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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be beyond livid with my husband's boss and to press him to make a formal complaint?

77 replies

YouCantBeSerious · 07/10/2013 19:26

My husband is somewhat shell-shocked tonight after an incident at work. I've managed to drag the story out of him, bit by bit, and I am utterly horrified at what has gone on.

Basically my husband was working in the lab when he noticed a really unpleasant smell. Turns out the fume cupboard had stopped working so he was breathing in the chemicals rather than them going up the spout. The alarm didn't go off when it stopped working so he didn't know. Turns out it didn't go off because his fucking boss had meddled with it so that only the small light on the side goes off because the beeping annoys him.

So now my husband has to test himself everyday because his boss thinks it only needs doing formally if something shows up. Not like he's trying to cover his arse or anything. Angry

OP posts:
CoolaSchmoola · 07/10/2013 19:28

Bloody hell. Formal complaint definitely needed, that's a criminal offence!!!

Wheresmycaffeinedrip · 07/10/2013 19:28

Shock that's appalling. What would have happened if your dh passed out driving home? Or had a pregnant employee?
Unbelievable disregard for safety of others. That ear rents a complaint for sure!!!

Wheresmycaffeinedrip · 07/10/2013 19:29

Warrants

quoteunquote · 07/10/2013 19:30

Major health and safety fail, what the company policy on tampering on the safety equipment,

what did your husband write in the accident book?

diaimchlo · 07/10/2013 19:30

YADNBU It needs reporting, it sounds like a big Health and Safety issue.

Original poster
YouCantBeSerious · 07/10/2013 19:31

He said they haven't put it in the accident book Shock

OP posts:
FlatsInDagenham · 07/10/2013 19:32

Shit! Shock

I'd be apopleptic! What's your DH going to do?

whattodoo · 07/10/2013 19:32

Absolutely he should complain to whoever has the highest level of responsibility in the company. I would say that unless the situation is put right immediately, that you see it as your responsibility to make a report to the health and safety executive.

BrokenSunglasses · 07/10/2013 19:32

Contact the HSE for advice. Definitely don't let it drop, that's outrageous!

DameFanny · 07/10/2013 19:33

Is it cohse that deals with this kind of thing or have I remembered it wrong?

What were the fumes he was breathing?

ouryve · 07/10/2013 19:35

Bloody hell. Definitely needs to complain. Does he have anywhere higher up to go to make the complaint? (Just thinking of some of the things that were only ever opened in a fume cupboard at uni and cringing.)

CoolaSchmoola · 07/10/2013 19:35

Not to mention that your husband is legally obliged to report any incident and if he doesn't he is complicit, plus any insurance is invalidated.

The boss has broken so many laws and regulations by tampering with safety equipment, and now he's asking your husband to do the same after putting him at risk, just to cover his arse.

Unless your DH can afford to lose his job or be prosecuted reporting it is the ONLY thing he can do.

Someone who would tamper, then ask others to lie would have no qualms dropping your DH in it by, denying all knowledge if he does become ill, and making it into your DH failing to follow procedure for incident reporting, whilst saying he knew nothing about it.

First rule of health and safety - cover for noone. Ever.

ouryve · 07/10/2013 19:36

It's COSHH, fanny

SauvignonBlanche · 07/10/2013 19:37

He should contact the HSE. Shock

BrokenSunglasses · 07/10/2013 19:41

Coola speaks sense.

HardFacedCareeristBitchNigel · 07/10/2013 19:41

Jesus :o health and safety !

Original poster
YouCantBeSerious · 07/10/2013 19:44

What were the fumes he was breathing?

Hydrogen cyanide.

He's currently working out a worst case based on how much he was using.

OP posts:
Original poster
YouCantBeSerious · 07/10/2013 19:46

He will act. He takes safety very seriously. He's just in shock at the moment. Once that wears off he'll get angry.

OP posts:
Nanny0gg · 07/10/2013 19:46

Should he not go to A&E to get checked out and get it all on record?

(Hope he's okay)

BionicEmu · 07/10/2013 19:47

He needs to escalate this incident, he needs to do everything by the book because if anything happens then your husband will be just as culpable for failing to adequately report his incident. If this happens to somebody else and it's uncovered that it had also happened to your husband he will be in the shit.

Plus I just can't believe his boss' scant regard for H&S! Unacceptable. If he has this sort of attitude then what else has he meddled with, or not taken seriously?

What sort of lab, what chemicals/procedure anyway? I work in a lab and am just Shock

joanofarchitrave · 07/10/2013 19:48
Shock
BionicEmu · 07/10/2013 19:49

Hydrogen cyanide?!! FFS!!

Vintagecakeisstillnice · 07/10/2013 19:51

Fucking hell, and what the rest said

SoftSheen · 07/10/2013 19:52

Hydrogen cyanide...??!!!

I hope this is not real but if your DH has been exposed to Hydrogen Cyanide he needs immediate medical attention. It is a lethal chemical!!

A&E right now!

Tilly333 · 07/10/2013 19:56

jeez, just googled this and he needs to go to a&e and get checked out

Symptoms of cyanide poisoning vary and depend on, for example, route of poisoning, total dose and the exposure time. If hydrogen cyanide has been inhaled, the initial symptoms are restlessness and increased respiratory rate. Other early symptoms are giddiness, headache, palpitations and respiratory difficulty. These are later followed by vomiting, convulsions, respiratory failure and unconsciousness. If the poisoning occurs rapidly, e.g., as a result of extremely high concentrations in the air, there is no time for symptoms to develop and exposed persons may then suddenly collapse

make him go!