 |
Big Fresh: Big stink |
Printed Word 9/12/1996 |
|
Sitting in a tiny room with no ventilation while signwriting with solvent-based pens and sprays has resulted in another fight for ACC. Faye Snow began work with Big Fresh in Hamilton in the middle of last year. She asked for protective gloves but was only able to find a pair that was too big from the butchery department. She ended up buying her own gloves and then a mask which helped for about a week. In February she finally collapsed at work, dazed and confused. Adding insult to injury was an OSH report which tried to say Faye was alcoholic. "It was outrageous' says health and safety officer Stephanie Armstrong. "When you work with pens that are solvent and alcohol-based you may develop an addiction and this can create cravings, but this is all part of the chemical poisoning problem caused by the job." Faye's file has a list of some 20 doctors, specialists and union officials who have been involved with the case. Faye has been unable to work for several months and has had no income during that time which has created pressures at home. "We're hopeful that we're finally getting somewhere now' says Stephanie. "But Faye should never have had to go through all this:' |
||
