A local Home Depot in Canada has recently been caught in a weed-killing scandal. There have been complaints of the workers in the Landscaping section using improper weed killer sprays. This in turn led to the contamination of the surrounding environment with hazardous herbicides. This was bad enough when this company used an expired weed killer called Roundup weed killer.
What does this mean? The long term effect of these chemicals on human health cannot be known. Some tumors have been found in children who had been exposed to these chemicals. This is a frightening situation. Can you imagine what your kids will grow up to if they are sick with diseases caused by weeds?
One man started a lawsuit against Home Depot. The owner of the Landscaping section of the Home Depot property, while not directly responsible for the poisoning of anyone, was aware of it. Yet he did nothing about it until one of his employees complained. When the lawsuit was filed against Home Depot, the store was aware of more hazards involving their weed killers.
It was discovered that over a three-year period, more than a thousand people exposed their homes to this dangerous weed killer chemical. This is over two hundred times the amount of the dangerous chemicals found in paint. Home Depot failed to protect its workers from these dangerous chemicals. They failed to provide them with proper safety gear. This is criminal behavior on their part.
The fact is that they hired a weed killer specialist to work in their Landscaping department. He did not have a license. There were no mandatory safety training requirements. These things might seem trivial; however, when you consider the results, it becomes clear that anything short of proper safety procedures should not be acceptable in any company with a conscience.
This is not the only instance in which the Landscaping section at Home Depot failed to protect its workers. Employees were also exposed to numerous amounts of Atrazine, at least one variety of herbicide fumigation, and numerous other toxic chemicals. It is amazing that they still work there. There are only two positions available in Landscaping, and they go to the upper left corner of the front lawn.
It is unbelievable that such an employer would allow employees to work around such dangerous chemicals. Landscapers who use roundup weed killer are in danger of losing their jobs, as many employers do not want to deal with the liability of having employees sick on the job. It is unbelievable that an employer would allow employees to work around such a dangerous herbicide. It is worse when the employee is exposed to these herbicides during lunch time.
The safety procedures outlined in the Handbook of Procedures for Landscaping with roundup weed killer clearly state that employees are not to be directly inhaled by anyone. Employees must be advised not to touch the weed killer containers, and they must not use the container or put it on anything. If this happens, this means that the employee could become severely ill from exposure to the herbicides. It is a shame that Landscaping sections at Home Depot are so lax about their safety procedures, but it is no wonder that weeds are so rampant in America.
A friend of mine works at Home Depot. When I went in to pick up a box of weedkiller at the store, I noticed that there were a lot of weeds in the parking lot. I asked my co-worker who was working in the Herb aisle what he did to fight the weeds. He told me that he uses a hoe every few days to pull out the weeds. Apparently, Home Depot does not have a weed killer for the parking lot.
This type of negligence on the part of a large company like Home Depot is totally unacceptable. Weeds are a very common problem that occurs in many parts of the country, and it is a very good thing that weedkiller is readily available. However, many people who use weed killers incorrectly can cause themselves serious illnesses or even death. Hopefully, larger companies will learn from the example set by Home Depot and other retailers and follow proper safety procedures.
My suggestion to these large retailers is to carry only those herbicides that are designed for outdoor use. Herbicides that are designed for indoor use are just not powerful enough to effectively control weeds inside the house. Additionally, using a weedkiller designed for outdoor use in an indoor environment can be harmful to pets and children. Make sure your local Home Depot carries only herbicides designed for outdoor use.
