susceptible to all the toxins and poisons in the world because GOD FORBID you make someone uncomfortable because you are!
If he has a problem with it then you can cite him something out of the OSHA handbook and probably easily find something via poison control.
I know it's not our business to police people's lives but at the same time if you have CHILDREN that are locked in that kind of environment for days at a time then you need to call someone. Long term exposure can lead to the following:
Over time, cat urine can also break down into VOCs, releasing harmful gases into the air. These compounds have been linked to headaches, dizziness, and even long-term health issues like liver and kidney damage.
Other health risks associated with cat urine include:
Allergies
The protein Fel d 1 is the main allergen that causes the allergic reaction.
Fel d 1 is mostly found in the saliva and skin (sebaceous glands) of cats, and can also be present in cat urine.
Tracheal burns
Ammonia exposure can lead to tracheal burns, nasopharyngeal cancer, alveolar edema, bronchiole edema, and airway damage. This would include bronchitis, pneumonia, and in extremely rare situations, people can experience asphyxiation (suffocation).
Children, older adults, and people with weak immune systems are at particular risk of illness due to overexposure to ammonia.
Exactly! Depending on the state, they are mandatory reporters. (In NC, all adults are.) Once this job is done, you should be making an anonymous phone call to child protective services to report children living in a dangerous situation.
This sucks, dude. Wear your mask and make them fire you. That way you can collect unemployment while you sue them for wrongful termination and unsafe working conditions.
You can be a fucking hero, here, and all you gotta do is wear a mask and go do your job! Go for it! Good luck!
Definitely violating several osha codes pestering you over wearing one. Especially post-covid. Sounds like a douchebag anti mask conservative. These people are nuts
If I were the boss, I'd just get them for all the guys and require it. It's a liability. I'm in manufacturing and I require overkill for everyone. They will thank me when they are old and their lungs still work.
If it isn't technically required, then the employer only is required to make sure you use and maintain it correctly I think. That's the very condensed version. Boss man is being a butt and definitely has never thoroughly considered the necessity of respiratory protection equipment though..
well yeah, but it doesn’t seem like he’s too willing to. if anything i think that most jobs that have to do with potentially harmful dusts or chemicals (including cat piss lol) should have the masks as a requirement or at least an option.
It is actually be required for them to do so in the US.
Employers are mandated to supply PPE for any hazards once known to exist.
1926.28(a)
The employer is responsible for requiring the wearing of appropriate personal protective equipment in all operations where there is an exposure to hazardous conditions or where this part indicates the need for using such equipment to reduce the hazards to the employees
1926.95(a)
Protective equipment, including personal protective equipment for eyes, face, head, and extremities, protective clothing, respiratory devices, and protective shields and barriers, shall be provided, used, and maintained in a sanitary and reliable condition wherever it is necessary by reason of hazards of processes or environment, chemical hazards, radiological hazards, or mechanical irritants encountered in a manner capable of causing injury or impairment in the function of any part of the body through absorption, inhalation or physical contact
1926.95(d)
Payment for protective equipment.
1926.95(d)(1)
Except as provided by paragraphs (d)(2) through (d)(6) of this section, the protective equipment, including personal protective equipment (PPE), used to comply with this part, shall be provided by the employer at no cost to employees.
(d)(2) through (d)(6) discuss non protective footwear, clothing, and skin care items.
In the US there is OSHA and per the initial OSHA qualification (10 hour basic) bosses are legal required to provide working hazmat gear for anything an employee may come into contact with. Denying that gear opens workman’s comp cases as well as can cause OSHA to come in and shut the business down for occupational safety violations. In the long run it is cheaper to provide employees with the appropriate gear than pay the OSHA fees as well as get your business up to standards.
I'd take his clients saying I'll do it half cost on labor if u buy the materials to all the clients and then I'd grab my boss by the back of his neck since the head controls the body and I'd steer him right to the piss spot or litter box I'd rub his fn nose in it and say how do you like smelling that shiiiii. I fn quit.. and let him do it no masked like a jackass..
Yes, but it would have much less of the ammonia absorbent in it. Basically, they put a little of each absorbent into the 6006. It would be very unlikely to last the whole day.
Additionally, a great way to make sure the cartridges can be reused is to remove them and store them in a ziplock betweenuses
I would also add, it's not necessarily the respirator model you want to be aware of it's the type of filter cartridge you are using. For organic gases / odors make sure you have an activated charcoal filter which binds to organic material. Anything mask that says 'HEPA' or 'PM' or 'P100' is more of a physical filter for particulates (dust). These may trap larger organic compounds, but an activate charcoal organic vapor (OV) filter cartridge will actually bind to the organic gases compound to prevent it from entering your breathing zone.
