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Post by sassy4242 on Apr 1, 2011 11:49:15 GMT -5
As I only need oxygen for walking and exertion, I need to bring my portable tank into the office with me. Everyone has been quite helpful as they were fully aware of my condition before I went on oxygen. However our Health and Safety committee has quite a few concerns. Is there anyone of you that brings oxygen to the workplace and if so, how is your workplace handling it or it's not an issue with them. Were they required to do anything out of the ordinary? I basically told them that should there be a fire, I would need assistance out of the building and if the weather was either hot and humid or bitterly cold then I would need shelter from these elements.
Happy Friday everyone! WOO HOO!
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Post by Blossom/Jackie W. on Apr 1, 2011 12:07:56 GMT -5
Sassy..... Happy Friday to you too......
You said that " Health and Safety committee has quite a few concerns"
What was their concerns?
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Post by sassy4242 on Apr 1, 2011 14:36:45 GMT -5
Sassy..... Happy Friday to you too...... You said that " Health and Safety committee has quite a few concerns" What was their concerns? If there was anything they should know more about my health that should concern them, could I get my doctor to give them a letter and if there was a fire, are there any precautions they should take with the oxygen tank. I suppose they are all legitimate questions - it's just that I was totally caught off guard. |
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Post by chrisw on Apr 2, 2011 1:12:15 GMT -5
Having been involved with Health and Safety Committees in one way or another in the past, here are a couple of comments. ANY chemical products brought into the workplace has by law to be considered and suitably handled - and oxygen is certainly a chemical. They must have an MSDS (or WHMIS) for that chemical, and they also need to consider it's use. Oxygen in the workplace CAN be dangerous, it is up to them to consider how it should be treated. It may be up to you (or your oxygen supplier) to explain to them the risks and how they should be handled. In all workplaces there are risks and the job of the Health and Safety Committee is to minimise them. However it is NOT their job to ban them from the workplace, nor is it up to them to deny you and your needed equipment from the workplace. I do not see that you should require as much assistance as say someone who comes in to the office with a broken ankle and on crutches, and much less than someone in a wheelchair - all things any normal office can accommodate relatively simply. As I understand it you were at work in the office recently without the oxygen, and you are not significantly less mobile today than you were last week even without the oxygen - with the oxygen you are now even better! Why would you need more assistance getting out of the office, or more protection from heat or cold than last week? Tough love here - but believe me, it is love  |
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Post by zar on Apr 2, 2011 5:04:54 GMT -5
Sassy..... Happy Friday to you too...... You said that " Health and Safety committee has quite a few concerns" What was their concerns? If there was anything they should know more about my health that should concern them, could I get my doctor to give them a letter and if there was a fire, are there any precautions they should take with the oxygen tank. I suppose they are all legitimate questions - it's just that I was totally caught off guard. Nothing can make oxygen explode! A faulty oxygen cylinder can explode, but that's not the fault of oxygen, any gas under pressure would cause a faulty cylinder to explode, but that happens without a spark or match! Oxygen is the stuff that supports combustion, that is, makes other things burn. And if it makes something burn really really quickly, that will look like an explosion. So if you mix oxygen and hydrogen together and add a spark there is an almighty bang - the hydrogen exploded! So if you smoke a cigarette in pure oxygen, the cigarette will have a very large flame - the cigarette will appear to explode! If you generate a spark in pure oxygen ALONE, you may detect a 'bleach' like smell which is ozone (oxygen is O2, ozone is O3). But there is no explosion! If the spark is a piece of hot metal (like off an emery wheel), the sparks will be brighter and 'die' quicker, but .... sorry .... no explosions! Summary and bottom line - oxygen does not burn, things put in oxygen burn. Oxygen does not explode, faulty oxygen bottles will explode. Read morehttp://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_will_make_oxygen_explode#ixzz1IMIoEfN: n |
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Post by sassy4242 on Apr 3, 2011 9:48:06 GMT -5
Don't worry Chris...I am feeling the love! As tough as it may be!  Thanks for your response and yes you do make some valid points. Before oxygen I was so SOB, I always joked with my co-workers that they don't leave me lagging behind should a fire alarm sound and we needed to get out quick! Heck I could barely walk any distance without having to stop to catch my breath. That's when I was assigned a buddy. I'd like to still have a buddy, only to ensure some well being, as in times of crisis, your mind and body react differently. I definitely don't need "special" assistance like being put in a wheelchair to be taken out! Also before oxygen, extreme cold paralyzed my lungs and hot humid weather made it unbearable to breathe and that is why I need some form of shelter, but if having oxygen now will help me breathe better during these weather elements then that is a big relief. We are in beautiful spring weather now, so I haven't had to put the task to test! |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 3, 2011 12:37:07 GMT -5
It is heartening to hear of acceptance for Oxygen use in the workplace ... just one small qujibble:
Adding a stream of pure oxygen such as from a small tank to an open flame results in a SMALLER, HOTTER flame ... not a 'bloom or flair up of the flame.
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