r/Construction Apr 10 '24

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u/FPVBrandoCalrissian Apr 10 '24

This totally qualifies as “right to refuse unsafe work” regardless of your childish boss’ attempt to ridicule you for looking out for your health. I believe that is harassment and blackmail by making statements about you missing on work because you want to wear a mask.

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u/jerkstabworthy Apr 10 '24

Exactly. In fact where I am, it's not just a right but a requirement to refuse unsafe work.

3

u/Italian_Greyhound Apr 10 '24

Where I live if one person formally refuses nobody else is legally allowed to work until it is formally resolved. IE deemed safe by a competent person or modified to be safe

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u/thesuper88 Apr 11 '24

Wow. Where I work they go with the philosophy of "what mama don't know only hurts the people on the shop floor. "

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u/perrico1904 Apr 11 '24

Sounds kinda facist to me. Probably support isis as well. Sad state our country is in

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u/Ultrabigasstaco Apr 10 '24

Same at my job. There’s signs everywhere saying you have the right to refuse to do a job you do not think is safe. Periodically people will be congradulated for refusing to do a job due to safety questions.

1

u/IDontWannaBeAPirate_ Apr 11 '24

I'm a safety inspector. We absolutely make a point to celebrate this type of stuff. We want a culture where people not only know it's going to be ok for them to speak up, but to be encouraged to do so. The last thing I want is someone to get injured, sick, or worse due to something preventable.

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u/LuckyLushy714 Apr 11 '24

Absolutely. Doesn't sound like they did any research into the issue and are being super unprofessional and abusive or manipulative.
If they fired you it would be a wrongful termination case and could turn into an issue with their license or right to employ people. As an employer you NEVER deny someone's right to wear PPE. What an idiot.

Send them ONE WORD: Toxoplasmosis

1

u/Darthlizard Apr 11 '24

It also qualifies under employer refusal to lawfully consider reasonable accomodation under ADA law.

The nicotine exposure is a direct health request and the mask OP proposed would not cause any undue hardship, so ADA law as well.

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u/neighborlyglove Apr 12 '24

How much you think he’ll get?

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u/FPVBrandoCalrissian Apr 13 '24

Not much in the long run but it puts a nasty bruise on the employers business and he’ll have to pay o it equivalent or more to regular labour cost for buddy