Re: 2nd request: please help, don't know where else to turn--

[Guest guest]

That is disgusting that a location from which organic food is distributed to

the community would have a bathroom that sounds to be a bit too organic.

What about calling the Health Dept. I think places that distribute food are

held to a higher standard.

Sharon K

[Guest guest]

Clair,

First, it is very likely there was a plumbing leak, perhaps the wax

seal at the bottom of the toilet. If so, mold is the least of several

problems. Sewage is more important for health reasons: potential

release of infectious bacteria, viruses and other pathogens.

Really bad odors usually are sewage (or other bacteria) rather

than mold.

But I'd think they'd want to stop the odor just to improve the

comfort of all customers. They did this, in their mind, by having a

plumber come in, who may have fixed the source of the problem,

(a leak) but to my knowledge plumbers only work with plumbing,

not the floor or walls affected by them. They made perhaps a

partial solution.

Also calling a " mold expert " shows additional cooperation. But the

problem is " mold experts " only look for mold, almost always

ignoring other causes like sewage and foul odors.

Because you defined the problem as mold they only have to

dispute that and then just say you are wrong. I have always

advocated forming the complaint in a way so it is a complaint and

not the definition of the problem. You just know it is a bad or foul

smell that is intolerable to you. Let them figure out whether it is

mold or sewage or a dead mouse.

Assuming it is mold is also a common error in court cases. All the

defense has to do is raise doubt about mold and they can ignore

all other causes and contingencies.

Because they have responded with a plumber and a call to a

mold expert, it shows they are trying to help. They may be just as

frustrated as you but have a lousy way of showing it.

I wish I had a better answer. Perhaps the health department has

regulations that apply to where food is sold.

Carl Grimes

Healthy Habitats LLC

-----

> Hello:

>

> My daughter (7) and I both are chemically injured. The women's

> restroom at our local " community-based " food co-op has had an odor of

> mold, on and off, for the past year and a half which seems to

> originate in the sinks there or in the wall behind them. This odor is

> intolerable to both of us and we cannot use this restroom.

>

> I have brought this to the attention of the manager and board of the

> co-op, asking them to 1) bring in a mold dog to identify the source

> and 2)remediate so there is no more mold growing in the restroom.

> They have refused to bring in a mold profesional and instead brought

> in a plumber who they claimed " fixed " the problem; they also claimed

> to have talked with a mold specialist who " advised them by phone "

> about the situation.

>

> In the mean time, we have been told that if we need to use the

> restroom, we should go to the back of the store and " use the employees

> restroom. "

>

> I have tried to be amicable about resolving this sitation but it is

> clear to me that the manager and the board are not remotely interested

> in resolving this.

>

> What do you suggest I do next? Also, do you think the co-op

> is violating the ADA in not accomodating us and sending us to the

> other restroom? (After all, if we were in wheelchairs and they made

> this restroom inaccessible to our chairs, everyone would be up in

> arms, but because my daughter and I dance with an " invisible "

> disability, we are being treated terribly).

>

> I absolutely have to shop at this place for organic food, at the

> advice of my child's EI specialist.

>

> Any advice you can offer would be greatly appreciated.

>

> Thank you,

>

> Clair and daughter Sofia

>

>

>

> ------------------------------------

>

> FAIR USE NOTICE:

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hello Carl: I have called the local health department and indoor air quality

/ mold issues are not (yet) regulated by them. It is inconceivable that this

should be on-going as it presents a health hazard not just to my family but

to the public in general, anyone who is vulnerable (children, older people)

and anyone who's health is compromised (mold allergies, MCS, HIV, cancer).

All of this in a setting which claims to be healthy and community-friendly and

it boggles my mind. Thanks for your feedback, Clair

In a message dated 5/6/2008 3:27:21 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,

grimes@... writes:

Clair,

First, it is very likely there was a plumbing leak, perhaps the wax

seal at the bottom of the toilet. If so, mold is the least of several

problems. Sewage is more important for health reasons: potential

release of infectious bacteria, viruses and other pathogens.

Really bad odors usually are sewage (or other bacteria) rather

than mold.

But I'd think they'd want to stop the odor just to improve the

comfort of all customers. They did this, in their mind, by having a

plumber come in, who may have fixed the source of the problem,

(a leak) but to my knowledge plumbers only work with plumbing,

not the floor or walls affected by them. They made perhaps a

partial solution.

Also calling a " mold expert " shows additional cooperation. But the

problem is " mold experts " only look for mold, almost always

ignoring other causes like sewage and foul odors.

Because you defined the problem as mold they only have to

dispute that and then just say you are wrong. I have always

advocated forming the complaint in a way so it is a complaint and

not the definition of the problem. You just know it is a bad or foul

smell that is intolerable to you. Let them figure out whether it is

mold or sewage or a dead mouse.

Assuming it is mold is also a common error in court cases. All the

defense has to do is raise doubt about mold and they can ignore

all other causes and contingencies.

Because they have responded with a plumber and a call to a

mold expert, it shows they are trying to help. They may be just as

frustrated as you but have a lousy way of showing it.

I wish I had a better answer. Perhaps the health department has

regulations that apply to where food is sold.

Carl Grimes

Healthy Habitats LLC

-----

> Hello:

>

> My daughter (7) and I both are chemically injured. The women's

> restroom at our local " community-based " food co-op has had an odor of

> mold, on and off, for the past year and a half which seems to

> originate in the sinks there or in the wall behind them. This odor is

> intolerable to both of us and we cannot use this restroom.

>

> I have brought this to the attention of the manager and board of the

> co-op, asking them to 1) bring in a mold dog to identify the source

> and 2)remediate so there is no more mold growing in the restroom.

> They have refused to bring in a mold profesional and instead brought

> in a plumber who they claimed " fixed " the problem; they also claimed

> to have talked with a mold specialist who " advised them by phone "

> about the situation.

>

> In the mean time, we have been told that if we need to use the

> restroom, we should go to the back of the store and " use the employees

> restroom. "

>

> I have tried to be amicable about resolving this sitation but it is

> clear to me that the manager and the board are not remotely interested

> in resolving this.

>

> What do you suggest I do next? Also, do you think the co-op

> is violating the ADA in not accomodating us and sending us to the

> other restroom? (After all, if we were in wheelchairs and they made

> this restroom inaccessible to our chairs, everyone would be up in

> arms, but because my daughter and I dance with an " invisible "

> disability, we are being treated terribly).

>

> I absolutely have to shop at this place for organic food, at the

> advice of my child's EI specialist.

>

> Any advice you can offer would be greatly appreciated.

>

> Thank you,

>

> Clair and daughter Sofia

>

>

>

> ------------ ---- ---- -

>

> FAIR USE NOTICE:

>

>

[Guest guest]

Try contacting the state Health Department headquarters. Send them a brief

and polite registered letter.

_http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/international/relres.html_

(http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/international/relres.html)

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[Guest guest]

Hi: I just called the local health department, again. Because they don't

deal with air quality issues, they referred me to the state's department of the

environment, which does. It's a place to start! Clair

In a message dated 5/6/2008 9:30:05 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,

snk1955@... writes:

Try contacting the state Health Department headquarters. Send them a brief

and polite registered letter.

__http://www.cdc.http://wwhttp://www.cdchttp://www.c_

(http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/international/relres.html_)

(_http://www.cdc.http://wwhttp://www.cdchttp://www._

(http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/international/relres.html) )

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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

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[Guest guest]

Hi Sharon: yeah, this co-op is run by the daughter of one of the original

founders (circa 1970s) and is sometimes quite " set in her ways " (some workers

have even left because they are tired of dealing with it all). I am going to

call the state's department of the environment (per the local health

department) and hopefully, they will check the air quality in the restroom.

Thank you

for your encouragement, Clair

In a message dated 5/6/2008 7:53:31 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,

snk1955@... writes:

That is disgusting that a location from which organic food is distributed to

the community would have a bathroom that sounds to be a bit too organic.

What about calling the Health Dept. I think places that distribute food are

held to a higher standard.

Sharon K

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[Guest guest]

Side point - I think they are complying with ADA issues by allowing

you access to the alternate, employee's bathroom. Is this

unsatisfactory in some way? You would need to explain why if you are

considering calling in any complaints on this basis.

Barb Rubin

============================================================

> > My daughter (7) and I both are chemically injured. The women's

> > restroom at our local " community-based " food co-op has had an odor

of mold, on and off, for the past year ... In the mean time, we have

been told that if we need to use the restroom, we should go to the

back of the store and " use the employees restroom. " ... do you think

the co-op is violating the ADA

[Guest guest]

--- In , " fiasfolks " <Ijamsville97@...>

wrote:

>

I was thinking about this and I don;t really know what to say other

than stay away from the moldy area (go to the bathroom at home) and

shop really really quickly.

I don;t think he's liable for anything-I basically can't go into ANY

restrooms at all because the chemical usage is through the roof.

Usually I put a paper over my nose and hold my breath and go fast.

Can someone do the shopping for you? Can the manager get someone to

help you in the store?

I'm sorry I'm not much help-from experience people are just so

uncooperative out there.

> Hello:

>

> My daughter (7) and I both are chemically injured. The women's

> restroom at our local " community-based " food co-op has had an odor of

> mold, on and off, for the past year and a half which seems to

> originate in the sinks there or in the wall behind them. This odor is

> intolerable to both of us and we cannot use this restroom.

>

[Guest guest]

You're right about IAQ and mold so try shifting the focus to sewer

leaks and foul odors in a food establishment.

Carl Grimes

Healthy Habitats LLC

-----

> Hello Carl: I have called the local health department and indoor air quality

> / mold issues are not (yet) regulated by them. It is inconceivable that this

> should be on-going as it presents a health hazard not just to my family but

> to the public in general, anyone who is vulnerable (children, older people)

> and anyone who's health is compromised (mold allergies, MCS, HIV, cancer).

> All of this in a setting which claims to be healthy and community-friendly

and

> it boggles my mind. Thanks for your feedback, Clair

>

>

>

>

> In a message dated 5/6/2008 3:27:21 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,

> grimes@... writes:

>

>

>

>

> Clair,

>

> First, it is very likely there was a plumbing leak, perhaps the wax

> seal at the bottom of the toilet. If so, mold is the least of several

> problems. Sewage is more important for health reasons: potential

> release of infectious bacteria, viruses and other pathogens.

> Really bad odors usually are sewage (or other bacteria) rather

> than mold.

>

> But I'd think they'd want to stop the odor just to improve the

> comfort of all customers. They did this, in their mind, by having a

> plumber come in, who may have fixed the source of the problem,

> (a leak) but to my knowledge plumbers only work with plumbing,

> not the floor or walls affected by them. They made perhaps a

> partial solution.

>

> Also calling a " mold expert " shows additional cooperation. But the

> problem is " mold experts " only look for mold, almost always

> ignoring other causes like sewage and foul odors.

>

> Because you defined the problem as mold they only have to

> dispute that and then just say you are wrong. I have always

> advocated forming the complaint in a way so it is a complaint and

> not the definition of the problem. You just know it is a bad or foul

> smell that is intolerable to you. Let them figure out whether it is

> mold or sewage or a dead mouse.

>

> Assuming it is mold is also a common error in court cases. All the

> defense has to do is raise doubt about mold and they can ignore

> all other causes and contingencies.

>

> Because they have responded with a plumber and a call to a

> mold expert, it shows they are trying to help. They may be just as

> frustrated as you but have a lousy way of showing it.

>

> I wish I had a better answer. Perhaps the health department has

> regulations that apply to where food is sold.

>

> Carl Grimes

> Healthy Habitats LLC

>

> -----

> > Hello:

> >

> > My daughter (7) and I both are chemically injured. The women's

> > restroom at our local " community-based " food co-op has had an odor of

> > mold, on and off, for the past year and a half which seems to

> > originate in the sinks there or in the wall behind them. This odor is

> > intolerable to both of us and we cannot use this restroom.

> >

> > I have brought this to the attention of the manager and board of the

> > co-op, asking them to 1) bring in a mold dog to identify the source

> > and 2)remediate so there is no more mold growing in the restroom.

> > They have refused to bring in a mold profesional and instead brought

> > in a plumber who they claimed " fixed " the problem; they also claimed

> > to have talked with a mold specialist who " advised them by phone "

> > about the situation.

> >

> > In the mean time, we have been told that if we need to use the

> > restroom, we should go to the back of the store and " use the employees

> > restroom. "

> >

> > I have tried to be amicable about resolving this sitation but it is

> > clear to me that the manager and the board are not remotely interested

> > in resolving this.

> >

> > What do you suggest I do next? Also, do you think the co-op

> > is violating the ADA in not accomodating us and sending us to the

> > other restroom? (After all, if we were in wheelchairs and they made

> > this restroom inaccessible to our chairs, everyone would be up in

> > arms, but because my daughter and I dance with an " invisible "

> > disability, we are being treated terribly).

> >

> > I absolutely have to shop at this place for organic food, at the

> > advice of my child's EI specialist.

> >

> > Any advice you can offer would be greatly appreciated.

> >

> > Thank you,

> >

> > Clair and daughter Sofia

> >

> >

> >

> > ------------ ---- ---- -

> >

> > FAIR USE NOTICE:

> >

> >