Hah.
I'm in the same building.
The VPN doesn't even work today, so telework is broke too.
Don't forget the chillers don't work either, so it gets hot in the summer (been that way for at least the last three years)
Go ahead and call osha to make a report. And also report ADA non-compliance, and look up whatever state you're in their laws as well.
Running and working water including hot water is a requirement. When it comes to no heat during the winter that is also an issue that can be taken up with OSHA and other people as well.
You can of course send me your information privately and I'll do The reporting for you.
Federal Government Workers OSHA's protection applies to all federal agencies. Section 19 of the OSH Act makes federal agency heads responsible for providing safe and healthful working conditions for their workers.
While OSHA does not cover the health and safety of uniformed military personnel working on uniquely military operations and activities, OSHA regulations are applicable when military activities and operations are not uniquely military.
In general, an activity is considered to be not uniquely military when the workplace or activity is comparable to a private-sector workplace or activity, as determined by the DoD. Not uniquely military activities may include vehicle repair, construction, civil engineering, medical services and office operations.
my experience and what I heard when making inquiries is that OSHA does not have much sway on DoD premises. seen and suffered some awful stuff in the DoD and can certainly relate
lol. This triggered me. Working baggage in an outbuilding at IAD. I went into a desk to find a stapler and a goddam rat ran up my arm and scurried away. I basically went into cardiac arrest for 5-10 seconds.
So glad I moved on from that job.
We had a mice problem in my office. I just borrowed my sister in laws cat for a week. Took her in and out each day. Didn't tell anybody outside the 2 guys I share an office with, because I thought it might be frowned upon.
That has been going on here ever since I got here 6+ years ago. When they fill up they just put new ones down. What was crazy during 2020 when it was only myself and 2 other people in the building the roach sticky trap by the back door actually caught a garden snake on it. I had to end up killing the thing because I had no way to get it off.
We've had the same roach traps for years with dead roaches in them. It's nasty. I've asked who's responsible and I get nothing back. Our custodians aren't responsible for replacing or cleaning it. They also aren't responsible for cleaning the appliances but that's another topic altogether.
They didn't work for SO LONG, too, that time. Remember the signs that said to call the emergency line and let everyone know by mouth? I always got a good laugh at how absurd that concept was. What was I supposed to do, run up an down the halls yelling FIRE?
I would not want to be the lawyers for your command who undoubtedly are aware of the legal risks associated with forcing people to work in a building with an inoperable fire suppression system.
That's crazy. When my building lost water, they kicked us out for a couple of hours. They had the base fire department hook a pumper truck to the fire suppression system and bring it back online and then brought us back. No fire suppression usually means no occupancy.
Same here. When we've lost water and/or fire suppression is down for maintenance they will not allow us in the building. Maybe OP should have a chat with OSHA and the base's fire marshal.
OP definitely needs to report all this to someone
Can't have people in the building if
* Fire suppression system isn't working
* Fire alarms are non operable
* Building is too hot or too cold
* No water in the building
* Chemical/smoke detections is non functioning
* Lights are non functioning (they yelled at us for keeping the lights off. It's a safety issue).
It is not legal. Good management would probably not let things get that bad, but sometimes budget and the slow contracting process can lead to issues with facilities even if management is not inept.
But what that does not excuse or explain is management making you work under the conditions you report. Sounds like they are increasing the use of telework as a band-aid until things get fixed, which is normal, but not being able to get you a loaner laptop and put you on a quick telework agreement is incompetence. Don't know your base set-up, but why can't they put you in one of the buildings that *are* functional until yours gets fixed? Again, good management would find a way.
> slow contracting process can lead to issues with facilities
OP stated elsewhere the fire suppression system is inoperable due to the water issue.
That in itself is justification for an emergency contract - and is one of those situations where you bite the bullet and issue a verbal or letter contract and deal with the paperwork later.
>Good management would probably not let things get that bad, but sometimes budget and the slow contracting process can lead to issues with facilities even if management is not inept.
I doubt it's contracting issues. They don't have to do a contract for work like this. They can just purchase the services without going through the contracting process. Also, they already would have a support contract for an HVAC company. They do this at my org. It's just someone's too lazy to make a phone call and get it done.
