Immunizations

How many people working in the plumbing field get immunizations for Hepatitis?

I have not had any shots yet other than tetanus but after thinking about the question I will be getting them this up coming year.

In this day and age I think it is more important that it used to be to have them.

It would only be prudent for all plumbers to get them with the type of work we do and what we are exposed to.

Its interesting that many people fear Aids more than Hepatitis... If an infected person were to spill blood on the floor the aids virus dies rapidly within minutes... Hepatitis on the other hand is alive and well in that dried blood spot 2 weeks later! I have had my hep shots!

New Year Shots

I should had thought of that Cass, what a great idea. All plumbers should start this new year off getting both the Hepatitis and Tetanus if they never had them, yet. Some plumbers might need new ones for they are only good for so long.

Wishing you all a happy, safe, productive new year.

http://www.heptrec.org/faqs.asp

http://www.mass.gov/dph/cdc/factsheets/hepb.htm

I've never had hep shots before in all my years, that doesn't make me resistant though.

I wear nitrile gloves always. Always address cuts immediately, change gloves when they break/get holes in them.

Tomorrow is a jackhammer day involving a shower drain in the floor. Not fecal matter but I'm sure blood has made it into that drain more than once over the span of 40 years.

Darn good thing you aren't talking about birth control here. But, Hepatitis isn't too much fun either. Do you realize a small hole in the glove, something splattering into your eyes, etc, and you can be infected. I really think the vaccines would be much more beneficial and prudent.

Cookie said:

Darn good thing you aren't talking about birth control here. But, Hepatitis isn't too much fun either. Do you realize a small hole in the glove, something splattering into your eyes, etc, and you can be infected. I really think the vaccines would be much more beneficial and prudent.

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Condoms? Bah! Don't need em. Can't see what's going on down there anyway and besides; against my religion to wear them.

The only thing that concerns me about taking these medications is the fact that I'm concerned about the counter effect of the medication.

Nevermind all the fattening foods I'm eating, I hate needles! They gotta pill form for that?

On this factsheet, it explains about the medications with the shot.
http://www.mass.gov/dph/cdc/factsheets/hepb.htm

Always ask the doctor when getting any vaccines any questions, infact, the nurse will ask certain things.

I had the shots done and, if I can have it done, it would be a rare person who can't. Soooo... I doubt over-the-counter meds would be a problem, if that is what you were talking about.

The needles are a cake walk and they will even give you a sucker when done.

This sure beats the heck out of what one will go thru if you get a hep bug.

Start the New Year off right.

Know your enemy! Hep A is nothing... B on up is bad news!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hepatitis

RUGGED said:

, I hate needles! They gotta pill form for that?

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Just wait 'til you get old and get diabetes. You get over your fear of needles in a hurry! My fingers look like pincushions, but doesn't bother me much anymore.

Jimbo, I can relate to you with needles. I have had my share until, I had a pic line then, a sub clavicle mainline port put in. I still shudder when they come at me with a needle unless it is a butterfly or pediatric. Then, that is fine. Mine isn't daily like yours and I find yours much more difficult. I still think the Hep shot is worth it. Also, the tetanus. Shucks, they are nothing. We know different, eh, Jimbo.

I scooped poop all day friday

with my hands....of course with nitrile gloves on.

Still here shining bright as a broken lightbulb!

I gotta go to the doctor for other reasons now, can't stop burping.....really bad.

Rugged, could be this.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hiatal-hernia/DS00099/DSECTION=2

A hiatal hernia. Something you might want to talk to your doctor about.

Already had one of those in 92, had the surgery.


Something else is going on and I can't pinpoint it, other than all the food I ate over the holidays.

Cookie said:

I should had thought of that Cass, what a great idea. All plumbers should start this new year off getting both the Hepatitis and Tetanus if they never had them, yet. Some plumbers might need new ones for they are only good for so long.

