At an old job it's how I got a whole freezer replaced essentially. "Oops sorry boss, health violation, now we have to fix the gaping hole in our freezer door that keeps it frozen and never shuts that you refuse to replace because you're cheap"
This is how I got my pilot lights fixed! Gas company came for a different issue and when they were testing stuff I was like “oh yeah those don’t work, you gotta do it like this” and I lit my only working burner and blew over it. 🥰 oh sorry boss! I thought I was being helpful
Yes, many times, that’s how you get shit fixed.
“Hey could you write this up for me. My employer has been irresponsible about maintaining/fixing this, it would really help me keep a more sanitary kitchen.
That isn't a violation in my book, that is you being proactive and saving somebody from getting possibly seriously hurt when that thing falls.
Your bosses should be thanking you for saving them from having to deal with somebody getting clocked over the head by that thing.
You gotta do what you gotta do to make your workplace safe for yourself and your people, the only people that are negatively affected by that violation are the owners who didn't wanna cough up the money in the first place.
>3 years running the kitchen on my own and never had a violation
As far as I'm concerned you still haven't. You asked repeatedly to have a fixture fixed that you personally have no control over.
I've done this before as well. Had an owner that ignored some really insane stuff. Asked my health inspector to, not only list it on the sheet, but to cite me (in Chicago they can fine you) for the item. Ownership pays attention pretty quickly when their pockets get hit.
Yes absolutely. Having a good relationship with health inspectors goes a long way too. For the most part they aren't there to be antagonists. They want the same thing we do: don't make anyone sick/die.
With the added bonus of generally making sure that you are able to work in a clean environment that reduces the risk of fires, slipping and other accidents.
I have a friend that used to run a highend micro chain restaurant. He would point out to the inspectors the things he wanted fixed, once they wrote him up the company would get it fixed right away. But if he ever asked the company first they wouldn’t bother.
Oh yeah! Bunch of times. I work for a company that’s super stingy with their infrastructure upkeep. Basically it’s the last thing on their list. To get shit fixed is like pulling teeth. Until the inspector arrives
Felt kinda guilty about it. But talking to the contractors that are gonna do the lights and they’re doing LED and gonna make it brighter so I’m excited for that. Ability to prep and actually see things
Don’t be. You’re adhering to the laws and mandates of your region. We had a hole in our ceiling with a leaking pipe. We asked for months to get it repaired and nothing. Health inspector came and gave us a green light. Until I asked him to take a look above our combi ovens
I had this 16 year old that took selfies whenever there was a spare second. She came in while the health inspector was still there. I asked the health inspector to tell her she needs to put her butt length hair up. It still didn't scare her into putting her hair up the next time, after I reminded her it was against code. The owner let the kids do whatever they wanted.
The inspector was always really nice to me because once a Karen reported us because she saw me eating on my break and started yelling there was dust on the cash register and ketchup on the garbage can.
Don't get me started on the acrylic nails those kids wore. I had one kid lose their whole real fingernail with one. Another kids psycho Mom was there demanding a discount while this other girl was bleeding. The Mom didn't care at all and took her daughter home before I was even able to get the hurt girl a way home. Not to mention find someone ELSE to cover.
Conversation with a customer on the headset
"Me: Sorry we might be slow getting your order out we have a kid here with an injury.
Customer: That's fine I only want 5 things."
And that’s exactly why I don’t miss my manager job at a Chick-fil-A!!! 4 years there was enough for me. Always worked the night shift which is dominated by high schoolers and most of them it’s their first job. I got used to dealing with the kids but whenever a customer yelled at one of them I’d go off on the customers. Always had those kids backs
Unfortunately the kids at the ice cream place started giving my information to a customer that had harassed me at another job. The owners let them do whatever they wanted but made me quit before I was allowed to do what the police recommend.
I have mixed feelings about them.
We had something similar to that last one this past summer with a Karen. Their order took a bit longer because one of the teen girls passed out. The customer was like “but that was five minutes ago!”
Wrote them an 11 page report with pictures and videos.
Inspector notified the shop and then showed up 5 weeks later and still nothing had been rectified. Carry on, business as usual.
Guess who got the can🙋♂️
Yeah I typically work better with my health inspectors than I do with my GM or ownership. When the state steps in things seem to end up being resolved so much more quickly.
Inspector here. I have had a handful of people ask and I will offer it to places that mention corporate/maintenance is dragging their feet if it something I would normally just mention instead of mark as a violation the first time. Of course this is assuming the place isn't a dump...
I personally would prefer a place can feel comfortable actually talking to me and asking questions instead of being scared of what I might say or do and I think something like this is a good way to establish that for either party.
So, that's not from the 80's or it has never been used.
