I work in healthcare and for some reason our management thinks it's appropriate to store our PPE in a space under the basement stairs. This space measures 113.5 cm or 3.72 feet tall, smells of mold, has previously flooded, and has a lovely sprinkler protruding from the ceiling that frequently catches my hair/almost takes my eye out nearly every time I'm in there. Usually we don't have to spend extended lengths of time in there, but my boss wants me to start doing inventory counts which includes hundreds of boxes of masks. So far I've only been able to find information about low light work spaces and it's questionable if this would count as a confined space (it seems to depend on whose definition is used).
I'd appreciate any advice or sources I could use to push back about keeping our supplies in this space. One of our staff already tried pointing out that this space goes against provincial government health agency recommendations for storage, but I can't find any specific document other than one that says PPE should be stored in a clean space which... I doubt this area would qualify lol. Please help save my back!
Quick Take: The storage of PPE in a cramped, moldy, and potentially hazardous space under the basement stairs is concerning and may not meet health and safety standards.
Next Steps:
Document the conditions of the storage space, including measurements, smells, flooding history, and safety hazards.
Request a meeting with your boss to discuss your concerns and present the documented evidence.
Research and provide specific provincial government health agency recommendations or guidelines for PPE storage to support your argument.
Key Lawyer Topics:
Occupational Health and Safety Regulations: Discuss with a lawyer the potential violations of health and safety regulations in storing PPE in such conditions.
Employer's Duty of Care: Understand your employer's legal obligation to provide a safe work environment and proper storage for PPE.
Whistleblower Protection: Inquire about protections available if you raise concerns about unsafe working conditions and face retaliation.