Wishing you all a happy, safe, productive new year.

http://www.heptrec.org/faqs.asp

http://www.mass.gov/dph/cdc/factsheets/hepb.htm

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I answered a drain call yesterday. When I got there I found a basement flooded to about an inch or so depth with the home owners sewage and at least one identifiable condom. I had to go through about 40' of this to locate a clean out. We do not do any work before quoting the price and obtaining the ho's authorization signature. I told the ho it would be $369.00 in addition to the $59.00 service charge that had gotten us out there to begin with. He declined saying "it wasn't worth that to him since the job would take less than an hour ..." I declined to do it for less. I should have but didn't ask him how he figured it would take less than an hour and whether that included the time necessary to clean myself and my equipment after I was done or if I was just supposed to go to my next call with his sewage all over me and my equipment (and truck). The next time I run into any similar situation I think I will ask homie how much it should cost for me to wade through his potentially disease laden feces with my person and equipment to solve his problem. Given the circumstances the $369.00 should have been $669.00 or maybe even $1669.00. Homie said he would "rent" a sewer machine and do it himself. All I can say is "good luck Homie".

smellslike$tome said:

I answered a drain call yesterday. When I got there I found a basement flooded to about an inch or so depth with the home owners sewage and at least one identifiable condom. I had to go through about 40' of this to locate a clean out. We do not do any work before quoting the price and obtaining the ho's authorization signature. I told the ho it would be $369.00 in addition to the $59.00 service charge that had gotten us out there to begin with. He declined saying "it wasn't worth that to him since the job would take less than an hour ..." I declined to do it for less. I should have but didn't ask him how he figured it would take less than an hour and whether that included the time necessary to clean myself and my equipment after I was done or if I was just supposed to go to my next call with his sewage all over me and my equipment (and truck). The next time I run into any similar situation I think I will ask homie how much it should cost for me to wade through his potentially disease laden feces with my person and equipment to solve his problem. Given the circumstances the $369.00 should have been $669.00 or maybe even $1669.00. Homie said he would "rent" a sewer machine and do it himself. All I can say is "good luck Homie".

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I always say... My Plumbing Works!

Rugged, unfortunately, history can repeat itself.

Tire kicker strikes again

smellslike$tome said:

I answered a drain call yesterday. When I got there I found a basement flooded to about an inch or so depth with the home owners sewage and at least one identifiable condom. I had to go through about 40' of this to locate a clean out. We do not do any work before quoting the price and obtaining the ho's authorization signature.



He declined

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I stop that nonsense right there by stating over the phone that there's a service call fee for showing up ($75) and I give a roundabout price over the phone what to expect, covering up to the first hour.

In essence you got shopped, you "did" expose yourself to the nasties and this guy now has a gauge to work off of to find who's cheaper, whether he stated he'll do it himself or not.

The guy will never call you again, count on that. I'd rather terminate a possible price shopper from my office chair than burning fuel to end up with the same result, including my personal time.

Roto-Rooter practices this same technique of impulse buying/face to face price spotting, figuring the plumber is here and yes it costs more....get the problem solved and chaulk it up to experience. I'm not saying your method is wrong, but I would have the same sticker shock I would imagine. In your area though, this pricing might be spot on; if it was though, you'd think this guy would of jumped at the chance to solve the problem.

My advice to you is just to consider that when you pull your truck into a driveway, short of a good longstanding repeat customer, there should be a mandatory service call charge to be present, spouting knowledge to address the problem. This will kill the majority of tire kickers shopping for free advice. On the phone is acceptable, in person is not.

Had this happen to me two weeks ago. Guy was praising me from the go, telling me that home depot couldn't speak highly enough about me and you're the best in the area. Nothing worse than an a$$ kisser and you know that's trouble from the start. He kept trying to get me to look at an unfinished kitchen sink replacement and unfinished bathroom in the basement.

"Sir, I've done these tasks countless times and it's not necessary to see the situation before doing the job. If you want an estimate it is $75 covering up to the first hour of my time."

