Air quality continues to be concern at Uniontown courthouse

[Guest guest]

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/news/s_80002.html

Air quality continues to be concern at courthouse

By Junker

TRIBUNE-REVIEW

Saturday, July 6, 2002

Fayette County Commissioner Cavanagh said Friday that he's prepared to

demolish the Uniontown courthouse complex if air quality concerns there

cannot be addressed.

" Money is not an object. When it comes to the health and safety of

individuals, that's paramount. If we have to move all the offices, judges

included, then we'll do it. If we have to demolish the courthouse, I'll do

it, " Cavanagh said.

He also emphatically denied that he ever suggested there are not health

concerns in the commissioners' offices.

The Tribune-Review had asked Cavanagh and Commissioner Ron Nehls about a

shuttered lobby where carpet and ceiling tiles had been removed.

" My worker had symptoms, and I told her to go to the doctor. Yes,

renovations had been planned there, but there was a smell, and her doctor

said she was having an allergic reaction, " he said.

Air quality has been at issue in the century-old complex since late spring,

when employees in the controller's office began to complain about

respiratory and eye irritations.

The controller's office was closed last month after tests found minute

quantities of several strains of mold in the air. Controller Mark

and his staff of seven are working out of a separate county-owned building

two blocks away.

Since then, the largest union representing county workers has been

circulating a questionnaire from the Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention that could result in testing by that federal agency. And other

county row officers signed a memo urging the commissioners to test and

remediate air quality in the buildings immediately because of unexplained

allergy symptoms being experienced in other offices.

Cavanagh bristled at a union steward's comment that the issue had become

political.

" How is getting testing political? " he asked.

The commissioners ordered two separate tests of the controller's office,

which is connected to the commissioners' office.

Cavanagh said yesterday that the commissioners' office also was tested.

He disclosed that a county worker made a confidential call to the federal

Occupational Safety and Health Administration that resulted in an

inspector's visit.

Asbestos was found in floor tiles under the old carpet in the controller's

office.

Cavanagh said neither the inspector nor any of the tests conducted thus far

has found any sign of airborne asbestos.

Commissioners Nehls and Vicites did not return calls seeking comment.

Junker can be reached at mjunker@... or (724) 425-2338.