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An Iowa Dept of Health (DHS) services building has complaints of mold from its employees, following flooding. Four are ill. Yet Iowa's OSHA, typical of the national approach, doesn't seem to "get it". They obviously need the training that the GAO Audit on Mold recommends. Another example of the findings of the US GAO on Mold - the government has dropped the ball so badly that OSHA and health departments haven't got regulations or even rudimentary current information on mold and its dangers. "Mold is everywhere"? WRONG! Mold is not supposed to be growing in our buildings. Mold is not supposed to be emitting its poisonous toxins in our buildings. Dampness, which creates an overgrowth of mold and bacteria in buildings, is a proven public health threat - an accepted medical fact. People are not supposed to get sick in buildings. Sick building symptoms are becoming a silent epidemic in America. Apathy and ignorance is no excuse, when the information is available. (SMH)
After reading this story, below, click here to read another DHS story from Las Vegas, NV, that tells what happens when complaints like these are ignored. A followup story is found here. Then click here to read about OSHA's internal problems.
Updated October 23. 2008 4:17PM
No OSHA citation issued for mold in downtown building
http://www.gazetteonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081023/NEWS/710239932/1006
By Cindy Hadish
The Gazette
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CEDAR RAPIDS — Mold detected at a downtown building after Department of Human Services workers complained of health problems won't lead to a citation.
Mary Bryant, administrator of the Iowa Occupational Safety and Health Administration enforcement program, said Thursday that OSHA will do nothing further regarding mold at the Iowa Building, 411 Third St. SE.
The seven-floor building, which reopened in late July after being closed by the June floods, houses DHS and a few smaller offices.
No governmental standards address safe levels of mold and other fungal or bacterial exposures.
OSHA can investigate complaints about mold and other air quality issues, but Bryant has said without any standards, the violation would have to be egregious to warrant a citation and fine.
"There is mold everywhere," she said. Is it dangerous? Nobody really knows."
The report by Tracey Frederick, senior industrial hygienist, noted mold was detected on second through seventh floors, where offices are located.
Bryant said no mold was actually seen. Samples were taken Aug. 29 using a tape collection method.
She added that while no citations were issued for mold, the OSHA case remains open. She would not say what other concerns might have arisen.
Gary Ehrenberger, a partner of building owner, Ilandco Corp., referred questions to DHS.
DHS spokesman Roger Munns said he was not surprised by the findings, noting that "practically every building has mold."
"Our policy is to occupy safe buildings," he said. "Not just for the people who work there, but the customers of the DHS and that includes kids."
Munns said DHS is relying on more thorough testing conducted by EFI Global Inc., industrial hygiene consultants from Kingwood, Texas.
The company used an air sampling method to test air quality in late July and again in September. Findings showed mold levels in the building were generally less than outdoors, one of the ways mold levels are compared.
EFI recommended cleaning be performed as part of general housekeeping, but did not recommend further steps.
Munns said he was not trying to diminish the health complaints of DHS employees.
Four of the 150 DHS workers in the building have complained about problems since the floods. Two were transferred to another building and one of those has returned to the Iowa Building, without problems, Munns said.
The other two were asked to provide documentation by a doctor.
Dr. Ann McKinstry, of Northridge Family Medicine in Cedar Rapids, has treated one patient who works in the Iowa Building.
The worker did not want to be identified, but McKinstry said the woman has a documented mold allergy. She suffers from burning skin, congestion and sinus headaches, McKinstry said, symptoms that disappear on weekends.
McKinstry added that people with asthma could be more susceptible to allergens like mold and that anyone can develop mold hypersensitivity.
"It's serious," she said.
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Article Comments (go to URL above to comment)
Posted By: dennis hill Post Date: 10/24/08 09:42:00 AM
Title: ps
The reason this is a very important issue is the survivsl of downtown, and the people that work there.
If it is generally precieved that downtown is dirty then who would even want to go there, so conventional city council type wisdom would be to deny anything bad is there.
The smarter move, is examine each in a case by case but openly.
I believe this building was century enginnering building, they made tools for the auto trade, engine rebuilding etc. Any think working with metals is going to have solvents, no over the years if those solvents as they were spilled and then dried and covered with carpet or what ever, there would be no order, now here comes the flood, which would ad liquid and then transport the result to whereever, the flood would drop and the film remains, first time the heat or air goes on the entire closed up building get the contamination.
This building may be unique because of prior use.
I felt it right away, this was bad, and I do feel bad about the employees there, and kids forced to visit the building.
The state of Iowa really I do not beleive cares, they would have moved quicker if they did. Right now it is just one department protecting another leaving the employees out to dry, or maybe in to die.
Posted By: ps Post Date: 10/24/08 04:53:00 AM
Title: WHAT THE?????/
"There is mold everywhere," she said. Is it dangerous? Nobody really knows." YEAH RIGHT! HELL YES IT IS DANGEROUS TO ANYONE WITH ASTHMA, LUNG ISSUES, SINUSITIS SUFFERS! ALOT OF OLD DOWNTOWN BUILDINGS HAVE THE SAME ISSUE!!! I have never been healthier since I quit working in a downtown building that I believe was a "sick" building. Wonder if that OSHA person knows what she is doing??? Is she aware there is an underground tunnel in that same neighbor hood?? Links many buildings and alot of people don't even know it exists!! Anyone else ever been in there?? I have!!! I can only imagine what it is like post flood!! Disgusting! GOOD LUCK!
Posted By: dennis hill Post Date: 10/23/08 05:40:00 PM
Title: just plain bad
I disagree with DHS employess more often then I agree with them. Thats said, no one deserves to work in this building. I have been there 3 times concerning my son, it hits you like a brick wall once in the door, it gave me a headache and made me dizzy; and i was in the building less then a hour. This building is sick, I beleive there is a petro-chemical trace oder.
I would not take kids with breathing problems in this building; as big and slow as I am I really felt faint the first time I was there post flood.
What hope is there for these employees, I would say zero. While I disagree with the local folks, I have found people in Des Moines rude and abusive, I was was verbally abused by a member of the directors staff yesterday; as a member of the public if the directors office is willing to swaer at and is verbally abusive to the public; I do not they have the ability to care about their employees one bit. Most of the DHS people in Des Moines just collect a pay check, I do feel sorry for the local people.
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