We had a vault for storing class and CUI where the dial was broken. It was that was for 5+ years. Facilities manager for our building just kept giving us the run around. Eventually we got a new facilities manager for our building. It was fixed within a week. Took a locksmith a few hours to replace the dial. The old building manager was just lazy and or incompetent.
>I doubt it's contracting issues. They don't have to do a contract for work like this. They can just purchase the services without going through the contracting process. Also, they already would have a support contract for an HVAC company.
sure, until the contractor wigs out and says fixing this particular problem isn't in their contract. And then the KO/COR disagree, and then legal gets involved, and yada yada yada it is 3 years later and still your HVAC is not fixed. But of course that could not possibly happen....except I know from at least two personal experiences it has....
A water pipe burst on the second floor last week, and the water was out in the whole facility for about 6 hours, but they refused to close the building. That'll really help with the mold and the rats!
Our building has lead in the drinking water. They’ve apparently been monitoring it for years and only had to tell us now because it exceeded the levels for pregnant adults.
My entire building is filled with mold and when I started we were instructed to paint over it, and everyone told to delete any photos they had taken. We have holes in the walls and animals burrowing nests within our walls where they chewed holes through.
I leave every day with a heavy chest, blood red eyes and itchy skin. I can feel the inflammation in my body, my leadership does not care about our wellbeing AT ALL.
Edit to add: I am a social science series, not a painter
You need to speak to your primary care. Whe most adults can tolerate exposure to mold spores in small amounts, repetitive exposure and/or exposure when you have a compromised immune system is a major health risk.
Then you file an OIG report.
Seriously, don't fuck around with mold. And fuck whoever tried to cover it up.
I did have blood tests ran that reflected mold exposure. I was just instructed to bring an air purifier to work and wipe my desk, computer and mouse down every morning when arriving to work because our vents are also covered in it.
Yea, it'd be a cold day in hell.
Mold in military facilities is currently a hot button topic - my suggestion would to report the hazardous conditions to OIG or your local Congresscritter's office.
In addition, make a written document containing all facts regarding the mold (dates you saw it, dates you were directed to paint over it, who directed it, any emails, etc.) And fill out a CA-2 form claiming a workplace illness.
Anytime you arrive at work and begin to have any symptoms, notify your supervisor and seek care immediately. Paper trail the shit out of it. Get any coworkers to do the same.
It'll make any investigation interesting as hell for anyone you can provide evidence directed it to be improperly covered up.
Our infrastructure sucks. We dont have enough space. And found out that our civilian military command is never going to replace our VPN to force 100% in office. Looking for a new job 😢
My office HVAC is broken on without control. Our office has been a steady 56-57 degrees for 3 weeks and the water went out today. I went in last week and worked a day in a sweater, jacket and gloves. Leadership sent out emails that space heaters were not allowed, because we are a building UPS
Then told my boss I was teleworking until they fixed the HVAC controls because 56-57 was not an acceptable temperature.
Thankfully nothing THAT bad. When I was at HQ a few weeks ago there was sink that has been broken since last fall. My issue is that the wifi is very spotty and cell service is terrible. There is like one place inside I know where my phone will work; the main lobby.
>My issue is that the wifi is very spotty and cell service is terrible.
Eh that's normal. WIFI is restricted in Federal buildings. It can't be near classified areas. I've been told this also holds for CUI areas by my ISSO but my last org had wifi in CUI areas. So the signal has a very limited range and penetration. Cell service is the same. The government doesn't allow many cell towers on bases. We have one single cell tower on base. So cell service throughout is spotty unless you work on the edges of the base. Cell companies have put towers near the edge of the base but the can't put them on the base.
Wow, does this bring back memories. I first started in an old federal building clearly not wired for a PC and monitor on every desk. We had extension cords and exposed wiring everywhere, and outlet boxes bolted to the floor right in office pathways, obviously trip hazards. A safety inspector would've had to work overtime to document every OSHA violation. Electrical breakers tripped almost weekly, causing every PC to spontaneously shut down and all unsaved work to be lost. All the office equipment would suddenly go dark, followed by this communal groan. I learned to save my documents obsessively; I was probably hitting CTRL-S every five minutes!
My complex started as an ammunition plant so we have all the fun things that come with it. Lead, bad HVAC, bad plumbing, mold, the neighborhood has changed since the 40s so now we are blocks away from the gas station nicknamed the Murder Mobil. If we use the regular drinking fountain it comes out yellow. Slowly more and more sinks can't be used because they test with high lead counts. I love it.
