Altitude Quote by Steven Magee
““When I worked in high altitude astronomy, the worst sickness that I experienced was not at the 13,796 feet very high altitude summit of Mauna Kea Observatory (MKO) in Hawaii, it was at Kitt Peak National Observatory (KPNO) in Arizona at the much lower altitude of 6,875 feet. Due to my very high altitude experiences, I knew that this strange sickness was not primarily caused by altitude sickness and was most likely Sick Building Syndrome (SBS). After reporting various behavioral problems in all of the staff to the management team, my contract was not renewed, I was unable to legally protect the health and safety of the workers that I was responsible for, troubleshooting of this environmental problem stopped and I left in a sickened state for my next position before I could find the root cause.””
About This Quote
Source Personal testimony, 2023
Even at lower altitudes, poor indoor air quality can cause severe health issues, and reporting them may jeopardize one's job.
In simple terms: Bad building air harms health; speaking up can be risky.
Key Takeaway
Prioritize health, document concerns, seek external help if needed.
Themes
health safety
workplace
environmental risk
Mood
concerned
hopeful
Type
cautionary
informative
When to use this quote
- research facilities
- office spaces
- laboratory
- remote sites
Key Concepts
sick building syndrome
occupational health
Questions to Reflect On
- How can workers protect themselves when employers ignore risks?
- What policies could prevent such retaliation?
A Different Perspective
Addressing health hazards may face institutional resistance and job insecurity.
