A medical office tenant decided to strip and refinish the wood floors in his office in the middle of a week day…inside a multi-story office building filled with other businesses and people.

The fumes filled the building and the smell was overwhelming. I immediately stopped him from working and told him that he had to get proper ventilation measures in place. The tenant’s wife was very upset that their redecorating project was being stopped.  She and I had an exchange in the corridor outside their office because I couldn’t even go inside without feeling dizzy from the smell.

Tenant’s Wife:  You are overreacting. It smells fine. Actually, many people like the smell. It doesn’t bother me at all.  You’re just trying to make us look bad.

Me: I’m trying to protect everyone from breathing poisonous chemicals!

Tenant’s Wife:  You don’t know what you’re talking about!  You’re not an expert!

Me:  I don’t need to be an expert! The chemical stripper you’re using has a hazard warning right on the container! It says it’s not to be used without proper ventilation! Its dangerous!  It says the fumes are a health hazard and shouldn’t be inhaled!

Tenant’s Wife: Oh you can’t believe that. That’s just what they put on the can to keep children from buying it.

When it became clear they were not going to stop I called the Fire Department.  That suddenly inspired the tenant to stop working on the floors, ventilate the space and take off for the day.