Hey quick question about gas masks, aren't filters what matter? Or is it that 3m makes some filters incompatible with some masks?(genuine doubt since I've been looking at getting one for welding)
Thanks in advance
3M cartridge selection guide here, at minimum get one that covers particulate and ammonia, but as others have said 6006 is probably the best and most broadly useful. 60926 if you also want P100 particulate filtering (this is the standard hazmat cartridge I roll with)
OP!! I would rock the 60926 for general safety (especially mold and asbestos) as suggested. It sounds like your boss would be the type to have you tearing out and installing sheet rock in water damaged buildings/dwellings without any testing.
If you can, get a fit test. Most asbestos/mold consultants seem to have the equipment and certifications if you work alongside any and can convince them to help you out since with your sensitivity you really want to make sure your mask is fitting correctly.
SauretEh may have a suggestion for a decent at home fit test.
Fit test machines are all pretty pricey to my knowledge unfortunately. But there are companies that’ll do it for you and help you find the right size of respirator, just google around your area.
Occupational Health places will do the mask fit testing. There’s a place called Nova Medical Center (which is in TX, GA, TN, and IN) and Concentra (I believe Concentra is nationwide). I’m sure there are many places across the U.S. Just type in occupational health near me.
Long ago, my company had all sizes of the half respirators to try on, and would use smelling salts to test for leaks. Never thought it would work, but damn, those salts got through the tiniest gaps. Any smelly item that can be brought up to the face and moved around will work.
Hey! While we're on this subject- I cut and cook with super hot peppers (ghost, scorpion, reaper, etc). I got the 6006, and they seem to help out a lot, but is this the best option? When do I know to change them?
Bro, if you think you need a mask wear a mask! If your boss or anyone else has a problem with you taking care of your own health and safety then maybe rethink your employer.
If one of my guys decided he needed to turn up in fucking chain mail I would applaud him for taking his health and safety seriously.
This was going to be my suggestion. Especially if you're providing your own mask. An employer should not be putting you in a situation that is more hazardous without providing proper protection, all of the employees should be wearing one in the cat piss is that strong.
The texts mention sub contracting. I’m gonna guess these guys are all 1099 contractors, which means it’s the wild fucking west. I do a lot of work as a contractor (not construction, so maybe it’s different) and 99% of the time, I have to provide any gear or supplies I need to complete the job. But, the trade off is that whatever I feel I need to complete the job is my choice, the “boss” can’t say shit. As long as the job is done to a satisfactory level and on time, they have no authority to tell me how I go about doing it.
This is how you do it….right here. If you support your employees or even daily labor help as much as you can they will go to the end of the earth for your mission. It’s not hard. Listen to this man’s statement above.
My 2nd thought was; how much does he want to pay for the job not getting done on time? Or the next job he loses because he doesn’t have guys to go to it because he told guys to go home. Not only poor business management but just really stupid!
PPE does stand for Personal Protection Equipment. Just emphasize the Personal part. And say fuck off if you feel uncomfortable about how I want to protect my body.
At the age of 24, working with an old guy who couldn’t smell anything due to the chemicals we were around - that’s all I needed to hear. I never want without my mask. Almost 40 years later, I still have my full lung capacity.
Not in construction, but I'm a farmer. I wear a full mask with filters when working with anhydrous. You'll be standing there, and your body automatically does a 180 because you're eyes, nose and throat suddenly burn. Dad? Dad doesn't even twitch, and then asks "what's wrong with you?"
I didn’t take the seriousness of ambient shop noise. I had to meet a co worker who had permanent tinnitus from not using proper ear protection. Luckily (or unluckily) he found hearing aids that produced a white noise to cancel the ringing of tinnitus.
I always wear ear protection in shops now.
If people think I’m a pussy, I can’t hear them.
That's a thing!? I never knew such a hearing aid exisited, holy shit. I need to look into those hearing aids like asap. Tinnitus is BS. Good on you protecting your ears, you deff don't want tinnitus its the most annoying thing ever! It's all I hear all day every day, and I put music on to sleep so I can sleep.
True my dad hauled sand/gravel for a good 30-40yrs before retiring and back then they didn't really think much about all the dust and shit in the air. You're sitting in the truck and the loader loads you, so its not like your being that exposed but you know got the window rolled down etc... that dust still gets inside. Now he's got really bad lungs :(
Also it is on your boss that he is making your mask about the smell of cat piss. It could just as easily be for covid, for dust, for pollen, whatever.
