Bucks to address building's mold

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Bucks to address building's mold

phillyBurbs.com - Philadelphia,PA*

By JENNA PORTNOY

The Intelligencer

http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/113-01202008-1474258.html

Bucks County will hire an engineer in February to study a county-

owned office building plagued by air quality issues for years, the

health and human services director said.

" We're working to try to get an engineering firm to come in and sit

down with us so we can move on this in an appropriate manner, " said

Joe Funk on Friday. " There are a couple of things in the building

itself that will enhance the quality of working conditions down

there. "

The two-level building on Louis Drive in Warminster houses about 40

mental health and mental retardation, behavioral health, drug and

alcohol commission, and adult probation workers, as well as two

nonprofit organizations.

As early as 2004, workers complained through their union about mold

and even mushrooms that formed in some damp areas, according to an

August 2006 grievance obtained by The Intelligencer.

Mental health and mental retardation workers " experienced numerous

problems with dampness, flooding and mold since moving into the

office, " including black mold, wet rugs and a musty smell, the

document says.

" The building has always been a mess, " said Kallish, business

agent for Local 668 of the Pennsylvania Social Services Union. " When

you go down there, you just don't feel good. "

The county was forced to renovate a large portion of the building's

basement in February when a flood caused extensive water damage.

When workers moved back in August, Kallish said the problem seemed

to be solved.

But about three weeks ago, Funk said he found out mold was

discovered in an area of the building unaffected by the flood. Black

dots and debris appeared around three air vents in a file room.

Funk noted that the file room is kept closed and very cold and the

vents are shut tight so air does not circulate to two other rooms

served by the same filtration unit.

" With duct work being closed and doors being closed, what has taken

place in that area is the condensation built up where those ducts

are because they're closed and you've got closed air being forced up

against those registers with no place to go, " he said.

A county contractor replaced the air filter about two weeks ago,

but " when they made the change, no one cleaned anything off the wall

or the vents, " Funk said.

The director of Mental Health/Mental Retardation did not return a

call seeking comment about the mold Thursday, but Friday morning

Funk wiped the mold off the wall and vents himself using a bleach

solution.

Jerry A. Roseman of the Occupational Health Consultant Services in

Philadelphia said mold typically thrives on three things: warm

temperatures, moisture and organic, porous building materials.

Respiratory problems and flu-like symptoms can result from exposure,

he said.

" If you have visible mold, it's dangerous, and employees are at

risk, " said Roseman, who often inspects facilities for labor unions,

including the one representing county social service workers.

Funk said he wants an engineer to address air flow issues in the

building. Some areas need return vents to take air outside, and

installing a new thermostat to keep the temperature at a more

constant level would probably make the building more comfortable, he

said.

" I just don't want people to get the impression that the county

doesn't care, " Funk said. " ... I can emphatically say that the

county does care, and we'll take care of whatever we need to take

care of. "

Jenna Portnoy can be reached at (215) 345-3060 or

jportnoy@....