Princeton DHHR employees complain of 'sick building'

[Guest guest]

October 10, 2009

Princeton DHHR employees complain of 'sick building'

Inspections show ongoing ventilation problems

ton Gazette - ton,WV,USA

http://sundaygazettemail.com/News/200910100468

Ventilation is so poor in Department of Health and Human Service offices in

Princeton that it may be posing continuing health risks to employees and

visitors, according to a state inspection report.

By J. Nyden

Staff writer

AdvertiserCHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Ventilation is so poor in Department of Health

and Human Service offices in Princeton that it might be posing continuing health

risks to employees and visitors, according to a state inspection report.

The West Virginia Division of Labor released an inspection report on Aug. 24

that mentioned complaints from employees who suffer from " basic sick building

syndrome symptoms including ... dizziness, nausea, headaches, sinus problems,

fatigue and six complaints of nosebleed. "

The report, prepared by the state Occupational Safety and Health Administration,

added: " Claims from both employees and clients suggest that on most days the

ventilation system is not functioning. "

The DHHR's Bureau of Children and Families district office in Princeton has 150

employees who see about 300 clients every day.

Three DHHR employees told OSHA inspectors they had been hospitalized or seen

doctors after suffering high carbon dioxide or low oxygen levels in their blood,

the DOL report stated.

, United Electrical Workers Radio and Machine Workers of America

organizer, said the most recent investigation began after Joan Jennings and

other employees filed a complaint in January.

" Joan's doctor put her off work because of ongoing health problems. She is

frustrated. And it seems like we are spinning our wheels.

" The state OSHA is not worth the paper it is written on. The Legislature never

funded the act. No governor ever appointed anyone to the Review Commission. And

there are no full-time people to investigate complaints, " said.

His union, with offices in ton, is working to organize state employees.

West Virginia Labor Commissioner W. Mullins also is looking into health

risks faced by state workers in places like the Princeton office.

" Of great concern is that the complaints and evidence of an air quality problem

date back as far as 2004, " Mullins wrote to DHHR Secretary Martha on Aug.

24.

Mullins said his agency " is not issuing citations as a result of our

inspections " and asked to investigate the situation.

On Sept. 14, Greg Nicholson, the DHHR's chief operating officer, wrote back to

Mullins, stating, " Our investigations of the issues are fully in progress and we

expect to be able to provide you with a complete report of our findings by

September 25, 2009....

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Ventilation is so poor in Department of Health and Human

Service offices in Princeton that it might be posing continuing health risks to

employees and visitors, according to a state inspection report.

The West Virginia Division of Labor released an inspection report on Aug. 24

that mentioned complaints from employees who suffer from " basic sick building

syndrome symptoms including ... dizziness, nausea, headaches, sinus problems,

fatigue and six complaints of nosebleed. "

The report, prepared by the state Occupational Safety and Health Administration,

added: " Claims from both employees and clients suggest that on most days the

ventilation system is not functioning. "

The DHHR's Bureau of Children and Families district office in Princeton has 150

employees who see about 300 clients every day.

Three DHHR employees told OSHA inspectors they had been hospitalized or seen

doctors after suffering high carbon dioxide or low oxygen levels in their blood,

the DOL report stated.

, United Electrical Workers Radio and Machine Workers of America

organizer, said the most recent investigation began after Joan Jennings and

other employees filed a complaint in January.

" Joan's doctor put her off work because of ongoing health problems. She is

frustrated. And it seems like we are spinning our wheels.

" The state OSHA is not worth the paper it is written on. The Legislature never

funded the act. No governor ever appointed anyone to the Review Commission. And

there are no full-time people to investigate complaints, " said.

His union, with offices in ton, is working to organize state employees.

West Virginia Labor Commissioner W. Mullins also is looking into health

risks faced by state workers in places like the Princeton office.

" Of great concern is that the complaints and evidence of an air quality problem

date back as far as 2004, " Mullins wrote to DHHR Secretary Martha on Aug.

24.

Mullins said his agency " is not issuing citations as a result of our

inspections " and asked to investigate the situation.

On Sept. 14, Greg Nicholson, the DHHR's chief operating officer, wrote back to

Mullins, stating, " Our investigations of the issues are fully in progress and we

expect to be able to provide you with a complete report of our findings by

September 25, 2009....

" We are working on gathering documentation to determine whether the system is

sufficient for the size of layout of the building ... and whether the

maintenance work on the system had been, and is, being competently and

adequately carried out. "

OSHA's Aug. 24 report stated: " The landlord is not onsite and is, reportedly,

'hard to reach.'...

" The employees reported that there have been similar surveys in the past but the

findings have never been acted on. "

Mullins has not seen the " complete report " Nicholson promised would be available

by Sept. 25.

Nicholson was not in his office last week and was unavailable for comment.

said, " It is really outrageous that, in the 21st century, state workers

have no recourse for health and safety problems because they are not covered

under the federal OSHA.

" Greg Nicholson said he would release the report by September 25. He has still

not done that, " said Friday.

W. Burgess, director of the Labor Division's safety section, said her

agency has received responses from the DHHR and a " supplemental response " from

the landlord in Princeton.

" The DHHR indicated they would be sending us some more information, but that has

not been received yet, " Burgess said on Friday.

" They were researching whether the air-conditioning units are adequate for the

building and whether some walls are in the wrong places. "

Burgess said she expects to receive more information from the DHHR soon.

" We are working on gathering documentation to determine whether the system is

sufficient for the size of layout of the building ... and whether the

maintenance work on the system had been, and is, being competently and

adequately carried out. "

OSHA's Aug. 24 report stated: " The landlord is not onsite and is, reportedly,

'hard to reach.'...

" The employees reported that there have been similar surveys in the past but the

findings have never been acted on. "

Mullins has not seen the " complete report " Nicholson promised would be available

by Sept. 25.

Nicholson was not in his office last week and was unavailable for comment.

said, " It is really outrageous that, in the 21st century, state workers

have no recourse for health and safety problems because they are not covered

under the federal OSHA.

" Greg Nicholson said he would release the report by September 25. He has still

not done that, " said Friday.

W. Burgess, director of the Labor Division's safety section, said her

agency has received responses from the DHHR and a " supplemental response " from

the landlord in Princeton.

" The DHHR indicated they would be sending us some more information, but that has

not been received yet, " Burgess said on Friday.

" They were researching whether the air-conditioning units are adequate for the

building and whether some walls are in the wrong places. "

Burgess said she expects to receive more information from the DHHR soon.

Reach J. Nyden at pjny...@... or 304-348-5164.