The Fugitive
Yesterday was day 1 of our ISO 14000 re-certification. Our building was included in the scope so everyone was preparing hard for this. Everyone except for me. I was aware of our environmental policy and our environmental programs but I didn't really bother going into depth since most of the audit focused on our plant PCO (pollution control officer). Our building was scheduled to be audited at 11:00 am. I was calm, cool, poised.
Auditors were behind schedule. They didn't come to our building till 2:00 pm. I hear them talking outside our little laboratory. No problem. 30 minutes into the audit, the plant manager calls me up from another extension. "The auditor is really tough! He's going through each MSDS and making sure we have kits and chemicals for all the safety precaution measures! He's really grilling _______. (plant PCO). He's looking for the MSDS of a printer ink, do you have it?" Me, looking through our MSDS files. No printer ink. Uh-oh
Plant Manager: Well, think of something quick. The auditor specifically said he wants to see you. _______ (plant PCO) said the MSDS was with the Purchaser. And he said the Purchaser was you.
Now, slightly panicking. I leave my little laboratory and hide in a corridor. I ring up our supplier of inks on his cell phone. Cannot be reached. I ring again. Cannot be reached.
Really panicking. Ring up supplier. It's ringing!!! He picks up, I explain situation-- tell him I need the MSDS in 5 minutes. He's not in his office but he'll try to do something about it. I wait in the corridor for probably the longest 6-7 minutes of my life. And it's really hot in there! I hear the fax machine!!! Woo hoo!!! The person in the office hands me the MSDS!!! Hooray hooray! Plant manager calls me. She's really nervous. The auditor is writing too many things and asking very specific questions. She doesn't like him at all. Out of all the auditors, he's got to be the worse, she says.
Where can I run and hide??? And he specifically told her he wanted to see me!!!
Really, really panicking. I head down to the lab. The MSDS has already been filed away as if it's been there forever. I tell the people that I will be in the Production area, attempting to get lost in the sea of people. As I turn to leave, the door opens and I see the plant manager's head.
Almost about to pass out from the big surge of panic that went through my body. I see the auditor walk in. Very formal, professional looking guy. He says hello. I say hi back (with a smile) and start to extend my hand out to him for a hand shake. He says it's fine. Didn't really need to shake his hand.
Auditor: So you're the daughter of Mr. Chemfish?
Me: Yes
Auditor: Okay, well I just dropped by to say hello and introduce myself.
And he left.
Auditors were behind schedule. They didn't come to our building till 2:00 pm. I hear them talking outside our little laboratory. No problem. 30 minutes into the audit, the plant manager calls me up from another extension. "The auditor is really tough! He's going through each MSDS and making sure we have kits and chemicals for all the safety precaution measures! He's really grilling _______. (plant PCO). He's looking for the MSDS of a printer ink, do you have it?" Me, looking through our MSDS files. No printer ink. Uh-oh
Plant Manager: Well, think of something quick. The auditor specifically said he wants to see you. _______ (plant PCO) said the MSDS was with the Purchaser. And he said the Purchaser was you.
Now, slightly panicking. I leave my little laboratory and hide in a corridor. I ring up our supplier of inks on his cell phone. Cannot be reached. I ring again. Cannot be reached.
Really panicking. Ring up supplier. It's ringing!!! He picks up, I explain situation-- tell him I need the MSDS in 5 minutes. He's not in his office but he'll try to do something about it. I wait in the corridor for probably the longest 6-7 minutes of my life. And it's really hot in there! I hear the fax machine!!! Woo hoo!!! The person in the office hands me the MSDS!!! Hooray hooray! Plant manager calls me. She's really nervous. The auditor is writing too many things and asking very specific questions. She doesn't like him at all. Out of all the auditors, he's got to be the worse, she says.
Where can I run and hide??? And he specifically told her he wanted to see me!!!
Really, really panicking. I head down to the lab. The MSDS has already been filed away as if it's been there forever. I tell the people that I will be in the Production area, attempting to get lost in the sea of people. As I turn to leave, the door opens and I see the plant manager's head.
Almost about to pass out from the big surge of panic that went through my body. I see the auditor walk in. Very formal, professional looking guy. He says hello. I say hi back (with a smile) and start to extend my hand out to him for a hand shake. He says it's fine. Didn't really need to shake his hand.
Auditor: So you're the daughter of Mr. Chemfish?
Me: Yes
Auditor: Okay, well I just dropped by to say hello and introduce myself.
And he left.