Proof Covering up Mold is Harmful

Former Employee:"In the summertime, the improper ventilation system allows the walls inside to become so saturated that after a few short weeks, thick black mold begins to grow in the vent ducts and over doorways. Many days we’d all go home with pounding headaches from using bleach all day to cover up this toxic situation. But we always felt it was better to do than allow the mold to get worse…of course you can only clean so much but there’s the stuff you don’t see further into the ducts that would surely cause respiratory issues in both humans and animals."

OSHA Inspection Obstructed By Connecticut Humane Society President, Workers Claim
By George Gombossy | Jan 10, 2010
Copyright © 2010, CtWatchdog.com

Sept. 11, 2009 is a date remembered by many workers at the Connecticut Humane Society (CHS).

It was also the date the two inspectors from the the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration came to the Newington headquarters to check out the facilities after a worker suffered breathing problems from inhaling harsh chemicals. One worker said staff was required to use full strength bleach to scrub floors without proper safety equipment and without additional ventilation.

Former Employee:
"I would just like to mention not only were the employees affected by these harsh chemicals, but the animals are often left in these areas when the cleaning is going on, sitting in enclosed cages for hours breathing these toxic fumes. Many of the cats would have cronic respritory problems while at the shelter but more often than not once they got adopted and were in a new enviorment they would recover."

A manager and an assistant, the workers said, intercepted the inspectors and delayed and sidetracked them while Johnston and others rushed around covering up potential OSHA violations.

Labels were put on unlabeled bottles, gloves and and goggles suddenly appeared in storage areas, the workers told me as well as officials of the machinists union. The union is organizing the staff at the multi-million-dollar-a-year agency.

The state Attorney General’s office – which began an investigation after I forwarded signed complaints from fired workers – is also being apprised of the OSHA cover-up.

Johnston and another manager – according to one worker – hid bottles of unmarked bleach under their clothing and moved them to a closet in a garage. Johnston even barged into the women’s locker room, without checking to see if anyone was inside, a worker told me, so he could search if anything OSHA might be interested in was in the room.

The Humane Society had no response to the allegations of obstructing the OSHA investigation. It has blamed allegations of wrongdoing provided to me as simply the fallout from the union organizing effort. It threatened libel actions.


--------------------------------------

If your office shows signs of mold contamination, contact Turtle Clan Environment Testing. Turtle Clan follows the IAQA, IESO, AMIAQ Council and AIHA recommendations for testing indoor environments with mold contamination.