Nevada state employees sue over moldy buildings in Las Vegas

[Guest guest]

http://www.rgj.com/news/stories/html/2002/02/18/8186.php

Nevada state employees sue over moldy buildings in Las Vegas

Associated Press

2/18/2002 12:40 pm

Eighty state employees allege in a lawsuit that exposure to mold growing in

buildings housing Nevada Child and Family Services is making them sick.

The employees claim the buildings have leaky pipes and structural cracks

that let rain seep in, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported Monday.

The suit, filed earlier this month, names the state of Nevada and others

associated with the property as defendants.

State officials said last week they have begun repairing some of the 11

buildings on the property at a cost of about $1.5 million.

Dunt, a risk manager for the state, said some workers might have had

health problems because of the mold, but the severity of their illnesses is

debatable.

" The information we have received from our occupational health consultations

is that there are no established long-term effects from the exposure to

mold, " Dunt said. " It is acknowledged further study is needed. "

Heitzenrater, project coordinator for the cleanup project, said at

least three types of mold have been found - stachybotrys, aspergillus and

penicillium.

Those types of molds can cause severe illness, especially in small children

and the elderly, and can be especially problematic for people with

compromised immune systems, some scientists have said.

The mid-'70s buildings are home to such programs as mental health services

and therapeutic preschool inpatient services, said Family & Youth Services

Deputy Director Christa .

said she started feeling ill within three months of starting

her job at the Nevada Child & Family Services offices.

The former mental health counselor said she suffered from constant

dizziness, severe heart palpitations and chronic fatigue. The illnesses have

persisted for months, she said, causing several visits to specialists and

thousands of dollars in medical bills.

" We have too many people who feel the same way, " said Lynn , who works

at residential treatment homes. " The incidents of upper respiratory

infections are out of this world. "

and are among the employees who filed the lawsuit.

said she resigned because of frustration over a lack of response to

the problem. She said she was forced to use all her sick days and go into

debt for medical treatment.

" They are still leaving children in the residential buildings 24 hours a

day, seven days a week, " said.

, a lawyer who filed the lawsuit on behalf of the workers, said

the state has neglected its duty in protecting its employees. He said his

office has obtained a letter from the Nevada office of Occupational Safety

and Health Enforcement detailing health complaints at the complex as early

as 1995.

The state didn't start repairs until 2001, he said.

State officials said they are not aware of an OSHA letter, and that they

initially became aware of the problem in November 2000. They said the

situation has been addressed as promptly as possible.

Laurie Buck, an attorney with the Nevada attorney general's office who is

defending the state against the lawsuit, said state officials have been

meeting weekly to discuss employee complaints.

Dunt said after the problem was confirmed in November 2000 at a single

building, a decision was made to temporarily relocate employees.

" What happened was once we relocated, the employees reported additional

problems, " Dunt said.

Dunt said once the need for a cleanup was confirmed, it took time to secure

money for repairs from the state Legislature, which meets every two years.

The anticipated completion date of the cleanup is June 30.

Copyright © 2002 The Reno Gazette-Journal