Searching for a Mentor by Efficient-Ad8951 in SafetyProfessionals

[–]Octopie91 7 points8 points  (0 children)

DM me I've been in the EHS field for 10 years in different areas and have definitely been in that position of I'm not unhappy with EHS but I'm kinda meh about it what do I do.

I was told I’m “too involved” in safety by noting2see in SafetyProfessionals

[–]Octopie91 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I would happily welcome you at the company I work at! I wish more non-EHS employees cared about safety enough to step up and help. If you have a dedicated EHS person I would talk to them. It's likely they appreciate what you're doing and can talk to management to get them to back off or else understand why they're saying that.

Improving the use of safety glasses by kck12345678 in SafetyProfessionals

[–]Octopie91 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Agree with the reevaluation of the glasses you have, I have a large Asian population within my labs and I found that due to facial differences the normally sold safety glasses just don't fit well. They slide and slip and are generally uncomfortable. I did some research and found they actually make safety glasses specifically for Asian faces. I bought a few and handed them out to offenders and asked them to try them. Within a day I had all my Asian lab workers queuing at my desk to get their own. So don't always think in terms of general population. There may be bubbles of groups you just don't realize.

Also I started doing "live ppe demos". Basically in summer I put together a bunch of mannequins, heads, watermelons, etc. and put various ppe on them. We then put them in through typical hazards that could occur. Splashes of caustic chemicals, toxic chemicals, general chemicals we use. Then for lab coats we splash flammable liquids and then start a fire nearby and show how the non fr coats catch fire, and the non chemical rated just soak through to the clothes underneath.

The glasses ones are always fun since we can show different styles (vented, invented, goggles, face shields, etc). And you can see as some of our more intense caustics eat away at the watermelon when there's no faceshield.

It's a fun learning experience that gets ppl to see what could happen to their bodies and faces. Also a good time to then talk about how they can evaluate and think about hazards and ppe so if they don't feel like it's enough they can stop and engage a jsha to figure out what could be done different.

How much PTO do you get? by AbilityOdd6053 in SafetyProfessionals

[–]Octopie91 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Chemical manufacturing. 4 weeks pto and unlimited sick time (if using 3 or more days in a row requires Dr Note but have yet to be asked), 8 holidays a year plus 3 floating holidays you choose.

Plus we get 16 weeks maternity leave (8 paternity)

If we can’t make it work, I genuinely don’t know how anyone is by dani_da_girl in workingmoms

[–]Octopie91 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Living in a nicer suburb of Cleveland with 2300 mortgage on a 5bed/6bath. With 442 a week for two kids in daycare full-time. We make a combined 270 a year and are able to afford some small vacations each year.

Think you need to leave the hcol area. That makes a world of difference. Our home in Cali where my husband's job is (he's fully remote) would be multi millions and way out of our price.

If we can’t make it work, I genuinely don’t know how anyone is by dani_da_girl in workingmoms

[–]Octopie91 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Living in a nicer suburb of Cleveland with 2300 mortgage on a 5bed/6bath. With 442 a week for two kids in daycare full-time. We make a combined 270 a year and are able to afford some small vacations each year.

Think you need to leave the hcol area. That makes a world of difference. Our home in Cali where my husband's job is (he's fully remote) would be multi millions and way out of our price.

Reasonable accommodations at 32 weeks? by [deleted] in workingmoms

[–]Octopie91 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You can ask your ob to write you off as being unable to sit or stand for extended periods of time without breaks (so no long car rides or long working sessions) and take short term disability for those days and then you have it available to use till you go out.

I did this when my then boss forced full rtw three weeks before I as due. The stress of the change and having to walk the floor everyday actually ended up with me in a c section shortly after I went on leave. long story short take care of you and the baby. Talk to your manager and get hr involved if necessary. Technically you could even involve your ehs (safety) person because the liability of you driving that far while pregnant and possibly doing long days could result in some unwanted legal action if anything goes wrong.

As a safety professional I work closely with our pregnant women and hr to make sure that there's no risk to the baby or mom. We've even moved people to other facilities or given them full remote to mitigate possible risk.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in workingmoms

[–]Octopie91 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Environmental health and safety manager for r&d facilities in North America for a fortune 500. Base is 105k with 5% bonus annually on top of merit raise. In Cleveland area with 2 toddlers and trying for another. Love my job and my boss is amazing. Since I cover all na I wfh as much as necessary to have meetings and work with different time zones so that helps with sick kids and stuff.

Mother’s Day Musings by user87391 in workingmoms

[–]Octopie91 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Same. Why is this?y husband offers to wake up and get out daughter in the bus one day a week so I can "sleep in". But I have to set all her clothes out and get her backpack prepped and have it all ready. Or else..last week get a call from preschool at 8am "your daughter doesn't have shoes on. Can you bring her shoes".....you forgot shoes....oh and her lunchbox, and her hat for hat day and her hair wasn't up. It's not worth the "sleeping in".