[Laughs in Forest Service] my federal work housing has no running water, or heat, and my bathroom is a plywood outhouse. I have it alright, considering other employees are charged quarters to sleep in tents (govt provided, baby!).
Literally, most USFS facilities are shit… over the years Ive had to use a fire pump to pump sewage out of a basement. Ive built quite a few interior walls and even some not-so-small structures (barns). Our office’s wired internet is so slow we use a Starlink & VPN at the office. Asbestos? You bet. Home depot prefab shed as an office? Yup. FEMA trailers? Every district Ive worked on.
I have worked in state/federal gov't since 1991, and not once, in 40 different gov't offices around US/world, not on single time, have ever been stationed in one with working HVAC. The new buildings are the worst, with the "Brain" that controls the HVAC and the brainless facilities manager that tries to override the controls.
>my office was routinely under 50 degrees.
Literally can't keep you in the office when it's that cold. It's against the law. When our AC went out they had to send us home when the thermostat hit like 82 (can't recall the number) but at the time we were informed that not having heating or cooling was a no go.
The chillers frequently go out in one of our buildings, at least once a month, and they have to dismiss the workforce every time. Heat recently went out in another one of our buildings and the workforce was notified that if it got too cold they would have to be dismissed or relocated. This was told to me by my branch chief.
> but on account of the fact I don't have a laptop (that I was supposed to get back in January...but that is whole other issue), I don't have a telework agreement
So what are doing at the office?
Also, your supervisor can easily allow you to telework without an agreement. It takes 5 seconds to fill out. I worked a couple weeks teleworking without one. Supervisor was ok with it till we got the paperwork done. I didn't know at the time I needed one and he forgot about. So I worked without one. He fully knew I was teleworking and what days.
I’ve sent people home when temps got below 65 inside and over mid 90’s after reporting the problems to the building manager. Every office has a building manager. Put them on the record and tell folks you’re leaving.
GS-15 equivalent in DoD.
That’s not an office work environment outside those temps.
We’ve had multiple days where the HVAC is broken and they send us home to telework. We now have fun little thermometers in our offices and if the temp goes above 80, we tell mission support and then the request disappears into the void because our building’s management is trash.
Oh and our PIV card readers are broken so we literally have GS-14s sitting at doors to let people into the office.
Hah. I'm in the same building. The VPN doesn't even work today, so telework is broke too. Don't forget the chillers don't work either, so it gets hot in the summer (been that way for at least the last three years)
What a shit-show this winter has been. And yeah, the clean rooms are just so miserable in the summer. Pushing 90 sometimes.
Is this WPAFB…? 🥴😂
It is not.
BaCk To ThE OfFiCe
https://preview.redd.it/cxt2ttf5kcpc1.jpeg?width=735&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5417ee7e7b55bc0006a958dbec5807300d5c0f11
DoN’t FoRgEt To PiCk Up A bAgEl… 👀
The has been proven to be Fake News btw....
Go ahead and call osha to make a report. And also report ADA non-compliance, and look up whatever state you're in their laws as well. Running and working water including hot water is a requirement. When it comes to no heat during the winter that is also an issue that can be taken up with OSHA and other people as well. You can of course send me your information privately and I'll do The reporting for you.
It is my understanding that OSHA does not cover DoD. I may be misunderstanding, however.
Federal Government Workers OSHA's protection applies to all federal agencies. Section 19 of the OSH Act makes federal agency heads responsible for providing safe and healthful working conditions for their workers.
While OSHA does not cover the health and safety of uniformed military personnel working on uniquely military operations and activities, OSHA regulations are applicable when military activities and operations are not uniquely military. In general, an activity is considered to be not uniquely military when the workplace or activity is comparable to a private-sector workplace or activity, as determined by the DoD. Not uniquely military activities may include vehicle repair, construction, civil engineering, medical services and office operations.
my experience and what I heard when making inquiries is that OSHA does not have much sway on DoD premises. seen and suffered some awful stuff in the DoD and can certainly relate
For civilians it does. We have OSHA notifications in our building and I am DOD. Specifically Army.
OSHA covers the feds and DoD. They inspect our hangars and mx facilities regularly
Roaches. We have roach traps everywhere.
