DS works for a local restaurant/carry out, primarily as a dishwasher. He's 17. They do a brisk weekend business.

Last night, he tells me that he was told to clean the bathrooms during his shift on Sunday. He said that the septic had backed up, and there was raw sewage floating on the floor. He was given a mop and bucket to deal with this. No gloves, no mask.

He said he tried to get it cleaned up, until it started seeping through his shoes.

I am furious about this. Firstly, that the business was even open with this issue. Isn't that a major health department violation? Secondly, I am concerned about what communicable diseases my kid could have been exposed to.

I've been trying to call the Health Dept for the last hour or so, and the line's been busy.

Am I overreacting? Is there something more I should be doing? Something less?

(I do have to say....I did not notice any unusual stench to his clothes when he got home...just that nasty dishroom smell that I usually smell. He does leave his work clothes and shoes in our laundry room.)

Keep trying the health dept and see what they have to say about it. Or if your town isn't too big run over to their office and talk to them personally.

Yes, I think you have an issue. I would keep calling the health department. Does your son really need this job? The reason I ask is because if the restaurant finds out it was because of him they get in trouble, they may *find* a reason to let him go. But if they're that digusting that he wasn't even given gloves, mask, etc., plus they kept the restaurant open with raw sewage on the floor, maybe he'd be better off finding another place to work!! Sounds like a place I wouldn't want to eat or work at!

My nephew works in an industry where he has to go out to different establishments to repair equipment. He said there are a lot of restaurants he won't eat at now because he's been in their kitchen!!

Could you make an annonymous call?

Please tell me you threw away those shoes!! Has he had the Hepatitis vaccinations??

I worked in food service for ten years, but have been out for at least ten so things may have changed.
Anyway we were always told we were not allowed to touch anything like that. One time someone(customer) got blood in the bathroom and our boss had to clean it up. Also if someone got sick, we were not allowed to clean up vomit.

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Insanity laughs under pressure we're cracking

Personally as a Mom I would be hopping mad that he didn't have gloves or a mask!! I hope that you can get a hold of the health department or call your doctor and ask about anything hazardous. Then the manager would be getting a personal visit.

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Laura
Please visit my blog
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Sounds to me like they were taking advantage of your son. There are guidelines to be followed for underage employees. I would check that avenue, for sure. Not sure who you would call about that.......

Also, I would not be a bit surprised to hear that your son has been fired once this is brought to someone's attention. I'm not saying NOT to do that, but, just giving you my thoughts on it.

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Doing the right thing isn't always the same as doing the easy thing.

I agree with the above poster. First the health dept, then the manager. I would go pit-bull on that manager. He could have been exposed to ALL KINDS of stuff.

Bio hazard! That is the word I couldn't think of the other day.
We were told any human waste like blood or anything from a human body was a bio hazard and we were not allowed to go near it.

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Insanity laughs under pressure we're cracking

Can't you get hepatitis that way too?

In most schools, all body fluids have to be cleaned in a special way. That includes gloves for the cleaner and bleach products to clean the mess. It was unhealthy for your son and anyone who used the bathroom after. Call the health department.

Are you positive this really happened?

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The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of the blessings.
The inherent blessing of socialism is the equal sharing of misery.
~ Winston Churchill

Yeah, that's kind of what I was wondering. Not that it didn't happen, so much as, are you sure it wasn't just on overflowed toilet kind of thing. When I was younger I worked at restaurants, and yes, I had to clean up backed up toilets before.

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"No one believes more firmly than Comrade Napoleon that all animals are equal. He would be only too happy to let you make your decisions for yourselves. But sometimes you might make the wrong decisions, comrades, and then where should we be?"
- George Orwell Animal Farm

I have taught food safety and sanitation..........Trust me, this is a MAJOR violation and the restaurant should have closed that second.

You have every right to rip that managar apart! He took advantage of a kid with a nasty job nobody else wanted to tackle. Shame on them and I would definilty call the health dept as well as visit him and tell him to his face that you reported them. Your son could have been exposed to god knows what?

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Without Health you have no Wealth!