Let me see if I understand this issue.....a workplace is, in the eyes of the employee, lacking, so the employee exercises a little initiative to improve his comfort- and OSHA figures that there must be a SAFETY violation here?
There are a lot of problems in workplaces- but I really hat it when "safety" is used as a catch-all to decree from on high the personal quirks of someone in a position of authority, without limit or accountability.
Now, I will be the first to admit that such things can create a safety issue- but then that is the issue to be addressed. For example, "battling boom boxes" can create an unsafe condition both because of the volume, and because they obstruct necessary communication. This is a far cry, however, from someone having a radio on their desk, at a barely audible level.
If someone -either inspector or manager- cannot differentiate between the two extremes, and seeks a "one size fits all" approach, then they are the last person I want with authority.