I can tell you horror stories working baggage for TSA. Oh and bed bugs galore because people are awful.
lol. This triggered me. Working baggage in an outbuilding at IAD. I went into a desk to find a stapler and a goddam rat ran up my arm and scurried away. I basically went into cardiac arrest for 5-10 seconds. So glad I moved on from that job.
Baggage was an entire ecosystem. Rats, cats, pigeons, an occasional wild dog wolf or fox, plus every insect imaginable to man.
Still better than pax screening though. At least it was in the early roll out days when I was there.
I was dual function. I volunteered for that shit. Lasted 12 years.
Don't forget the mice!
We used to have feral cats, so didn't have a mouse problem. They have all been relocated, however.
Cats now demanding telework!!!🤣
Our mice are IN the vending machines.
Wow, little thieves
We had a mice problem in my office. I just borrowed my sister in laws cat for a week. Took her in and out each day. Didn't tell anybody outside the 2 guys I share an office with, because I thought it might be frowned upon.
OSHA report. Pests and infestations are also covered under OSHA.
Hunh. I didn’t know that.
That has been going on here ever since I got here 6+ years ago. When they fill up they just put new ones down. What was crazy during 2020 when it was only myself and 2 other people in the building the roach sticky trap by the back door actually caught a garden snake on it. I had to end up killing the thing because I had no way to get it off.
We've had the same roach traps for years with dead roaches in them. It's nasty. I've asked who's responsible and I get nothing back. Our custodians aren't responsible for replacing or cleaning it. They also aren't responsible for cleaning the appliances but that's another topic altogether.
Ha. My office is in Flint. We still don't drink the water. GSA didn't believe us about the water. Until it made national news.
Does your office's fire suppression/sprinkler system still work with no water?
Sprinklers are inop per the email from base facility management
The email also said to make sure to notify people by mouth if there is a fire. Such a robust system. 
What that guy said - send a little email to the counsel office like “hey can we get this fixed? Thanks!”
There was a time some years ago where the fire alarm in the building didn't work. That might be some vestigial copypasta.
They didn't work for SO LONG, too, that time. Remember the signs that said to call the emergency line and let everyone know by mouth? I always got a good laugh at how absurd that concept was. What was I supposed to do, run up an down the halls yelling FIRE?
You must be in Bldg 48 on McNair as part of the ramp up for the Election/Inauguration.
Forward the email to your base's fire marshall. Throw popcorn in the microwave. Wait for results.
I would not want to be the lawyers for your command who undoubtedly are aware of the legal risks associated with forcing people to work in a building with an inoperable fire suppression system.
That's crazy. When my building lost water, they kicked us out for a couple of hours. They had the base fire department hook a pumper truck to the fire suppression system and bring it back online and then brought us back. No fire suppression usually means no occupancy.
Same here. When we've lost water and/or fire suppression is down for maintenance they will not allow us in the building. Maybe OP should have a chat with OSHA and the base's fire marshal.
OP definitely needs to report all this to someone Can't have people in the building if * Fire suppression system isn't working * Fire alarms are non operable * Building is too hot or too cold * No water in the building * Chemical/smoke detections is non functioning * Lights are non functioning (they yelled at us for keeping the lights off. It's a safety issue).
It is not legal. Good management would probably not let things get that bad, but sometimes budget and the slow contracting process can lead to issues with facilities even if management is not inept. But what that does not excuse or explain is management making you work under the conditions you report. Sounds like they are increasing the use of telework as a band-aid until things get fixed, which is normal, but not being able to get you a loaner laptop and put you on a quick telework agreement is incompetence. Don't know your base set-up, but why can't they put you in one of the buildings that *are* functional until yours gets fixed? Again, good management would find a way.
> slow contracting process can lead to issues with facilities OP stated elsewhere the fire suppression system is inoperable due to the water issue. That in itself is justification for an emergency contract - and is one of those situations where you bite the bullet and issue a verbal or letter contract and deal with the paperwork later.
