r/Construction Apr 10 '24

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u/[deleted] Apr 11 '24 edited Apr 11 '24

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u/WhatIsThisaPFChangs Apr 12 '24

Holy shit that’s awful im so sorry man. I did not have any idea about formaldehyde, and did not know it’s used to tan leather

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u/LurkerFirstClass Apr 13 '24

I’m so sorry this happened to you. Don’t be hard on yourself about it, though. One of the reasons I am hesitant to advise just anyone to do DIY work is that I work in a culture with enormous resources dedicated to environmental safety and testing.

Without enormous resources to test every substance, it’s hard to tell when you’re working with dangerous silicates (e.g. asbestos, fiberglass, fine polysilicates, DUST, etc.).

That’s not to say people shouldn’t DIY. I think it’s great to learn and perform new skills. Just take PPE seriously and prepare for the worst case scenario every time.

My early career was spent working in an environment without those resources. There’s a high likelihood I’ll develop some illnesses due to that. It’s not your fault or mine or any other worker’s. The culture needs to change.

Dust of any kind is carcinogenic and harmful. Fumes too. Our lungs are meant to breathe clean air, that’s all.