What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Colorado
I've been working for the same trucking company on the dock for 2 years. I recently moved and my very first day at the new terminal I was told to cleanup a hazmat spill. Both terminals I worked at I have never seen any dockworkers use hazmat protective equipment to cleanup a spill. I have never been trained or been shown where the hasmat protective equipment is.
When I went to cleanup the trailer their was a trainer and trainee already working on it. A drum of flammable liquid had been punctured. The fumes were powerful. You could smell them from 40 feet away. After 20 minutes in the trailer I asked the manager for a ventilation mask. I had 2 witness that watched me ask him. He came back 10 minutes later with dust masks and quickly walked away. We ended up cleaning up the spill, however, I went to the clinic because of eye irritation at the end of the week. The drums were still on the dock and I saw a label that stated DO NOT inhale mist or vapors. We inhaled the fumes for almost 2 hours in a confined space.
Is there anything I can do to hold them accountable? I have been to the clinic twice and they won't help me get the MSDS from my employer so they can verify what I was exposed to..
I've been working for the same trucking company on the dock for 2 years. I recently moved and my very first day at the new terminal I was told to cleanup a hazmat spill. Both terminals I worked at I have never seen any dockworkers use hazmat protective equipment to cleanup a spill. I have never been trained or been shown where the hasmat protective equipment is.
When I went to cleanup the trailer their was a trainer and trainee already working on it. A drum of flammable liquid had been punctured. The fumes were powerful. You could smell them from 40 feet away. After 20 minutes in the trailer I asked the manager for a ventilation mask. I had 2 witness that watched me ask him. He came back 10 minutes later with dust masks and quickly walked away. We ended up cleaning up the spill, however, I went to the clinic because of eye irritation at the end of the week. The drums were still on the dock and I saw a label that stated DO NOT inhale mist or vapors. We inhaled the fumes for almost 2 hours in a confined space.
Is there anything I can do to hold them accountable? I have been to the clinic twice and they won't help me get the MSDS from my employer so they can verify what I was exposed to..