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Guest

RE: Respirators? Please take the poll too?

Baltimore MD Roof Cleaning 410-482-4367 · guest

Just be honest. Small amounts that are in the air or enter the house are no more harmefull usually than pool water. But you are standing above it and breathing it daily, and that is why you choose to protect yourself. Plus it is a safety standard, just like a homeowner should wear eye and ear protection when they use a lawnmower or power tool. Most people don't do this but that is their choice, and yours is safety first so your company rocks

and takes care of it's employees...etc. etc.

Ask them if they would breath over a jug of Clorox all day??

Insulators wear masks when the fill up your walls and attic, but you don't wear one to live in your house??
Painters do to, but you don't run from paint?
All the chemicals in your house required a respirator, rubber suit and millions of dollars in safety standards to produce, but most people use them without gloves or worries??

Get it?? Get them to start thinking about how they act around their household chems and they might just buy a respirator too for cleaning their toilet biggrin

??

Baltimore MD Roof Cleaning 410-482-4367 · guest

Roof Cleaning Long Island New York (631) 220 6985 wrote:

You will look kind of awkward with an oxygen tank and a tube up you nose when your respiratory system is shot

That 2 :)

Roof Cleaning Richmond VA 804-687-4960 · Guest

Mr. Soapy,

Your customers are more likely to view you as a educated authority taking proper precautions than goof with a mask on. Wear it like a badge of honor my friend and breath easy for many moons.

Roof Cleaning Missouri 417-230-8103 · Guest

I myself dont wear one and always have a headache after spaying LOVE...
Been in the trades for years and always dislike the feeling of being smotherd BUT
I feel I will be getting one, I cant stand headaches
You are right Bill , good idea working using OSHA standards...

KID

-- Edited by Roof Cleaning Branson/Springfield,Mo (417) 230 8103 on Friday 14th of August 2009 04:37:07 PM

Roof Cleaning Kissimmee FL 407-452-4526 · Guest

I've worn one from day one. Around 1997 I worked in the chemical industry with polyester resins and styrenes. We had no choice but to wear one. I almost got fired for trying to be the cool 22 yr old that I was at the time. I know guys that do wear oxygen and feel like they have constant heart burn due to chemical inhalation.
I used to say "I'd rather be dead than cool" .. now "i'd rather be safe than cool" customers will and do appreciate that.

cbtodacb · Guest

i wear one...cost me $50 and is great...gives me peace of mind...more like gives my missus peace of mind!!

KP Diamond · Guest

I fired this guy today, caught him not using his respirator.... ashamed

andy hinson · Oct 6, 2009

I wear one. Not exactly the one recommended because I can't find it. When I was younger working in sawmills and planer mills I thought I was to damn tough to wear ear plugs. Mistake. Things wear you out a little at a time. Before you know it the damage is done. Who cares if you look silly. You are on the roof to kill something and it should not be you or your helper.

Guest

Andy,
You should definitely try to find the right ones. If they don't protect against chlorine gas, they are not much different than wearing no respirator. Don't give yourself a false sense of security with a cartridge that is not rated for chlorine vapor.

I bought mine at the local Harbor Freight store. They don't list them online, but they had them in the store. Here is a link to a web site that you can order them from and this is a good price. I paid the same at Harbor Freight.

Brian

Roof Cleaning Toledo Ohio (419) 265-3306 · Guest

I say I will, but you know how that goes. I'm sure I will start off using them but when it's 100 degrees out who knows.

Roofguard Shingle Cleaning · Guest

I use a MSA Comfo Elite respirator with the GMC-P100 combination filter. These filters are rated for most organic vapors, and CL. These are a little expensive however the filters have a longer lifetime than most of the other filters since they are 2 stage carbon filters.

deputyw · Guest

i have not been wearing one. the last job i did, i took a beating. i will be wearing one from now on!

white fox · Guest

we had to go through a lot of stuff to get confined space certification as in medical exams and knowing to wear respirators. I don't if I can't smell it but if its bad yes I do. When you are washing fertilizer tanks its a must!

garyw · Mar 29, 2010

Thought this may help persuade some of you here who think they are bullet-proof. This person has several posts in this thread, and now look at where he is. Better be safe than sorry. Its hard to go back and reverse the damamge

I am posting this to help other roof and pressure cleaners to save themselves from a similar fate?

Update:

I am still recovering from a severe blow to my life from a medical condition caused in part by weak lung function for most of my life, exacerbated by 20 plus years of exposure to pressure cleaning and roof cleaning chemicals entering my lungs beacuse of not wearing a proper organic vapor mask consistently while working around the chemicsal cleaning agents used in our roof cleaning and pressure washing trades.

To be clear, these posts are not for sympathy as I don't expect any, I caused this to myself because of thinking I am still able to clean without using organic vapor cannister on a consistent basis.

My purpose is to help others avaoid a similar catastrophe.

