Mould suspected in housing office

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Mould suspected in housing office

Northern News Services ) - Yellowknife,Northwest Territories,Canada*

Kassina Ryder

Northern News Services

Published Monday, August 11, 2008

http://nnsl.com/northern-news-services/stories/papers/aug11_08m.html

PANNIQTUUQ/PANGNIRTUNG - Workers at the housing association office

in Pangnirtung say there is a mould problem in their workplace and

they're concerned about their health.

" It's been here for quite some time, " Ooroota Kakee, the office

steward for the Pangnirtung Housing Association said. " The smell

isn't here all the time; it's worse in spring and on rainy days in

the summer and in fall. During winter it's better. "

Until alternate office arrangements are made, Kakee and her fellow

employees will still go to work in the office everyday.

" We have to live with it, " she said. " We have to work here so we

have no choice. "

The mould has been noticeable for about the past 10 years, according

to Kakee. About two years ago, office workers began sending letters

about the issue.

" The letters started going out not too long ago, maybe two or three

years ago, " Kakee said. " For sure I know one went to Public Service

Alliance of Canada. "

Steve , a health and safety representative for PSAC, said a

letter from the housing manager in Pangnirtung had been received in

January 2006. PSAC later sent a request to the Workers' Safety and

Compensation Commission in Iqaluit to see whether the commission was

aware of the mould problem.

" I did send off a message to them asking if they have had a request

to deal with mould, " said. " I haven't gotten a response

back yet. "

Alternative office space has been planned, but said that

could be a slow process.

" They are slated to have a new building built, " he said. " But the

health centre there has been a year and a half behind construction

so it's probably going to be a while before they get that addressed,

I would think. "

Kakee said she had also been informed about the possibility of an

alternate office, which was to be constructed within a new public

housing unit. She said she was hoping it would be ready by next

year.

Corkett, district director for the Nunavut Housing Corporation,

said the organization is aware of the mould problem, and that an

alternative office is in the works.

" There is an arrangement to create new office space for them, an

arrangement for a whole renovation of what we call, euphemistically,

the downtown core of Pang, " Corkett said. " It is proceeding

according to our schedule. "

He added the problem is not a health hazard.

said inspections are usually carried by the Workers' Safety

and Compensation Committee to determine the extent of a mould

problem.

" The issue is they are working in what could be a mouldy

environment, " said. " I don't know if anybody's gone in and

actually inspected the mould. There are some moulds that are not as

problematic as others. "

Sylvester Wong, vice president of prevention services for the WSCC,

said to his knowledge, the problem was unknown to the WSCC. He said

mould is not uncommon in buildings in Nunavut because of thick

insulation, poor ventilation systems and the effect of melting snow

in the summer months.

" Over time, mould grows. That's a fact of life, " he said. " Mould

grows in moist and confined spaces. "