I Was Exposed to a Carbon Monoxide/Smoke Detector

[LeQuack]

I am really struggling to find a way to keep going unfortunately. Just the thought of finding a new job is stressful enough and all because of that darn fire alarm. It's just the stress of knowing it could go off at any one moment that's the worst.

 

[Street Spirit]

I agree, that would be way too stressful to deal with. Why did it go off last time?

I am really struggling to find a way to keep going unfortunately. Just the thought of finding a new job is stressful enough and all because of that darn fire alarm. It's just the stress of knowing it could go off at any one moment that's the worst.

 

[beemovie]

I think you will be fine.

Lets say it was a 100 decibels. OSHA say your exposure to 100 db can be 2 hours, while NIOSH who are a lot more cautious say your exposure can be 15 minutes. See here.

I'm pretty sure your t will settle down soon.

I think it is the higher frequency sounds that shortens the time greatly for damage.

 

[beemovie]

It was the app reader that said 79 db...and the detector manuel that said 85 so I think in my case it was actually accurate.

I recovered just fine from that..however I now have a very bad chest cold virus that has really messed with my ears...hopefully they settle again..

seriously nothing more annoying than these ears conditions. .

Most of them are rated 85 at 15 ft. Meaning it is 85 when 15 feet away from it.

 

[Street Spirit]

Most of them are rated 85 at 15 ft. Meaning it is 85 when 15 feet away from it.

Well regradless I was just fine afterwards

 

[LeQuack]

I agree, that would be way too stressful to deal with. Why did it go off last time?

Just a fire drill. "Just" for them, but for me it's agony. The office is pretty quiet, something like 40dB ambient noise, and then the alarm instantly sounds at full volume at 100+ dB, before you realize it and cover your ears the damage is done.

 

[Street Spirit]

Just a fire drill. "Just" for them, but for me it's agony. The office is pretty quiet, something like 40dB ambient noise, and then the alarm instantly sounds at full volume at 100+ dB, before you realize it and cover your ears the damage is done.

Can they give you a warning ahead of time? Like the day prior and then you make arrangements to leave first.

 

[LeQuack]

Sometimes they do, but I guess it's not on their priority list. Other times it goes off because someone burned their coffee or just a random system test. So fire drills are only a part of it.

 

[Street Spirit]

Sometimes they do, but I guess it's not on their priority list. Other times it goes off because someone burned their coffee or just a random system test. So fire drills are only a part of it.

Damn LeQuack, sounds like an ideal job otherwise. ..:/

 

[LeQuack]

Damn LeQuack, sounds like an ideal job otherwise. ..:/

Yeah it's awesome otherwise, great coworkers and bosses, it's a family company so the boss is just like part of the crew. Real shame that I would need to leave.

 

[LeQuack]

I was just wondering. What's the politics of fire alarms in the offices. Do any of you guys have a fire alarm in the near vicinity of your workplace, and not separated by at least a wall or something?

 

[Ken219]

@LeQuack I see you have 'T' since 2005. That is almost 10 years. At any time did you habituate? I've had my bad times and needed to step away from work for awhile. When I was able to return work I was able to get a job. Please hang in there and do what is best for you to recover.

 

[LeQuack]

@LeQuack I see you have 'T' since 2005. That is almost 10 years. At any time did you habituate? I've had my bad times and needed to step away from work for awhile. When I was able to return work I was able to get a job. Please hang in there and do what is best for you to recover.

Thanks for the advice. I was quite habituated for the first 6 or 7 years. That means it wasn't in my mind unless I really thought of it. It was a mild T that I only heard in total silence, and even then I could force myself to sleep through the night in silence if I had to. After that it started becoming more notifiable, louder, more noises, reactive and I also started to actively avoid loud noises. Since then I have not had a day that it hasn't bothered me at least somewhat.

 

[mick1987]

can you talk to your boss ? Alarm sounds follow same guidelines for safety as any industrial noise - their levels must not be considered a hazard to workers. It may be possible or even a legal responsibility for him to mesure and reduce the noise level in some way, or your position in relation to it.
Secondly as mentioned , you should mention you have sensittivites and would like a warning at least prior to alarm drills going off.
As a business owner in a very noisy industry this is a very reasonable request from an employee, and would be accepted with a doctors letter to support it.

 

[LeQuack]

They did move the fire alarm to the other end of the office, but it's of little consolation to me since the loudness will be almost the same, I mean it's better than nothing and I have to give them credit for trying, but in the end 5 dB is hardly going to make a difference when it's blaring at 100+ dB still.

In the original design the offices were to have a central hallway and the alarm would be in the hallway, separated by a wall. But they decided they didn't want a hallway so that's how the alarm ended up in the main office. They now moved it to the other end near the entrance above the door so you have to pass directly underneath if you want to go out of the office.

So I guess I will still need to find another job unfortunately, unless I want to accept the fact that every few months I will have to damage my hearing.

 

[LeQuack]

These guys apparently don't have an issue with fire alarms: