Report clears Docking building Despite complaints, agency says building doesn't

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Report clears Docking building

Despite complaints, agency says building doesn't pose health risk

Topeka Capital Journal - Topeka,KS*

By Carlson

Published Sunday, March 30, 2008

http://cjonline.com/stories/033008/loc_263169951.shtml

The air inside the Docking State Office Building is safe to breathe,

according to a recent letter from a federal health agency to state

officials.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health issued the

summary of past environmental reports to the Kansas Department of

Administration following a complaint filed in January about the air

quality inside the facility at S.W. 10th and Topeka Boulevard.

" The Docking building doesn't currently pose any threats or

problems that require remediation, " said Gavin Young, spokesman for

the DOA.

Meanwhile, the doors to some of the building's first-floor offices

remain open as fans blow to circulate air that some say is still

causing eye irritation and respiratory illness.

The 53-year-old Docking building, home to 1,500 state employees, has

a history of reported problems. Between 2004 and 2007, environmental

investigators conduced six air-quality or mold tests within the

building. Some were the result of workers complaining of health

problems, such as headaches or respiratory illnesses.

Each of the tests came back negative, and two conducted in 2005 even

showed mold spore counts inside the building that were lower than

counts outdoors.

Despite those findings, the March 15 letter from NIOSH

says, " building-related exposure and health concerns are still being

reported among employees. "

The latest came in January when NIOSH received a confidential

complaint about the first-floor conditions. In interviews with the

complainants, a representative of NIOSH heard reports of " upper

respiratory health symptoms that occur at work. " One worker reported

the air " tastes like burnt bleach. "

In addition to telephone interviews, NIOSH reviewed the six previous

investigative reports and concluded the air was safe.

Part of the problem, says Young with the DOA, is the building's out-

of-date air-cooling system, which relies solely on recirculated air.

" There's no fresh air running through the building, " Young said.

Young said the custodial staff changed to environmentally friendly

cleaning products in the past year, but because of the building's

poor circulation, the smell of overnight cleaning may remain in the

morning. But pinning down the exact cause of the odor has been

difficult, and NIOSH recommended that state officials continue to

seek the odor's source.

Problems with the building's air ventilation systems are one of the

major reasons why the DOA wants to reconstruct the facility. The

estimated $95 million needed to rebuild and furnish the office space

is included in the Kansas Senate's budget bill. The House has put

off any decision on money for the Docking project until May.

Jane , a lobbyist for the Kansas Organization for State

Employees, said she is in contact with the complainants within

Docking. She is reading through documents with other KOSE staff

members this weekend to determine what, if any, further action to

pursue.

Carlson can be reached at (785) 233-7470 or

james.carlson@....