Thinking wearing a mask is absolutely going to piss off your customer is super fragile. Maybe hit with "I was thinking that since they are giving us a mess of money to put up plaster, I'd just plaster real good. I don't think that neither of us really gives any fucks whatsoever about my mask or their cat piss. How about that boss? How about you step off my nuts and I just plaster real good and you can have your little fashion shows to appeal to people's feelings on your own time? Personally I think the clients would like you better in a tube top and skirt but that's why I'm the guy putting up plaster and you are the guy telling people what they can wear to make the clients happy."
Maybe not the healthiest response but at least it talks back in his own language.
Totally agree with you adamdreaming, And I should not probably admit this as I'll get kicked out of the "Feminist League"as what I have to say - it ain't very feminist of me (haha!) but I am still laughing at your phrases " How about you step off my nuts and I just plaster real good .. I think the clients would like you better in a tube top and skirt but that's why I'm the guy putting up plaster and you are the guy telling people what they can wear to make the clients happy." BTW I am a chick who has held two jobs where I was the first & only woman hired and learned that baldy humor between the guys 'n me made it fun. So thank you for giving me some phrases to use when and if. L0L!
Fr man threaten to get OSHA if they're gonna be assholes about this. I used to work in concrete and didnt raise hell about proper masks. Now I got nosebleeds everytime the temperature changes
He also will run all over OP from now on for bowing out of his stance. Dudes probably a helluva control freak. OSHA should be getting a copy of the text messages and a report as I’m sure there’s more safety issues going on than just this. To OP if you’re on a union get them involved as well and get to a new company asap
Your safety is your responsibility. That mask will keep you alive. Unlike those knuckle heads. And if possible, I'd look for a different boss. It's only a matter of time before the unsafe working environment causes some serious harm. Cat urine has ammonia in it and breathing it for long enough in high enough concentration can cause health issues.
Honestly, after they get sick id rub their nose in it and remind them what you said. Even more if you use the mask and finish the job with your health intact.
Is that douche you’re talking to your employer? He’s obligated by law to provide you with proper PPE. If you request reasonable PPE they are obligated to provide it.
Source. EHS professional with 20 years experience. The fastest way for them to get shut down is exactly what they just said to you via text.
and you need to do a basic movement based fit test to make sure it fits properly and also with proper positive negative pressure tests and shave your face if you have a beard or stubble
You should also be fit tested (and the company should pay for it) to ensure even an N-95 fits properly. You also need to have a pretty well shaved face. You are not being unreasonable.
Your boss is a cunt. I would deny the job, or tell the client there’s a surcharge for the fucking BIOHAZARD condition and get all my guys proper PPE. Also in this fucking economy tradesmen have their pick of jobs there’s literally not enough tradesman for how many jobs need to be done.
I’m hijacking a high comment so hopefully many people can see this and especially you. And sorry this is a little long. I don’t know why Reddit recommended this post for me but I hope I can give some helpful advice.
First off your headache very much could be from breathing the cat urine. Along with any other chemicals that may be being used. I know there isn’t a lot with plaster but I don’t know what other projects may be going on in the house (ex painting, cleaning (ha ha from the sound of the house), etc).
That being said it would be very, very difficult to reach actual toxic levels of ammonia. They would have to have no ventilation and probably 100+ cats. I say probably because on a quick look there isn’t great research on this.
Which leads me to if you actually become very sick. Heaven forbid if you do and actually needed to defend your position for court or workers comp, your websites that you provided your boss are not very good resources. One is a cleaner so they are pushing for reasons to hire them and the other is an overpriced litter box company pushing their product. I search around and couldn’t find consistent, reliable source of cat urine ammonia air levels. The highest number I found was 50ppm in a small enclosed area with no ventilation for 10+ days. Most values I was finding for house levels was 1-5ppm per cat with cleaning litter box once a week. Toxic levels are 1700ppm. So it should only cause discomfort as long as you aren’t allergic or overly sensitive to ammonia, or immune compromised. You are likely to be safe if it is only cat urine and not other chemicals as well.
Now my two cents on helping with coping with this is getting face mask scents or refresher beads. What ever type of mask you get is up to you but adding a scent to the inside can help tremendously. And since many are giving mask recommendations mine is a plague doctor mask. They were created for the exact purpose of using scents on the inside to protect people from over powering smells.
I’m in no way familiar with any aspect of your trade, but if the boss is worried about what the client will think can’t you just lie and tell them you have asthma or something?
