Occupational exposure to floor wax

[NurseHP]

I am curious to see how many people get sick from floor wax at work. I believe we need to take the time to speak up, having to breathe chemicals that cause people sickness from being at work is uncalled for. I went to the ER last night after working my nursing job because of the floor wax fumes. I was going about my normal day when my eyes started burning and watering to no end. I thought some of the lotion I was wearing had got rubbed into my eyes. I continued preparing for my Med pass. I proceeded to go to the west wing and pass my meds. I noticed a nasty smell of fumes and saw they were waxing. I knew when I saw that it was the cause of my irritated eyes. I had to continue Med pass as we were working bare minimum staff. As I breathed the fumes and worked in the area following the wax my eyes were blinking non stop from the irritation watering and burning as though I had poured rubbing alcohol into them. Following the eye irritation my nose started stuffing up and my chest began tightening. I continued working and grew nauseated, dizzy and developed a headache. After completing Med pass I contacted my on call supervisor to inform her that I don't seem to do well being expose to these fumes and that I was going to get treated as soon as I finished my documentation. I moved to the east side to work from the clinic computer to try and get away from the fumes. I still could smell them but not as strong. Employees in the clinic reported headaches as well as others breathing the fumes. Unfortunately, it took me until the end of my shift to complete everything. By the time I drove home my head felt funny and It was a similar feeling like when you drink too many glasses of wine. I noticed my reactions and thought process was slower than normal. Honestly I was scared to drive home but I had no one to drive me and I had to get home to my child. I drove with caution and made it home. My neighbor saw me and asked what was wrong I explained what happened at work and she pointed out my face was red as well as my chest and my eyes were puffy. I took some benedryl and ibuprofen waited two hours and it didn't help. I then sat and waited on my fiancé to get off work and take me to the ER. The MD questioned me called poison control, gave me a chest X-ray and sent me home with an inhaler and benedryl plus three days out of work. I am scared when I return the waxing will still be going on. I am posting this because nurses who are affected need to report this and band together. Something must be done to protect people who have these kinds of reactions to the floor care chemicals. My first exposure to floor wax made me very ill with respiratory effects that took a good three months to get over. I didn't report it or get checked out at that time. I worked in a nursing home during the first exposure and my respiratory compromised patients also had issues. We need to speak up so they will move these patients away from where the floor care is being done and so employers will schedule employees with this reaction to work the days floor care is not being done. Something has to give here nurses should never have to compromise their health because they want to go to work to help others. Everyone please speak up if you have suffered irritation to floor waxing and striping! For now I will sit on my couch and see if this albuterol inhaler, Ibuprofen and Benadryl make me better if not guess I will return to the ER my employer has me using. Thanks for reading and all who speak up!

[Leslie Lewis]

On 8/21/2017 at 4:14 PM, CelticGoddess said:

No, the answer is NOT "wear a mask" First, most likely all you'll find is surgical masks and they do not stop the fumes from volatile chemicals from reaching the airways (and certainly not the eyes). And even if you have access to an N95, it isn't going to stop the fumes from reaching the airways.

People who have chemical sensitivities can request a reasonable accommodation provided they have documentation. OP appears that she does. And quite frankly, if this issue is as severe for her as she says, I think she should request the accommodation.

I have, in the past, had to request accommodation because of chemical sensitivity. What I have learned, sometimes you won't get the accommodation you need because it isn't possible (for example, using bleach to clean a room, or bleach wipes to clean equipment in a c-diff room. They aren't going to be able to stop that). However, my former unit did have to remove all the solid air fresheners, I was given time off when they painted the halls, and when they stripped and rewaxed the floors, I was also given time off (3 days). That is a reasonable accommodation.

Telling someone to just wear a mask, is not reasonable for the person affected by the chemicals.

[Leslie Lewis]

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know/feel toxicity! Floors where i reside were waxed for the 1s1st time! Good thing i have my wellness supplements. Moreova im pissed! This is 2020 organic products are and have been available for a while! I consider this an affront to my quality of life! As well as my neighbors. Reciprocity!