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HomeNewsArchivesAir-Quality Issues in Government Building Dominate Senate Committee Hearing

Air-Quality Issues in Government Building Dominate Senate Committee Hearing

March 12, 2008 — Government office buildings have been making people sick for the past couple of years and not enough is being done to clear the air, an employee representative told senators Wednesday.
For more than two years employees have encountered symptoms such as skin irritations that have kept them from working in the Financial Program office at 2-B King Street in Frederiksted, said Shalima Joseph, a human services employee and union shop steward. She testified in Frederiksted before the Senate Committee on Health, Hospitals and Human Services.
Complaints were made to management, Joseph said. Fifteen union members signed the statement saying they have seen few results in attempts to rectify the problem.
Sen. Usie Richards asked who the supervisors were at the Financial Program, adding that there seemed to be a lack of decisive action by the person in charge. Moleto Smith, deputy commissioner of Human Services, spoke on behalf of Commissioner Christopher Finch.
"The health and safety of workers is a concern, and we have even worked after hours to alleviate concerns," Smith said.
Employees first aired concerns in November 2005 about ceiling leaks, foul odors and burning eyes, Smith said. The department responded by having the landlord, Miguel A. Garcia, repair all dripping pipes. Environmental Concepts, a company certified by the Department of Planning and Natural Resources, then tested the air quality and results were normal, Smith said.
A month later employees again expressed concerns and refused to stay in the building. The landlord did a thorough cleaning of vents, ducts and air-conditioning units. Environmental Concepts also cleaned the air conditioning and vents. It ran another air-quality test that came back negative for contaminants. Human Services placed four air purifiers in the building.
An inspection by the Department of Labor's Division of Occupational Safety and Health could not substantiate the claims of foul odor or contaminants.
In January 2006, Dr. Audria Thomas, a board-certified allergist with the Health Department, conducted tests on 37 employees who reported skin irritation. Thomas concluded the workplace did not cause physical illness. She recommended that a professional cleaning company clean the office.
In a follow-up inspection, Occupational Health and Safety determined that the cleaning eliminated or minimized dust and odors. Since spring of 2007, the department has implemented 10 corrective measures. Two months ago officials put a lock on the air-conditioner settings to prevent moisture buildup that can cause mold, said Lennox Zamore, administrator of financial programs.
The department will clean the air conditioning twice a month, Smith said. He pledged to provide the committee with a narrative of testing and continue to work with the employees.
"We just want to make sure employees feel safe and have no physical discomforts," said Sen. Norman Jn. Baptiste, the committee's chairman.
Health Commissioner Vivian Ebbesen-Fludd testified on mold-remediation efforts at the Ingeborg Nesbitt Clinic and Frederiksted Health Center. Ebbesen-Fludd has set up a task force and is moving forward to repair or replace the air conditioning and get a cleanup done at the clinic. All of the clinic's services will be moved to the Human Services office at the Herbert Grigg Home for four months, she said.
Committee members at the hearing were Jn. Baptiste, Richards and Carmen Wesselhoft. Non-committee member Sen. Terrence "Positive" Nelson was also present.
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