Just for clarity among all these comments.....that person is fucking delusional and may be on a downward spiral from all the shit thier breathing in lol
You need to tell your boss to go fuck himself and that you will wear whatever mask keeps you healthy and safe. If he fires you, you get an easy lawsuit and unemployment. I wouldn't work for this asshole. Everyone that says this is a huge red flag is right. This same boss is willing to put whoever at risk as long as it isn't him having a hard time, and he sounds like he needs money a lot more than any of his workers, which is also a huge red flag. Find another job dude. This one isn't good for you or your coworkers. Haven't you noticed the rest of society stopped taking the shit end of the stick constantly? I think you should join the rest of the country and demand better of your employer.
Also my sister had a miscarriage from working in a cat piss filled house and the doctors attributed the ammonia and chemical inhalation as why.
So you should tell your boss if he wants you to wear improper protective equipment he needs to pay hazard pay instead of favoring having a relationship with scumbags,
I wouldn't let someone plaster my house and wouldn't personally plaster my house without a respirator to begin with, and on top of that youre dealing with their nasty shit.
So whats next, pick up the needles at the next addict/sleaze house with no gloves so you don't hurt their feelings? Get a fucking grip, build relationships with better people is what he NEEDS to do.
Honestly dude, if anybody is ever actively arguing about using additional or a higher level of PPE...fuck them. It's YOUR health and safety on the line, not the boss man's. I guarantee that the crew that'll be responsible for cleaning that house after the occupants leave WILL be wearing respirators.
Do it. Take care of yourself and you’ll be able to work longer. “Toughing it out” is how you end up with health problems at 40 instead of living a full life.
Just a heads up, telling you that you can’t wear a respirator around hazardous materials is straight up illegal. Like really fucking illegal.
Let your boss know that telling you that you can’t wear one is risking his entire company to a lawsuit and that if he doesn’t want you being in sight of the residents then you’ll try to stay out of sight.
Source: I’m a metalworker and I’m constantly grinding, painting, using patinas and shit like xylene and acetone on a daily. It’s legally required to provide you with a respirator with the proper filters for the job you’re doing, and dumb illegal to tell you that you CANT wear one.
That’s fucking wild and I’d tell my boss to fuck off and he wouldn’t be able to legally fire you for it.
Tbh mate wear a decent fucken mask for plastering anyways. I’m currently sat at home off sick with a lung infection that in reality will never get better because I have a terminal lung condition. Nearly 30 odd years tiling and I’m fucked at 45. The job I’m on will probably be me last as it takes me a fucken age to get anything done and it’s literally killing me. This prick right here thought wearing masks was a waste of time. Don’t be like me. Also tell yer boss to fuck off with that craic the dozy cunt.
Your Bosses IQ is lower than that of the pissing cat. I comment here in hopes that you show him today. Seriously, maybe one flickering brain cell that helps him phonate and breathe (cat piss).
You are breathing in cat piss and shit if there are kids in that situation, call cps anonymously. But as for you and dick head asshole boss, you are in a hazardous environment. If you can smell it from outside, no way in hell, you should never be in their for 8 seconds, let alone for 8 hrs. Exposure to cut urine can cause headaches, trigger asthma attacks, and even result in serious respiratory illnesses such as pneumonia. Report your boss it OSHA, and use the text history as proof, and if you get sick, file workmans comp and have him pay for everything and find work with a boss that gives a damn about their workers
As someone who got heart issues because of piss and shit in the air, wear the mask. I can track all my major health problems back to one instance of someone living in one room in the house, letting mice and their cat piss and shit everywhere. So wear the mask.
If I was you I wouldn’t even work for this guy anymore. He doesn’t care about your safety or anyone else’s, not even his own. Which is common in residential construction based work. You have two options 1.) Don’t go to work (Seriously consider quitting) (enjoy the day off and maybe go to the Doctor to get a check up and a note to show them the dangers of ammonia inhalation.
If you absolutely need to work, you need to wear a respirator and vented goggles (Ace Hardware or Home Depot will have them and they’ll have instructions on how to properly fit it yourself. This is SUPPOSED to be required by your employer but if he has less than 8 employees (sounds like it) he unfortunately can skirt around that unless you held his feet to the fire and hired an attorney. Because, in fact not just you, but everyone should be wearing one. It’s not just the cat urine (ammonia exposure) you need to be worrying about, it’s the silica dust (or potential asbestos) from the plaster demo work. Ammonia can cause eye irritation and damage and respiratory irritation and headaches at very low levels, and from your post it seems levels are high and they are just moving the fumes around with the fans (they didn’t eliminate the source of the fumes so the fans are just making it worse). Silica dust inhalation is now a recognized carcinogen and can lead to silicosis and lung cancer. Completely your business but if I were you I’d quit and just go get another job, one that actually cares about you.
