Courthouse cleaned up after OSHA inspection (Scarey!!)

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Courthouse cleaned up after OSHA inspection

Orangeburg,SC

By GENE CRIDER, T & D City Editor

Monday, February 20, 2006

http://www.thetandd.com/articles/2006/02/20/news/doc43f945fb3d0412329

95252.txt

Complaints about air quality in Orangeburg County Courthouse

basement offices led to a cleanup of moldy areas over the weekend.

More improvements are coming in the future.

The weekend work takes care of the most immediate problems

discovered during an Occupational Safety and Health Administration

inspection of the courthouse last month. Other improvements will

wait until the planned renovation of the courthouse this spring and

summer.

Orangeburg County Administrator Bill said the " good news " from

OSHA's Feb. 10 report is " there were no OSHA hazards in the

facility. "

And it comes as the county is planning the courthouse renovation, he

said. " It was very good timing for this to be received when it was.

We'll be able to incorporate those ideas into the renovation's

design. "

The total cost of the renovations that will be made this year is

estimated to be about $800,000.

OSHA came to the courthouse under a program in which employers can

request a workplace evaluation, OSHA spokeswoman Kudelka said.

The report, which received last Tuesday, does note problems in

the courthouse basement offices, including the growth of mold and

higher-than-recommended comfort levels of carbon dioxide in the

basement.

Tests of one basement office revealed the presence of Stachybotys

Chartarum, a potentially hazardous mold, in one sample but the mold

levels in the courthouse air are considered acceptable. The report

notes that mold growing in some moist areas, including ceiling

tiles, would only affect people's health with " very direct contact. "

" What was observed in the building, it is important to note, was not

airborne, " said. " To get exposure to it, you'd have to be in

direct contact with it. " And he says the Stachybotys Chartarum was

not in a spot where someone could be in direct contact with it.

" From what appears in the report, there is no imminent hazard, " he

said.

County Engineer McLauchlin, who was trained as an environmental

engineer, said " You'd have to be physically disturbing it for it to

become airborne. "

To eliminate the mold problems, the county removed moist and moldy

ceiling tiles Friday evening. They were also repairing leaks in the

county's aging heating and cooling system, which controls

temperature by piping hot and cold water throughout the courthouse.

Other changes, such as piping fresh air into the courthouse basement

to lower carbon dioxide concentrations, will be made as the county

updates its 1970s heating and air conditioning system and makes

other renovations.

The report found carbon dioxide levels in some offices exceed what

the agency considers a " comfort level, " indicating inadequate

ventilation that can lead to complaints such as headaches, fatigue,

and eye and throat irritation.

First Circuit Solicitor Pascoe said there are air quality

problems in the basement, but he's not aware of their causing any

major illnesses.

" My staff has complained in the past of minor respiratory problems

and symptoms that would seem to be the result of allergies, " Pascoe

said.

said that while the carbon dioxide levels are not at a

hazardous level, they " are elevated beyond what we'd be satisfied

with, " he said.

Ventilation will be improved when the heating and air conditioning

system is replaced, which is planned for this spring.

The updating of the system " will allow us to enhance the flow of air

and control the temperature and humidity in courthouse. Recognizing

we're working with an old building, this should be a substantial

undertaking, " said.

The report also notes other problems in the courthouse, such as

employees reporting flooding of four to five inches. said the

basement offices did flood when it rained, but not four or five

inches. The county corrected that problem a year ago, he said.

Other improvements planned for the courthouse this year include

security enhancements, new lighting and some general sprucing up. In

addition, there will be some rearranging of space, made possible in

part by the relocation of the 911 communications center which will

move from the courthouse, possibly in April.

Security enhancements at the courthouse will include additional

cameras. The current two entrances to the building will be reduced

to one and new handicapped access will be added.

The county also anticipates replacing carpets, and removing

wallpaper and painting walls.

The result of all the changes should be a more comfortable

environment for employees and visitors to the courthouse, plus a

more energy-efficient building, said.

Pascoe said the county is taking the steps necessary to address

concerns.

" The actions taken by Bill and his staff, they have really

been on the ball in this matter, " Pascoe said.

City Editor Gene Crider can be reached at

gcrider@... and 803-533-5570.