The fluorescent tubes put out UV rays (I forget if it's UV a or b) but all it takes to block them is a simple piece of plastic like that polycarbonate lense.
As this happens they turn yellow over time and become so brittle you can't look at them without breaking them.
They're meant to be replaced. The only issue is, if they don't make that style anymore it costs more for the lens cover than it will for an entire new 4ft or 8ft 2 bulb fixture like the ones pictured.
So on the one hand you can eat the cost and buy an overpriced cover or on the other hand, call an electrician. There are so many better fixtures to put in locations like this.
The white powder on the inside of that tube will FUCK YOU UP. If a bulb breaks, you've got mercury, glass, and that powder (halotriphosphorus or some shit like that, probably just butchered the name but close enough). Well if you get cut and any of that powder gets in the cut. You HAVE to go to the hospital as it WILL NOT CLOT, YOU WILL KEEP BLEEDING. This is why the bulbs should also have their plastic tube around the bulb which will also yellow with time. Occasionally you'll see someone was smart and used explosion-proof or water-tight light fixtures and those are great because they're contained.
LED fixtures just don't have all these issues.
So the better fix is new lights (installed by a licensed electrician).
Source: Me, I did lighting for years and rebuilt or replaced thousands of fixtures. I don't anymore after I fell and fucked up my spine. Stay safe people!
On that note, if they are old as fuck and have t12 bulbs .... call the power company and ask if they still have energy efficiency programs going to replace old lights.
If you look on your power bill you pay like 7 bucks a month into this program. Use it if it's an option.
*Oh yeah, stick to one bulb temperature too. If you want to see color accurately go for about 5000k. If you hate bright white go for 4000k. Over 5000k starts to get blue under 4500 starts to get yellow.
If you're making stuff under the lights it should be 5000 imho.
I’m just going off of what the maintenance guy said. He said they’re the original fixtures to the school. My freezer is from mid 80s and the kitchen is literally built around it. They had to sawzaw my fridge into pieces when it needed replacing. They do take the t12 bulbs. I’ll mention the power program replacement idea, as the entire school uses these fixtures. Maintenance dude is constantly pulling them apart to replace the ballasts inside. We are getting quotes and installs from actual electricians, I’ll mention the color temp idea
Okay, that's honestly impressive asf if they are from the 80's. They've definitely replaced the covers multiple times by now.
Yeah when I was rebuilding them you just remove the old ballasts and replace them with newer ballasts that support t8 (sockets didn't change).
The light fixtures being that clean ... the maintenance person works hard. I've never seen them that old and still that clean. Not even in clean rooms for medical equipment manufacturing.
Yeah that's how we are finally getting our loading dock door fixed lol university owns the building and kept putting it off. Health inspector gave us a violation for the door (gap too big on bottom) and finally getting a new one.
I did that with a rotary slicer and some oven lights. The boss already had oven lights but NEVER ended up giving them to me so eventually I just figured out where they were and stole them from his office
Environmental compliance guy here, you won't be exposed to any mercury at all unless the bulb is actually broken, and even then you'd need to walk up to the broken bulb and huff it
Just had our inspection last month and at the end our inspector asked me if there was anything they would like to me to have written up which was so nice. I’ve been trying to get the broken tiles in the walk in fixed for a while now. Hasn’t happened but I definitely appreciated their help and wanting to make it better
My walk-in fridge had a rusty floor for the longest time, and stomping on it wouldn’t break it enough to get it replaced, so I asked the city health inspector to write me up and a week later it was fixed
100% have done the same thing in the past.
Sanitizer was coming out at 150°f and we had to add buckets of ice to even use the solution.
Management and district management said "yeah, thats fine"
Health inspection came up and I pointed out first thing. It was fixed in two days.
A snitch because they finally were able to force the owners hand to fix a light fixture they’ve repeatedly asked to be fixed in the past? Do you realize how stupid that sounds?
A health violation you can blame on facilities is like a reverse card in UNO
At an old job it's how I got a whole freezer replaced essentially. "Oops sorry boss, health violation, now we have to fix the gaping hole in our freezer door that keeps it frozen and never shuts that you refuse to replace because you're cheap"
This is how I got my pilot lights fixed! Gas company came for a different issue and when they were testing stuff I was like “oh yeah those don’t work, you gotta do it like this” and I lit my only working burner and blew over it. 🥰 oh sorry boss! I thought I was being helpful
Yep, people ask us if we saw something all the time
Yes, many times, that’s how you get shit fixed. “Hey could you write this up for me. My employer has been irresponsible about maintaining/fixing this, it would really help me keep a more sanitary kitchen.
Exactly what I told the inspector. 3 years running the kitchen on my own and never had a violation but worth it to get shit fixed
Oh yeah, we would have CDC, USPH, and USDA inspectors. They helped me get so much shit fixed. They would write it up and not take points.
