Too the poster that stated they are replacing floor tiles. YOU NEED TO STOP THIS IMMEDIATELY AND CALL OSHA OR THE HEALTH DEPT. Floor tiles and/or adhesive in a lot of these older stores contain ASBESTOS. I was a QMT for 22yrs and did building maintenance until my job was eliminated the first of May this year. QMT's across the nation were cut. There is ASBESTOS in different areas of these stores and no one should be doing any kind of construction or destruction unless you know what you are dealing with and it has been tested.
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Even though I do not work for SHC anymore. The idea you have to call other stores in regards to these issues is a really good idea, make sure to NOT communicate by EMAIL so it cannot come back and bite you in the A$$. Just what I would do in my position
I have worked at Kmart for a long time at different stores. The store i m in now was built in the 1960s. When signs are hung it is also with the plastic clips on the metal dividers. Last year they had a few workers clean out a room in the back and the whole floor was damaged. Tiles were broken all over. They had them sweep in up and empty the whole room. I checked our asbestos notice, which again was only put up a week and a half ago and it seems that it might be through out the whole store.
Someone had mentioned that those of us from stores that are having these problems with things like this should contact each other and see what can be done. I know that mart has never been the best but now it just seems that they dont care about their employees at all. It is right that there are people that count on their job and dont want to call OSHA and get shut down so something else needs to get done any suggestions?
Thank you x QMT-Tech, for confirming my suspension.
Pretty sure that unless the asbestos gets air borne, such as asbestos on pipes or if you break up the floor tiles so it creates dust the asbestos is contained in a solid and is relatively harmless.
The store built in the 90's should not have any ACM (Asbestos Containing Material) if it was built from the ground up. If it was an old store that just got remodeled and had ACM it did not have to be removed as long as it was not disturbed.
I am a softlines lead and I am always climbing up ladders to put up signs. Of course, our store has drop down ceilings, the kind you see at many offices, stores and other commercial buildings. To hang the signs, we have to secure plastic clips onto the metal divider strips that retain the ceiling panels. Sometimes, when pushing up on a panel of the drop down ceiling (to secure these clips for the sign hangers) it will crumble at the edges. I never gave it a whole lot of thought until I ran across this post.
I have checked the store's asbestos information in the breakroom. Allegedly, the only asbestos in the building are the adhesive under the vinyl flooring tiles. Our store was built around 1978 or so, give or take a few years.
My health comes before hanging promo signs (obviously, they're not working, we aren't getting the traffic in our store, but that's another subject). I'm wondering how thorough the testing process was to determine potential hazards.
What's more concerning is that believe that our store uses the ceiling space above for the HVAC plenum (a plenum is basically a giant air duct). We seem to only have return air grilles in the ceiling. The heat (or when it miraculously comes, on, the air conditioning) comes out from the ceiling. I don't see any air registers that I am aware of. So if there is a hazard with these ceiling tiles and the HVAC kicks on, EVERYONE is exposed. Not just employees, but CUSTOMERS...
I wonder if Eddie gave any thought to the cost of asbestos abatement?
If I am correct the 1990+ built from scratch should have no Asbestos as far as I know. If X QMT can chime in to verify this.
Just wanted to say I agree with the whole idea of minimum wage not being worth the risk we take or even the amount of work we do but as with any job, for many of us this is the only thing we can get at this time or some are just doing this to make ends meet, some have made a career out of working for this company, and for some Kmart of Sears are the only jobs in town. To call OSHA or to complain puts their jobs, family, and finances at risk. Just like with the miners, steel workers, factory workers, company towns of old sometimes there is not an option. SHC seems to know this and they are taking advantage. Or as a DM once told me when I asked about raises, "IF you don't like it find another job" Sad but true of the world today
Our store just had a roof leak that took out ceilings in the back rooms. We had to clean up the ceiling tiles and the water and the dust and muck was on everything. The ceilings are still open and the dust is still on all the shelves. Are we in danger? The building was built in the 1990's I think
Well with that list of materials it seems that pretty much every building material has some form of asbestos in it. I do know that the asbestos has to be air-borne to be a hazard, but still how can a company put employees at risk like this by getting rid of the maintenance department who are trained to handle such materials.
