Work with employer to save construction

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Dear Joan:
I work at a company where for the past six months a major renovation project has been underway to accommodate a new office environment. Is it common practice for a company to expect its employees to work and be productive under conditions of drilling, hammering, listening to construction people belch and swear and to smell the caustic fumes of glue and paint?

We are sitting in an open office area with no walls for protection from the sound and debris. Many of the employees sit as close as 10 feet away from some of this construction. In addition to the renovation in our areas, the company is also repairing its parking structure where the constant noise of jack hammering can be heard.

I would be curious to hear what you think of the management at a company that expects its employees to work under conditions as those stated above.

Answer:
Besides the obvious annoyance, safety is a primary concern. Phillip Van Kuiken, Safety Supervisor with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), explains: "Employees who feel that their safety may be threatened can file a complaint with OSHA. Their identity is protected. An inspector is then sent out to the construction site to investigate."

Van Kuiken explained that OSHA would be primarily concerned with asbestos or prolonged exposure to an excessive amount of dust in the air. As far as glues and other caustic substances are concerned, he explained, "Every employer and construction crew is required to have a Materials Safety Data Sheet that lists the substances being used. If the employee is concerned, he or she can request a copy of this list."

He also explained that employers are not required to erect a barrier or move employees, however, most try to minimize the disruptions in some way. And hammering, though annoying, is usually not a violation of any standard.

Approach your boss and suggest that the productivity of the employees in the area is being hampered. Give specific examples, for instance: difficulty hearing people on the phone. (This is very important if the people on the phone are customers.)

Then mention your concern about the prolonged exposure to the fumes, dust and potential danger from falling debris. Suggest that a temporary wall or ventilation be added to protect the work group and prevent any possible health-related problems.

Ask your boss to speak to the construction company about the behavior of its employees. The construction crew needs to be more sensitive to their customers within earshot, particularly if their customer's are talking with clients on the phone.

Suggest that employees in your group be allowed to get together and come up with ideas about how to make working in their temporary environment more bearable. For instance, they may want to be able to wear headphones and listen to music when they're not answering phones.

Another idea may be to allow them to work in other parts of the building until the construction is finished. If this isn't feasible, perhaps a conference room can be reserved for your group and each of you can take your work there periodically throughout the day.

When you approach your boss, be sure to take a positive attitude about the improvements the company is making but emphasize the safety and productivity problems they are causing in the short term. The company is demonstrating that it cares about the kind of environment in which you work by making improvements... so voice your concerns positively and give management some creative solutions to work with, to make this interim environment a reasonable place to work.

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