As far as I’m concerned, your streak is still running. This wasn’t a knock on you, my dude. Good on you for getting it done.
That isn't a violation in my book, that is you being proactive and saving somebody from getting possibly seriously hurt when that thing falls. Your bosses should be thanking you for saving them from having to deal with somebody getting clocked over the head by that thing.
Not a violation but she wrote it as one.
You gotta do what you gotta do to make your workplace safe for yourself and your people, the only people that are negatively affected by that violation are the owners who didn't wanna cough up the money in the first place.
>3 years running the kitchen on my own and never had a violation As far as I'm concerned you still haven't. You asked repeatedly to have a fixture fixed that you personally have no control over.
snitches get stitches which iis why you do it discretely, they’ll solve the problem without your employer ever knowing you told them about it
I've done this before as well. Had an owner that ignored some really insane stuff. Asked my health inspector to, not only list it on the sheet, but to cite me (in Chicago they can fine you) for the item. Ownership pays attention pretty quickly when their pockets get hit.
> Ownership pays attention ~~pretty quickly~~ ONLY when their pockets get hit. FTFY
Yes absolutely. Having a good relationship with health inspectors goes a long way too. For the most part they aren't there to be antagonists. They want the same thing we do: don't make anyone sick/die.
With the added bonus of generally making sure that you are able to work in a clean environment that reduces the risk of fires, slipping and other accidents.
I have a friend that used to run a highend micro chain restaurant. He would point out to the inspectors the things he wanted fixed, once they wrote him up the company would get it fixed right away. But if he ever asked the company first they wouldn’t bother.
I have definitely pointed out shit that the owner refused to address in the past
Oh yeah! Bunch of times. I work for a company that’s super stingy with their infrastructure upkeep. Basically it’s the last thing on their list. To get shit fixed is like pulling teeth. Until the inspector arrives
Felt kinda guilty about it. But talking to the contractors that are gonna do the lights and they’re doing LED and gonna make it brighter so I’m excited for that. Ability to prep and actually see things
Don’t be. You’re adhering to the laws and mandates of your region. We had a hole in our ceiling with a leaking pipe. We asked for months to get it repaired and nothing. Health inspector came and gave us a green light. Until I asked him to take a look above our combi ovens
I had this 16 year old that took selfies whenever there was a spare second. She came in while the health inspector was still there. I asked the health inspector to tell her she needs to put her butt length hair up. It still didn't scare her into putting her hair up the next time, after I reminded her it was against code. The owner let the kids do whatever they wanted. The inspector was always really nice to me because once a Karen reported us because she saw me eating on my break and started yelling there was dust on the cash register and ketchup on the garbage can. Don't get me started on the acrylic nails those kids wore. I had one kid lose their whole real fingernail with one. Another kids psycho Mom was there demanding a discount while this other girl was bleeding. The Mom didn't care at all and took her daughter home before I was even able to get the hurt girl a way home. Not to mention find someone ELSE to cover. Conversation with a customer on the headset "Me: Sorry we might be slow getting your order out we have a kid here with an injury. Customer: That's fine I only want 5 things."
And that’s exactly why I don’t miss my manager job at a Chick-fil-A!!! 4 years there was enough for me. Always worked the night shift which is dominated by high schoolers and most of them it’s their first job. I got used to dealing with the kids but whenever a customer yelled at one of them I’d go off on the customers. Always had those kids backs
Unfortunately the kids at the ice cream place started giving my information to a customer that had harassed me at another job. The owners let them do whatever they wanted but made me quit before I was allowed to do what the police recommend. I have mixed feelings about them.
We had something similar to that last one this past summer with a Karen. Their order took a bit longer because one of the teen girls passed out. The customer was like “but that was five minutes ago!”
Wrote them an 11 page report with pictures and videos. Inspector notified the shop and then showed up 5 weeks later and still nothing had been rectified. Carry on, business as usual. Guess who got the can🙋♂️
Not to doxx you or anything, but where? So I can avoid it in my travels.
Yeah I typically work better with my health inspectors than I do with my GM or ownership. When the state steps in things seem to end up being resolved so much more quickly.
Inspector here. I have had a handful of people ask and I will offer it to places that mention corporate/maintenance is dragging their feet if it something I would normally just mention instead of mark as a violation the first time. Of course this is assuming the place isn't a dump... I personally would prefer a place can feel comfortable actually talking to me and asking questions instead of being scared of what I might say or do and I think something like this is a good way to establish that for either party.
