Mold found-No response from management

[Guest guest]

I have worked at this hospital for 5 years and for the past 4 and

half have been sick. I work in an Operating Room and had been working

in Orthopedics exposed to Methylmethryclate(used in total joint

surgery) almost daily.I have had piercing headaches behind the

eyes.On one occasion I ended up in the ER with a headache so horrible

that I thought I was stroking out also continous vomiting.CT scans

done a few days later showed nothing.

Developed tooth infection at same time a surgeon that I had worked

with had same infection.We both ended up with major sinus

infection.He ended up being shipped out to another hospital in a coma

and on life support.He is now rehab'd and retired. Few months later

I developed an abscess on neck which when lanced cultured Staph.

Numerous sinus infections thus numerous courses of antibiotics.Sinus

surgery three years ago.Immediately after surgery had severe cough

and hoarseness and reflux.Positive for H-Pylori and

treated.Gastroscopy diagnosed GERD now on meds for that.Prior to

surgery and continued after complained of shortness of breath.Took a

year to get diagnosis of Asthma.Now on meds for that.Also

Triglycerides off the wall 1500.Meds for that and Cholesterol

increase.I do not eat fatty or sweet foods and prior to all of this

had a pretty healthy lifestyle.

A coworker developed a new form of Hepatitis and her Doc.. feels it

is work related.She was transferred out and is getting her sick time

and all of insurance paid back.

Jan.2002 I discovered that our locker room was again saturated with

seepage from the lawn above us.This wet problem has been present for

15 years.I complained to the Engineering Director and was able to get

testing done.I had requested 2 years ago and 3 years ago.Never shown

test results.This time I did get to see the results after 3 months of

asking for them.Major molds identified--

Stachy,Aspergillis,Penicillium,Cladosporum,etc.--Mold remediaton

described in report but no mention of what to do for the inhabitants.

I was told by the Industrial Hygiene co. that we are safe in their as

long as the spores are not disrupted as would happen in

remediation.Obviously spores have been disrupted as many others have

been sick in their.Everyone is afraid for their jobs and hesitant to

speak up.

Are we safe in there?Am I being overly concernd?

I have mentioned on many occasions that it is in the HVAC system as

I noticed similar problems in some of the OR rooms. They(management)

tell me that HVAC was part of the inspection.I was with the person

who did the airquality and HVAC was not done.The person who did

onsite told me she just identified and cultured areas behind the cove

base and on the insulation of pipes above the ceiling

tiles.Engineering thinks I just want to get rid of the ruds and keep

telling me the rugs do not support mold growth.My response is that it

holds moiture supporting growth elsewhere.Am I going nuts here?

I tested positive for all of the molds thathave been

identified,nothing else except Alder trees.I also have an appointmet

with an Occupational Doc. in three weeks.My Docs here have been good

but have no idea what has been going on with me or others.Respiratory

Dept.staff know as they see quite a few of us for Methylcholine

challange tests Asthma diagnosis.

Help!!I know I need to leave but want to resolve this for others to

stop this cycle.There is definitely a coverup.I have been told by

management not to speak of this.

Eileen Berthelsen

Eileen Berthelsen