What are the long term health risks and how do you get compensation if the company (SHC) goes bankrupt?
I agree, once SHC reads this they might rehire the laid off QMT techs? Than risk a lawsuit?
This is not worth 8.25 an hour. I'm truly worried with all the ceiling leaks.
I sense a class action lawsuit against SHC in regards to negligence and failure to warn employees about the unhealthy conditions. I think if this lawsuit gets traction, SHC will wake up?
This is the same for my store. You are right about how there is supposed to be a posting near the employee break room. Our store is an old store and the the report from SHC was just posted about a week and a half ago. 2 years ago there was a big storm that passed through out area and the store started to flood. It came through the roof down through the ceiling tiles. It went from the front of the store to about 3 feet in. The area was blocked off and everyone was told not to touch the water because it was contaminated. Well the problem was never fixed so last year the same thing happened again. When it happened there were new employees there that got covered in water. The store manager who was not there had them removing merchandise so that it would not get ruined and then cleaning the water off of the shelves and floor. They were not told until the next day that the water was contaminated.
RE: Only 9 inch floor tiles were made with asbestos. That is well known.
You are incorrect and should gets facts before you you put people at risk.
http://inspectapedia.com/hazmat/Armstrong_Tile_List_1951-59.php
Asphalt asbestos and vinyl-asbestos floor tiles were produced in 9" x 9", 12" x 12", and even 18" x 18" as well as in decorative strips, and in thicknesses of 1/16", 3/32", and 1/8", also in 0.08 gauge. Some sheet flooring or resilient flooring also contained asbestos, as did floor tile mastics.
https://haztrainer.com/which-sized-floor-tiles-contain-asbestos/?gclid=CKXfucTWws4CFQMPaQodOl8ONw
Which sized Floor Tiles contain Asbestos?
Tile that contains asbestos12-inch by 12-inch or 9-inch by 9-inch vinyl or asphalt Floor Tile…
OSHA says all asphalt or vinyl floor tile installed prior to 1980 is Presumed (PACM) to contain asbestos unless sampling proves otherwise. Pretty much all 9-inch by 9-inch contains some amount of asbestos. Typically, it contains less than 5% Chrysotile asbestos. It is common for 12-inch by 12-inch to also contain asbestos especially if it was installed prior to 1980. It is usually less than 3% Chrysotile asbestos.
Asbestos was used in a lot of different building materials. Do not put your safety or anyone else at risk unless you have the facts. It was also used in the 12inch tiles and in the adhesive/glue.
Serpentine minerals have a sheet or layered structure. Chrysotile is the only asbestos mineral in the serpentine group. In the United States, chrysotile has been the most commonly used type of asbestos. According to the U.S. EPA Asbestos Building Inspectors Manual, chrysotile accounts for approximately 95% of asbestos found in buildings in the United States.[citation needed] Chrysotile is often present in a wide variety of products and materials, including:
Chlor Alkali diaphragm membranes used to make chlorine (currently in the USA) [52]
Drywall and joint compound
Plaster
Gas mask filters pre 1960s
Mud and texture coats
Vinyl floor tiles, sheeting, adhesives
Roofing tars, felts, siding, and shingles[53]
"Transite" panels, siding, countertops, and pipes
Popcorn ceilings, also known as acoustic ceilings
Fireproofing
Fire-resistant asbestos glove.
Caulk
Industrial and marine gaskets
Brake pads and shoes
Stage curtains
Fire blankets
Interior fire doors
Fireproof clothing for firefighters
Thermal pipe insulation
Filters for removing fine particulates from chemicals, liquids and wine
Dental cast linings
HVAC flexible duct connectors
Drilling fluid additives
Only 9 inch floor tiles were made with asbestos. That is well known.
You are completely right , the store I was at was built in 1978 and it had abestous floor tiles. Depending on each store there should have been an Asbestos report from SHC either in the employee break room or the office. This has gotten out of hand ALL stores need to call OSHA or the health department NOW.
Sorry for my rant.