I've never seen a warning about cancer causing agents in a room with a copy machine before. Do you live in CA or a state that has a lot of regulations about posting health notices?
A lot of people sit in a chair for 40+ hours a week.
Look, I don't mean to devalue your experience but if you feel this is unhealthy, then get out and be active during your lunch break or before work or after.
I worked in an office without windows for years. We had about 1500 regular employees. We had a single cancer death.
Lack of sunlight is probably not the culprit here.
Whoa!!! Huge difference in percentages with cancer. I wonder if you were just not aware of it? Being so close to all my office mates factored in with me haing this knowledge. It's a small group and we know everything about each other.
You're right. Everyone was dying of cancer and because I clearly could not be up in everyone's business, I just forgot to notice. Yet, I worked there for 7 years and am still healthy. As are my friends.
Seriously, step back and bit a take a deep breath.
I have never seen notices about cancer causing agents in copy machines nor have I ever had to sign a disclosure like that. What kind of business is this? Is it just an office?
I get hating your job and hating being sedentary. I really do.
But, own that and go get a job that is a better fit and more enjoyable. Don't start looking for ways to make yourself upset and expect to be sick. That's just a prescription for misery.
Everyone works in an office with a copy machine and everything in CA gives you cancer. A lots of women get breast cancer. I'm really not seeing any real connections here though.
I have never seen a sign warning about cancer around ANY copier. Not at work, the library, office supply stores, schools, church.. no where. Unless that is a law in your city or state, that is a red flag to me.
For six years I've works in an office with 60 other people, all sitting on our asses all day, no windows in sight, and numerous copy machines. No cancer.
Post by karinothing on Feb 2, 2013 13:12:18 GMT -5
She already said she lives in CA and CA has warnings on everything. Anyway, I am pretty sure breastcancer isn't the type of cancer that is typically caused by environmental exposure. If every person in the office had thyroid cancer I would be concerned.
I don't want this to sound callous or insensitive, but breast cancer is a fairly common cancer in women. I don't think I would be concerned. Three or four women at my school have been diagnosed with it in the last 5 years I've worked here (we have around 70 employees). I never feared for my health in the workplace. Now if they all got the same rare form of cancer, I might think about it more.
My mother works close to a chemical plant. Their office building was built on ground that the chemical plant used to own. She thinks there must have been a leak or spill that was never reported to the state. She has worked in this building for 16 years.
There is a group of 8 women who belong to a coffee club. There are 90 or so employees total in her office. This club each takes turns bringing in new and different coffee blends to taste/try each week. They brew the coffee using tap water from the office. In the past 10 years, six of the coffee club members have/had GI cancers ranging from esophageal cancer, stomach cancer, biliary cancer, and small intestinal cancer.
No one else in the office has had these types of cancers. The first thing my mom does is tell new employees not to drink the water. My mom brings her own drinks into the office.
I am pretty sure that copiers don't give women breast cancer. Though I do believe that other environmental influences can cause cancer.
You also need to consider other factors. These women may or may not have family histories, and I am sure you do not know everything about their medical histories. I also think women are more open to talk about these things than in the past. Seems to me like you are trying to make a connection out of something that is not there
CA has those cancer signs everywhere. I've even seen them on the windows of new cars. Some proposition was passed years ago to make it a requirement. You could probably do a quick google search for the proposition and see the criteria for posting the sign. I would not be otherwise worried.
I'll go against the grain. That would worry me. However, I doubt it it because of the copiers. But I would be concerned about environmental toxins that are not as easy to identify.
I'll go against the grain. That would worry me. However, I doubt it it because of the copiers. But I would be concerned about environmental toxins that are not as easy to identify.
This. It might just be coincidence, but it would at least make me wonder. I doubt it's the copiers, or 4 out of every 7 women in every office would get breast cancer, and that doesn't happen. And I doubt it's the lack of sunlight, although I would dislike working in an office with no natural light. Are there other offices in your building? Do the employees of those companies get cancer at the same rate?
This would worry me. Honestly. But I am very much in a FUCK CANCER mood lately, for good reasons. Anyway, be careful, be as healthy as you can be, and look for a new job if you are truly concerned.
Yes, I would. 25% staff with breast cancer is enough to raise questions. Assuming the 7 permanent staff were there for at least 5 years, that's over 50% with BC. That is freaking weird.
I'd be more concerned with environmental toxins though than copiers.
I've never seen a warning about cancer causing agents in a room with a copy machine before. Do you live in CA or a state that has a lot of regulations about posting health notices?
Yes. Ca. And had to sign a waiver type thing for exposure.
I'd be worried. I live in CA and don't think I've seen a Prop 65 sign at a FedEx Kinko's. I'd read over that waiver again if you have a copy or ask for one if you don't.
I'll go against the grain. That would worry me. However, I doubt it it because of the copiers. But I would be concerned about environmental toxins that are not as easy to identify.
This. It might just be coincidence, but it would at least make me wonder. I doubt it's the copiers, or 4 out of every 7 women in every office would get breast cancer, and that doesn't happen. And I doubt it's the lack of sunlight, although I would dislike working in an office with no natural light. Are there other offices in your building? Do the employees of those companies get cancer at the same rate?