Told him to send pics by email along with his phone number because I couldn't write it down as I was driving........never got an email.

That just proves I was getting shopped for an opinion and I kept the obvious from happening. I do NOT need a customer base that doesn't value my time, especially in these days whereby fuel is expensive and time is valuable.


Sorry for the rant but I despise those who take of others without compensation. Take it for what it's worth; don't change your business practices over my statements alone.

I love losing work when someone calls me for a "free" estimate; I'm actually making money by not being played the fool.


Word!

* I know alot of places add on what they call a gas charge due to its rising cost. It would be reasonable for plumbers to add one on.

RUGGED said:

I stop that nonsense right there by stating over the phone that there's a service call fee for showing up ($75) and I give a roundabout price over the phone what to expect, covering up to the first hour.

In essence you got shopped, you "did" expose yourself to the nasties and this guy now has a gauge to work off of to find who's cheaper, whether he stated he'll do it himself or not.

The guy will never call you again, count on that. I'd rather terminate a possible price shopper from my office chair than burning fuel to end up with the same result, including my personal time.

Roto-Rooter practices this same technique of impulse buying/face to face price spotting, figuring the plumber is here and yes it costs more....get the problem solved and chaulk it up to experience. I'm not saying your method is wrong, but I would have the same sticker shock I would imagine. In your area though, this pricing might be spot on; if it was though, you'd think this guy would of jumped at the chance to solve the problem.

My advice to you is just to consider that when you pull your truck into a driveway, short of a good longstanding repeat customer, there should be a mandatory service call charge to be present, spouting knowledge to address the problem. This will kill the majority of tire kickers shopping for free advice. On the phone is acceptable, in person is not.

Had this happen to me two weeks ago. Guy was praising me from the go, telling me that home depot couldn't speak highly enough about me and you're the best in the area. Nothing worse than an a$$ kisser and you know that's trouble from the start. He kept trying to get me to look at an unfinished kitchen sink replacement and unfinished bathroom in the basement.

"Sir, I've done these tasks countless times and it's not necessary to see the situation before doing the job. If you want an estimate it is $75 covering up to the first hour of my time."

Told him to send pics by email along with his phone number because I couldn't write it down as I was driving........never got an email.

That just proves I was getting shopped for an opinion and I kept the obvious from happening. I do NOT need a customer base that doesn't value my time, especially in these days whereby fuel is expensive and time is valuable.


Sorry for the rant but I despise those who take of others without compensation. Take it for what it's worth; don't change your business practices over my statements alone.

I love losing work when someone calls me for a "free" estimate; I'm actually making money by not being played the fool.


Word!

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I could not agree with you more on most of your points. We do in fact have a service charge that includes getting the tech and truck to the job and a very short amount of time for diagnostics. If there is any amount of "searching" or "hunting" involved we then charge extended diagnostics. We quote the service charge over the phone but that is it. This eliminates virtually all price shoppers because they are simply unwilling to pay it which is fine with us because, like you, we would rather determine that over the phone than waste time. We do not however, quote any repair price or give any type of estimate over the phone. It has been my experience in the past that far too often you will not get accurate information from the ho either because they don't know any better, can't accurately assess what is necessary, or are simply attempting to be deceitful in an effort to minimize their cost ("oh it's a simple little thing and it won't take him 30 minutes"). So even when we have a good idea over the phone what is necessary, we consider it very foolish to quote a number because that number is the only thing the ho will remember regardless of what reality turns out to be.

Now the thing that was so confusing about this particular instance is that this was a client of ours. In fact we had done this exact procedure for him for the exact same price about 6 months ago. So I'm really not sure why we got this reaction. In any event I was unwilling to do the work for less and as previously stated in my first post it should have been more. You are probably right in that we may not hear from him again. We never like to lose a client but there are limits to what we are willing to do as it relates to proper compensation. I did however collect the service charge of $59.00 and my machine never made it off of my truck so even though I did have to wade through a lot of unpleasantness, my time investment was minimal.