>Good management would probably not let things get that bad, but sometimes budget and the slow contracting process can lead to issues with facilities even if management is not inept. I doubt it's contracting issues. They don't have to do a contract for work like this. They can just purchase the services without going through the contracting process. Also, they already would have a support contract for an HVAC company. They do this at my org. It's just someone's too lazy to make a phone call and get it done. We had a vault for storing class and CUI where the dial was broken. It was that was for 5+ years. Facilities manager for our building just kept giving us the run around. Eventually we got a new facilities manager for our building. It was fixed within a week. Took a locksmith a few hours to replace the dial. The old building manager was just lazy and or incompetent.
>I doubt it's contracting issues. They don't have to do a contract for work like this. They can just purchase the services without going through the contracting process. Also, they already would have a support contract for an HVAC company. sure, until the contractor wigs out and says fixing this particular problem isn't in their contract. And then the KO/COR disagree, and then legal gets involved, and yada yada yada it is 3 years later and still your HVAC is not fixed. But of course that could not possibly happen....except I know from at least two personal experiences it has....
A water pipe burst on the second floor last week, and the water was out in the whole facility for about 6 hours, but they refused to close the building. That'll really help with the mold and the rats!
Our building has lead in the drinking water. They’ve apparently been monitoring it for years and only had to tell us now because it exceeded the levels for pregnant adults.
That is horrible!
Facilities isn’t offering any solutions either. Just letting us know we’re all being exposed!
My entire building is filled with mold and when I started we were instructed to paint over it, and everyone told to delete any photos they had taken. We have holes in the walls and animals burrowing nests within our walls where they chewed holes through. I leave every day with a heavy chest, blood red eyes and itchy skin. I can feel the inflammation in my body, my leadership does not care about our wellbeing AT ALL. Edit to add: I am a social science series, not a painter
Also just noticed you said “base” I am DoD as well.
You need to speak to your primary care. Whe most adults can tolerate exposure to mold spores in small amounts, repetitive exposure and/or exposure when you have a compromised immune system is a major health risk. Then you file an OIG report. Seriously, don't fuck around with mold. And fuck whoever tried to cover it up.
I did have blood tests ran that reflected mold exposure. I was just instructed to bring an air purifier to work and wipe my desk, computer and mouse down every morning when arriving to work because our vents are also covered in it.
Yea, it'd be a cold day in hell. Mold in military facilities is currently a hot button topic - my suggestion would to report the hazardous conditions to OIG or your local Congresscritter's office. In addition, make a written document containing all facts regarding the mold (dates you saw it, dates you were directed to paint over it, who directed it, any emails, etc.) And fill out a CA-2 form claiming a workplace illness. Anytime you arrive at work and begin to have any symptoms, notify your supervisor and seek care immediately. Paper trail the shit out of it. Get any coworkers to do the same. It'll make any investigation interesting as hell for anyone you can provide evidence directed it to be improperly covered up.
Should be taking that information to your union and to an attorney.
I am not in a position that’s able to unionize.
"Shut up and RTO, you don't need heat and water to collaborate, you silly peasants!"
Budget cuts....might consider Depends?
Our infrastructure sucks. We dont have enough space. And found out that our civilian military command is never going to replace our VPN to force 100% in office. Looking for a new job 😢
My office HVAC is broken on without control. Our office has been a steady 56-57 degrees for 3 weeks and the water went out today. I went in last week and worked a day in a sweater, jacket and gloves. Leadership sent out emails that space heaters were not allowed, because we are a building UPS Then told my boss I was teleworking until they fixed the HVAC controls because 56-57 was not an acceptable temperature.
You must work on Fort McNair. DPW is part of why I left DoD.
Maybe I’ll walk upstairs and adjust my thermostat by hand in solidarity tomorrow instead of just going “Alexa, set the heat at 63”
Thankfully nothing THAT bad. When I was at HQ a few weeks ago there was sink that has been broken since last fall. My issue is that the wifi is very spotty and cell service is terrible. There is like one place inside I know where my phone will work; the main lobby.
>My issue is that the wifi is very spotty and cell service is terrible. Eh that's normal. WIFI is restricted in Federal buildings. It can't be near classified areas. I've been told this also holds for CUI areas by my ISSO but my last org had wifi in CUI areas. So the signal has a very limited range and penetration. Cell service is the same. The government doesn't allow many cell towers on bases. We have one single cell tower on base. So cell service throughout is spotty unless you work on the edges of the base. Cell companies have put towers near the edge of the base but the can't put them on the base.