At 43, there is no more room for error or any margin for not taking my health seriously, not matter how uncomfortable a mask may be or how hot it can get in summer. This could happen to any of you too?

I am glad to be still on the planet. I am definetly not 100% yet but.....

I am more determined than ever to practice safe roof and pressure cleaning techiniques and to pass on the message to NEW Cleaners to put SAFETY FIRST.

Cleaning Chemicals can damage your lungs and skin gradually over time and then like a thief striking at night when you least expect it, rob you of your most precious possession, YOUR HEALTH!

Dave Westerman- A-R-C-A Founder

1 month before hospitalization

SH - Chlorine Exposure has got the best of me-Always wear a Organic vapor respirator- Its not all fun and games in roof cleaning

SH - Chlorine Exposure has got the best of me-Always wear a Organic vapor respirator- Its not all fun and games in roof cleaning

March 18th 2010 Intensive Care Unit - 5 days in critical care

On Ventilator because of no Respirator use over the years -

Sodium Hypochlorite is damaging to lung tissue, period. It plays no favorites.

Please Be Careful-

I care about you guys and want all of the A-R-C-A Roof Cleaners........ actually ALL Roof Cleaners to put SAFETY FIRST, PLEASE.

Thank You to all of you who cared enough to say something kind.

Those words of encouragement go a long way to making my recovery easier.

It means a lot to me.

-- Edited by Roof Clean USA Thomasville GA 229-227-0000 on Friday 26th of March 2010 11:37:28 PM

guest

I just can't get over this picture, I have looked at it many of times.

It was just several months ago Dave was at his best, now it looks as if he is lying in his death bed.

I tell you we are here today and gone tomorrow.

-- Edited by Walk on Monday 29th of March 2010 03:52:07 PM

Chappy · Guest

wouldnt get up on a roof with out one. The love wont kill you right away but it adds up over time. If you think your liver has trouble processing the alchohol you drink, imagine 20 years of sucking in bleach fumes!

Baltimore MD Roof Cleaning 410-482-4367 · guest

garyw wrote:

Thought this may help persuade some of you here who think they are bullet-proof. This person has several posts in this thread, and now look at where he is. Better be safe than sorry. Its hard to go back and reverse the damamge

I am posting this to help other roof and pressure cleaners to save themselves from a similar fate?

Update:

I am still recovering from a severe blow to my life from a medical condition caused in part by weak lung function for most of my life, exacerbated by 20 plus years of exposure to pressure cleaning and roof cleaning chemicals entering my lungs beacuse of not wearing a proper organic vapor mask consistently while working around the chemicsal cleaning agents used in our roof cleaning and pressure washing trades.

To be clear, these posts are not for sympathy as I don't expect any, I caused this to myself because of thinking I am still able to clean without using organic vapor cannister on a consistent basis.

My purpose is to help others avaoid a similar catastrophe.

At 43, there is no more room for error or any margin for not taking my health seriously, not matter how uncomfortable a mask may be or how hot it can get in summer. This could happen to any of you too?

I am glad to be still on the planet. I am definetly not 100% yet but.....

I am more determined than ever to practice safe roof and pressure cleaning techiniques and to pass on the message to NEW Cleaners to put SAFETY FIRST.

Cleaning Chemicals can damage your lungs and skin gradually over time and then like a thief striking at night when you least expect it, rob you of your most precious possession, YOUR HEALTH!

1 month before hospitalization

March 18th 2010 Intensive Care Unit - 5 days in critical care

On Ventilator because of no Respirator use over the years -

Sodium Hypochlorite is damaging to lung tissue, period. It plays no favorites.

Please Be Careful-

I care about you guys and want all of the A-R-C-A Roof Cleaners........ actually ALL Roof Cleaners to put SAFETY FIRST, PLEASE.

Thank You to all of you who cared enough to say something kind.

Those words of encouragement go a long way to making my recovery easier.

It means a lot to me.

-- Edited by Roof Clean USA Thomasville GA 229-227-0000 on Friday 26th of March 2010 11:37:28 PM

That is horrible. Thanks for sharing this Gary. Man it sucks to see him down like that. We have had odds, but i would never wish this on anybody.

Travis · Guest

Hey does your grounds man just attach your hose the the residents home to rinse Just wondering If yall have ever had a problem with that???

Washed-up · guest

your posting in the wrong area

The Roof Cleaning Institute Of America Training & Certification Forum
"Find A Certified Roof Cleaner Directory"

Dwayne Miller
FLORIDAWASH

Lake Marion Citrus & Sumter Counties in Florida

The Roof Cleaning Institute Of America Training & Certification Forum "Find A Certified Roof Cleaner Directory"

Dwayne MillerFLORIDAWASH

Lake Marion Citrus & Sumter Counties in Florida

The Roof Cleaning Institute Of America Training & Certification Forum
"Find A Certified Roof Cleaner Directory"

Dwayne Miller
FLORIDAWASH