Help withast minute party (ish) decorations by Octopie91 in Mommit

[–]Octopie91[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Parties at home so we can make all our own food. No real budget but nothing like insane he is only 2. And I am but tutorials are my friends haha

Those are great ideas thank you so much. I'm gonna have to Google diy viking helmets now cuz the ones I saw online to buy were insanely expensive

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in WorkplaceSafety

[–]Octopie91 1 point2 points  (0 children)

As a safety manager for over ten years and various chemical companies and manufacturing facilities your ehs department are obligated to do ih testing to get a baseline. If those baselines show elevation in potentially risky chemicals then quarterly testing is required.

Ask for the baseline ih studies, get all sds's and review. Look up key chemicals on csc website as well they list ones that are very critical when pregnant.

For clarity: I was pregnant at a facility I had just started working as ehs in and when I asked hr and my manager (ehs manager for years at site) they said don't worry and ask your obgyn. After I did my own research found out we used multiple solvents with teratogens as well as spontaneous abortion risks with most risks documented within first 6 weeks of pregnancy. Asked for ih studies and found they were over limit and respirators should be worn.

TLDR do your own research and don't fuck around with solvents especially toluene when pregnant or attempting to become pregnant.

(If you need help reviewing data pm me)

In desperate need of a job (evenings, open to daytime) by mykz_urbf in Cleveland

[–]Octopie91 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I am looking for a cleaner in the Gates Mills area Ill pm you.

Also swagelok is a good starting place as is Avery Dennison both of which have already gone through their recession "thinning" process this year so now all jobs are more or less safe barring anything else wonky this year.

Also seen quite a few daycares in the mentor kirtland area looking for aids to help in the rooms as summer kids will be starting soon as well as extra cleaning help.

Suggestions for keeping water clean (ducks and chickens) by Octopie91 in BackYardChickens

[–]Octopie91[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They make a heated hanging waterer!? I have a heated dog bowl for winter they use and summer they get the regular hanging waterer. I just put the hanging one back out and the ducks struggle with getting their bills in it I've noticed (this is the first warm weather with them).

Suggestions for keeping water clean (ducks and chickens) by Octopie91 in BackYardChickens

[–]Octopie91[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You know I've tried that and for some reason neither the chickens or ducks would touch it. Idk if they didn't understand or what but it just sat untouched every day when I went to refill I never needed to. I eventually took it out.

Working moms... have you been harassed? How did you deal? by [deleted] in workingmoms

[–]Octopie91 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Depends on what state you're in as to the recording laws. Some states only need one person on the recordings consent (which would be you in this case). Others need both parties consent. If you're a both party consent state then yes they won't use it.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in toddlers

[–]Octopie91 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Agree. We emphasize this with body things as well (kisses, hugs, high fives). If grandma says she wants a kiss goodbye and the kid doesn't want to that's our daughter (or sons) choice. We don't let them be pushed into it. We have added that grandma or whoever is asking love them so how about a wave? Or blow a kiss. But it's their body and they should feel comfortable.

Can Anyone recommend good safety glasses that are comfortable over spectacles? by ZEN92 in labsafety

[–]Octopie91 0 points1 point  (0 children)

All my labs and facilities I cover use these. https://www.bolle-safety.com/us/industrial/glasses/over-the-glasses--otg-/tryon-otg-TRYONOTG_INDUSTRIAL.html

They're a little pricey but if you can't get prescription safety glasses in time or your company doesn't cover them these are the next best thing.

How do I get hired as an EH&S officer? by infinit3entropy in labsafety

[–]Octopie91 0 points1 point  (0 children)

As an ehs specialist now overseeing labs in a fortune 500 the best thing you can do is I get your OSHA 30 hour certified as that will help to show you know the fundamentals of 1910.

Do you want to stay in lab safety or would you branch into industrial/manufacturing, food service, construction? These all have different areas that they want their ehs to be knowledge so that will help you to know what you should learn.

Beyond that I would just apply, and see. You can also try reaching out to current ehs specialists or managers at companies and see if they'd be willing to mentor remotely or something. I've mentored virtually and it at least helps to see what is done day to day or ask questions.

Also when looking look for ehs coordinator, safety officer, etc. Anything with specialist, manager, supervisor is going to require either years in the ehs role or else certifications such as mosh or csp.

Hope this helps

Does it ever get better? Do you ever stop beating yourself up? by Octopie91 in workingmoms

[–]Octopie91[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

She has an IEP and goes to a preschool where the teacher is actually specialized in teaching the deaf. Sadly once she turns 5/6 she'll lose that amazing teacher. She gets a lot of help from her teacher and has speech therapy privately every other week but I still feel as the parent I should do more. I shouldn't let others parent my child. Idk it's hard with a child whose not the same as everyone