I picked up a cold just before I started my new job almost 5 weeks ago. I’m now on week 5 of a persistent cough, Dr has me on two puffers (bronchodilator and cortisosteroid) to try and knock this thing down. I started puffing Friday mid-day, and by Sunday night I felt great. Monday morning still fine, but by end of day Monday bad bad bad. Last night I had a huge (30min) coughing spell, where I thought I was going to vomit from coughing so hard. The bronchodilator had zero effect and it took hours to calm my airway down.
My new job is in a manufacturing facility. There is welding, sandblasting, machining going on all day. My office is right in the heart of this area (as I am the Manufacturing manager). I have decided I will monitor myself each day and if I am not improving within another two days or so, I will go back to the DR and look at a Compo claim. And maybe another new job…
Anyone else out there dealt with anything like this? I am so sick and tired of coughing I feel like quitting. Any words of advice re: worker’s compensation?
Not to the extent of your suffering, but I work in an old build with poor ventilation and a lot of dust and probably some mold(s), both of which I’m allergic to. Most of the time it doesn’t bother me but when I’m under a lot of stress my allergies really start working overtime. It sucks. I feel for you.
I think it is the environment is not letting my cold get better, that is my upper airway is so inflamed I am not seeing improvements except on my days off. I would imagine that once healed, I would be OK. I am heading a move to a new facility, so we will be improving the HVAC etc., but that will be at least 6 months away.
This sounds like Metal Fume Fever, especially since you start feeling better over the weekends, and then worse when you get back. MFF is caused from inhaling fumes of metal oxides (usually zinc and copper). Most common symptoms are flu-like symptoms: fever, lethargy, headache, gi upset, non-productive cough, chest-tightness.
Basically the treatment is to get away from the environment. There hasn’t been shown to be any long-term complications, and the literature shoes that tolerance builds up after a few days, but then goes away after being away for a few days, which gives it its other name: Monday Fever.
I work in toxicology, in case you’re wondering where I’m coming from with this info.
I don’t anything about what condition you have or about worker’s comp. But just remember life is short and valuable and don’t waste it in an environment that’s making you ill. If you can afford it, I’d suggest you walk away.
This may be a stupid idea, but have you thought of wearing a respirator while at work - you would just need one to rid particulate matter (I cannot remember the OSHA/NIOSH numbers anymore, but somebody inthere will know), and probably only for as long as it takes you to heal up, maybe a week or two. The air quality probably exasperated an already existing condition (your cold), and add to that you changed jobs, which is stressful reagrdless, and that will suppress your immune system.
It may just patch you over until you are healthy, or until you move into your new facility and save you the hassle of searching for new work. Just a thought.
I’d guess your current challenge is stress related - new job and all. I ran a high-tech machining company in Mountain View for five years and never experienced any health problems from it. On the upside, the exposure to powdered copper did wonders for my joints.
LOL. too true. Nah, I think it was starting with a cold and the air quality here just never letting it heal up right… If I had started healthy, I bet it would have been OK. I am thinking about taking a few days off (+ weekend) to try and really take care of it. Then re-assess. AP
I’m guessing a workers comp claim would be a stretch. It sounds like the company you’re at is pretty large so I’m guessing they are following all of the OSHA rules on ventilation, air quality etc. Unless there are several others with the same problem it’s going to be a tough one claiming its the environment.
That being said I work in a manufacturing environment as well and the no matter what is done the air quality is never as good as “good” quality air. I suspect your company is keeping all the dangerous stuff out of the air but all the other “Acceptable” crap is likely an irritant.
Unfortunately it’s likely the fact that you have other health issues and the environment is simply irritating them not that the environment is causing them. OTOH could be you are having a unique reaction to something they are using.
Either way you’ll probably have to get all healed up first and then head back in. If you go in 100% and then end up getting sick again then the environment is easier to peg as the cause.
Exactly. Just spoke to the Boss, going to take some days off + weekend to try and bury this thing. If it worsens upon return then we try moving my desk. If no improvement, then new job Oh well.
