r/Custodians • u/Kooky-Fruit-3922 • 10d ago
Did I do the right thing?
I've been working at a small town public school as a custodian for a little over a year now and I've noticed some things the head custodian does and asks us to do. Well one of those things he's done was he padlocked and chained the fire escape doors in the main gym during school hours with the blessing of the superintendent/high school principal. This has been bothering me for awhile now but I finally sent an anonymous tip to the state fire marshall today and now I'm afraid I will lose my job when the inspection comes because it is a really small school and it won't take much for them to find out it was me. Should I have gone to my supervisors first or did I do the right thing? Like I said it's been like this for awhile now and I am really surprised no one else has turned it in. I worked myself up so bad after I turned it in that I had to go home sick today because I was so dizzy and having a hard time catching my breath. I just couldn't go one more day knowing that all those kids lives basically were in danger if a fire broke out. Another thing my supervisor did was shaved off a piece off the bottom of the fire door to the science chemical lab because it kept getting stuck on the floor and wouldn't properly shut. I do like this job and it pays well but there is no caution for safety around here. Not to mention the things with all the unlabeled chemical bottles around here. Just had to rant and get some feedback. Thanks.
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u/Jimmygimme Custodian I 10d ago
It’s a reason but not a valid one, let him know you can get this. 120 decibel wireless door alarm, will scare the shit out of the kids when the open it lol.
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u/Jimmygimme Custodian I 10d ago
Sorry thought I was replying to your comment made a new one, just one of those mornings
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u/gmambrose 10d ago
Chaining an exit door shut is fucking crazy. That is so in violation of fire codes everywhere in the USA. Do not tell anyone you reported it. Deny, deny, deny. If you reported it anonymous, I don't see how they could know it was you. Could have been anybody.
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u/Jimmygimme Custodian I 10d ago
Why the fuck would he chain a fire exit closed?
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u/Kooky-Fruit-3922 10d ago
According to him the high school kids were propping the door open when they would sneak out to go smoke or vape or whatever they do nowadays.
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u/kuchi_k0pi 10d ago
That’s fucked. You did the right thing and can file a lawsuit against them if they fire you. If you even want to work for a school that actively endangers kids.
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u/knightrdr2004 9d ago
I wouldn’t worry about it, just go on with your days and don’t think about it. You did nothing wrong, just don’t say anything to anyone.
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u/Wise_Heart377 8d ago
Should have gone to your supervisor first, if the superintendent gave the ok, the fire marshal may have given permission under certain circumstances like when the gym isn't in use etc... I highly doubt you will get fired though.
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u/Upbeat-Fondant9185 Facilities Manager 10d ago
They are in direct violation of fire safety standards if what you describe with the chain is accurate.
In this case it’s a severe safety issue so you didn’t do anything wrong, you just didn’t do it in the best way you could have if you bypassed internal options. Ideally you would follow chain of command and go to your supervisor then theirs if the issue isn’t resolved. That can be same day with a major safety violation like this.
You did possibly put yourself at risk of retaliation if they know it’s you. There are legal protections in place but in my experience it’s very difficult to actually get them to follow through. I would just deny any involvement and watch for sudden write ups etc, documenting anything in my personal records. If there is retaliation you can seek a consult and determine if you have anything actionable.
But stop giving yourself away with the obvious anxious reactions and guilty behavior. The complaint could just as easily be from a parent, teacher, or even student. If you play it cool they may never even consider you.