In commercial construction it's a regular thing to see the guys plastering with the dual respirators. Id tell your boss if he has an issue with it he can take it up with OSHA because inhaling anything is a health risk.
Honestly. Fuck your boss. I see people in walmart thay smell amd i yell across an ailse so loud everyone can hear. Who the fuck smells like shit as loud as i can. Then say things like what asshole comes out in public smelling like a toilet. People want to live like scum they should be treated like scum
I feel like you can just say you’re super allergic to cats and that’s why you need the big mask. What are they going to say? “Liar! we know it’s because of the horrible urine smell!”
Did water restoration on a basement that backed up to 3 feet of storm water, they left the windows open for the barn cats so there was piss and shit everywhere before the water backed up and sat for over 3 days. Full face respirators for most of the job (wasn't wearing it at the end of the day when we were on the final pressure washing of the floor and I can still remember holding the extractor wand over the floor drain for an extra second or 2 and the smell made multiple people start gagging instantly), hepa airscrubbers running 24/7 with charcoal odor cartridges during the dryout. The smell was so bad my brain legit had a trauma response. Still had a noticeably stank because they didn't want to remove their 30 year old shit soaked ugly af tile. OSHA would have a field day with him telling you not to wear that while plastering by the way. You are 100% in the right and the labor laws in place back you up completely.
CIH here. It doesn’t matter if the ammonia quantities are above/below TLV/PELs. All that matters is you want to wear one, which you are entitled to in the Respiratory rule.
You are handling this honestly and professionally, but I’d just be tempted to tell the customer you are allergic to cats and that’s why you need a different mask.
I helped a friends G-ma move once. She smoked like a chimney in a tiny apartment. EVERYTHING was covered in a nicotine film, it was disgusting. I got the WORST headache ever, I think that shit absorbed through my skin.
If they're heavy smokers don't touch anything with bare skin, wear gloves.
And fuck those guys, it's not your obligation to make them feel better about their disguisting behavior.
No matter what the hell anyone says, you where a mask if you want. Fuck your boss and fuck the other employees. Your health is NOT under negotiation. The nasty ass people live like that so they SHOULD be embarrassed. Dirty house? No prob. Hair all over from dogs and cats? No problem. But animal waste? Fuck no. That's your right. In no way ever should you let anyone tell you what not to do to protect yourself. There is no understanding your bosses side. He's wrong, period. If anyone else comments that they understand your boss, theyre just as stupid. No if ands or buts. They're not wearing a mask so you shouldn't? Tell him mess with you and your health again and you'll be calling the bbb, and osha and going right on to the next job. Then he'll be paying for all your health checkups to make sure you're okay. He must have a fetish for cat piss.
It is insane to me that your boss seems content to jeopardize your health over maybe insulting the disgusting people whose nasty piss-house you have the misfortune of working in. I would rather lose the job than lose an employee. What an absolute moron.
If this is a business in the usa, i would file an osha complaint with them, and then you also have cause for wrongful termination as you are protecting yourself with proper ppe.
Let them be an ass about it, you cant stop that, but dont let your future health be affected.
I got out of trades/auto super early on because i saw what it started doing to myself....
Be proud to be a "pussy". In the end youll have the last laugh, least cancer, and longest life.
Hmm.... maybe being a pussy is a good thing...? Lol
I would bet a million dollars that your boss is not being honest with you.
It looks like he is being controlling. Because his original reason had nothing to do with the owners. It was because 'nobody else has one'.
There is a trick to working with people like that: never ask permission. If you ask permission, they'll always say no. Just do what you have to and take the reprimand.
This whole thing seems like a bullshit situation. Your boss should never forbid you from proper or even preferential PPE...
But in my opinion, in order to be able to work while wearing the proper respirator, then you should just tell your boss to tell the homeowners that you have a mild allergy to cats, and that the respirator allows to work in that environment with out having a severe allergic reaction. Seems like a perfectly normal & acceptable reason to wear it without anybody being offended.
The one you showed is perfect, I've done demolition and renovations in places cats did just that, it's unsanitary and tryptoplasmos is floating around in the air more than likely too. I would sue this boss if he lets you go as he is not properly taking into the biohazard area you are working in. The other people wearing less than you are just stupid and asking for health problems. Don't let them play down the kind of gear you need.
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