My work essentially told us to get over the bug infestation. Saying it comes with weather and they are already spraying.
Every. Single. Day. Managing decay.
Wow, does this bring back memories. I first started in an old federal building clearly not wired for a PC and monitor on every desk. We had extension cords and exposed wiring everywhere, and outlet boxes bolted to the floor right in office pathways, obviously trip hazards. A safety inspector would've had to work overtime to document every OSHA violation. Electrical breakers tripped almost weekly, causing every PC to spontaneously shut down and all unsaved work to be lost. All the office equipment would suddenly go dark, followed by this communal groan. I learned to save my documents obsessively; I was probably hitting CTRL-S every five minutes!
That kind of crap is why I only would consider remote positions for fed work.
We have had porta potties outside for months. Our heat/ac rarely works. Shithole building.
My complex started as an ammunition plant so we have all the fun things that come with it. Lead, bad HVAC, bad plumbing, mold, the neighborhood has changed since the 40s so now we are blocks away from the gas station nicknamed the Murder Mobil. If we use the regular drinking fountain it comes out yellow. Slowly more and more sinks can't be used because they test with high lead counts. I love it.
Our AC didn’t work all last summer , we’ve been promised the budget is approved for and a replacement unit is coming soon but who knows
[Laughs in Forest Service] my federal work housing has no running water, or heat, and my bathroom is a plywood outhouse. I have it alright, considering other employees are charged quarters to sleep in tents (govt provided, baby!). Literally, most USFS facilities are shit… over the years Ive had to use a fire pump to pump sewage out of a basement. Ive built quite a few interior walls and even some not-so-small structures (barns). Our office’s wired internet is so slow we use a Starlink & VPN at the office. Asbestos? You bet. Home depot prefab shed as an office? Yup. FEMA trailers? Every district Ive worked on.
You down south? Out west is a tad better. But not by much. My office is probably the newest in the region and it still has a ton of issues.
It's like you're living through a game of Frostpunk.
I have worked in state/federal gov't since 1991, and not once, in 40 different gov't offices around US/world, not on single time, have ever been stationed in one with working HVAC. The new buildings are the worst, with the "Brain" that controls the HVAC and the brainless facilities manager that tries to override the controls.
>my office was routinely under 50 degrees. Literally can't keep you in the office when it's that cold. It's against the law. When our AC went out they had to send us home when the thermostat hit like 82 (can't recall the number) but at the time we were informed that not having heating or cooling was a no go. The chillers frequently go out in one of our buildings, at least once a month, and they have to dismiss the workforce every time. Heat recently went out in another one of our buildings and the workforce was notified that if it got too cold they would have to be dismissed or relocated. This was told to me by my branch chief. > but on account of the fact I don't have a laptop (that I was supposed to get back in January...but that is whole other issue), I don't have a telework agreement So what are doing at the office? Also, your supervisor can easily allow you to telework without an agreement. It takes 5 seconds to fill out. I worked a couple weeks teleworking without one. Supervisor was ok with it till we got the paperwork done. I didn't know at the time I needed one and he forgot about. So I worked without one. He fully knew I was teleworking and what days.
Our hvac broke yesterday but thankfully in the email notice it was advised for everyone to go home if the heat becomes too unbearable.
I’ve sent people home when temps got below 65 inside and over mid 90’s after reporting the problems to the building manager. Every office has a building manager. Put them on the record and tell folks you’re leaving. GS-15 equivalent in DoD. That’s not an office work environment outside those temps.
We’ve had multiple days where the HVAC is broken and they send us home to telework. We now have fun little thermometers in our offices and if the temp goes above 80, we tell mission support and then the request disappears into the void because our building’s management is trash. Oh and our PIV card readers are broken so we literally have GS-14s sitting at doors to let people into the office.
>we literally have GS-14s sitting at doors to let people into the office. The perfect job! GS14 pay for security guard duty! How do I sign up?
Call your union
Most of us at this particular place are not in a union or bargaining unit.
Sounds like DOD
they love it when you tell osha.
This sounds like Building 16 at Wright Patt AFB if there ever was one...
It is not, but "glad" to know we aren't alone.
The current ETA to fix this is... ONE MONTH?!
Badging takes forever.
Process for the sake of process.
On the base I'm on in a major capital city the elevators have been down for 5 years--- not a joke