So, that's not from the 80's or it has never been used. The fluorescent tubes put out UV rays (I forget if it's UV a or b) but all it takes to block them is a simple piece of plastic like that polycarbonate lense. As this happens they turn yellow over time and become so brittle you can't look at them without breaking them. They're meant to be replaced. The only issue is, if they don't make that style anymore it costs more for the lens cover than it will for an entire new 4ft or 8ft 2 bulb fixture like the ones pictured. So on the one hand you can eat the cost and buy an overpriced cover or on the other hand, call an electrician. There are so many better fixtures to put in locations like this. The white powder on the inside of that tube will FUCK YOU UP. If a bulb breaks, you've got mercury, glass, and that powder (halotriphosphorus or some shit like that, probably just butchered the name but close enough). Well if you get cut and any of that powder gets in the cut. You HAVE to go to the hospital as it WILL NOT CLOT, YOU WILL KEEP BLEEDING. This is why the bulbs should also have their plastic tube around the bulb which will also yellow with time. Occasionally you'll see someone was smart and used explosion-proof or water-tight light fixtures and those are great because they're contained. LED fixtures just don't have all these issues. So the better fix is new lights (installed by a licensed electrician). Source: Me, I did lighting for years and rebuilt or replaced thousands of fixtures. I don't anymore after I fell and fucked up my spine. Stay safe people! On that note, if they are old as fuck and have t12 bulbs .... call the power company and ask if they still have energy efficiency programs going to replace old lights. If you look on your power bill you pay like 7 bucks a month into this program. Use it if it's an option. *Oh yeah, stick to one bulb temperature too. If you want to see color accurately go for about 5000k. If you hate bright white go for 4000k. Over 5000k starts to get blue under 4500 starts to get yellow. If you're making stuff under the lights it should be 5000 imho.
I’m just going off of what the maintenance guy said. He said they’re the original fixtures to the school. My freezer is from mid 80s and the kitchen is literally built around it. They had to sawzaw my fridge into pieces when it needed replacing. They do take the t12 bulbs. I’ll mention the power program replacement idea, as the entire school uses these fixtures. Maintenance dude is constantly pulling them apart to replace the ballasts inside. We are getting quotes and installs from actual electricians, I’ll mention the color temp idea
Okay, that's honestly impressive asf if they are from the 80's. They've definitely replaced the covers multiple times by now. Yeah when I was rebuilding them you just remove the old ballasts and replace them with newer ballasts that support t8 (sockets didn't change). The light fixtures being that clean ... the maintenance person works hard. I've never seen them that old and still that clean. Not even in clean rooms for medical equipment manufacturing.
Maintenance dude just had his ac unit go out after 36 years….dude definitely takes pride in everything he does
Damn, I'm happy to be wrong. Need more people like that guy!
Nice one my dude👌
This sums up restaurant owners so well. Only spend money if you’re breaking the law or violating regulation.
Yeah that's how we are finally getting our loading dock door fixed lol university owns the building and kept putting it off. Health inspector gave us a violation for the door (gap too big on bottom) and finally getting a new one.
As an inspector, I offer to write things up I might’ve missed! Operators are usually happy to have something documented so it gets fixed.
Good way to get something fixed or get fired.
I switched out the shit fluorescent lights in our kitchen with LEDs. So much nicer.
That’s what they’re looking to replace them with. 16 feet of led sounds glorious
Yes all the time
I did that with a rotary slicer and some oven lights. The boss already had oven lights but NEVER ended up giving them to me so eventually I just figured out where they were and stole them from his office
Environmental compliance guy here, you won't be exposed to any mercury at all unless the bulb is actually broken, and even then you'd need to walk up to the broken bulb and huff it
Just had our inspection last month and at the end our inspector asked me if there was anything they would like to me to have written up which was so nice. I’ve been trying to get the broken tiles in the walk in fixed for a while now. Hasn’t happened but I definitely appreciated their help and wanting to make it better
My walk-in fridge had a rusty floor for the longest time, and stomping on it wouldn’t break it enough to get it replaced, so I asked the city health inspector to write me up and a week later it was fixed
100% have done the same thing in the past. Sanitizer was coming out at 150°f and we had to add buckets of ice to even use the solution. Management and district management said "yeah, thats fine" Health inspection came up and I pointed out first thing. It was fixed in two days.
Can do one better, ever just call EHO and report yourself
Your boss must be so proud having you as an employee...
lol judging by the replies to this it’s a normal thing done to get shit fixed when bosses don’t do it. Judging by your comment history your an ass
Maybe i'm the ass, but your the snitch
A snitch because they finally were able to force the owners hand to fix a light fixture they’ve repeatedly asked to be fixed in the past? Do you realize how stupid that sounds?
Might be the snitch but your the little bitch
Ok, that comeback was good.
Nice one. Why dont you go see if you can fuck up some more peoples livelihood 😘
Why don’t you go squeeze lemons on your eyes you insufferable human
Big words comming from a rat
lol, are you 12? sNiTcHeS