Company responds to complaints

[Guest guest]

Posted on Wed, Mar. 08, 2006

http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/business/14045378.htm?

source=rss & channel=ohio_business

Akron Beacon Journal

OH

Company responds to complaints

Employee letters over black-mold fear prompt Ravenna operation to

close for testingBy Gloria IrwinBeacon Journal business writerA

Ravenna company that does restoration work and mold remediation

closed down temporarily and called in a company to test its air

after a series of allegations were raised by a disgruntled employee.

NBD International Inc. sent all employees home about 2 p.m. Monday,

and air tests were conducted Tuesday by Armour Applied Science of

Cleveland, said Dick Szczepinski, director of NBD's residential

division.

Armour Applied Science was called in after someone sent e-mail and

letters to authorities in Portage County alleging problems with

black mold and improper venting at the NBD International facility on

Romito Street, Szczepinski said.

``It appears that we have a disgruntled or some disgruntled

employees'' who have been sending letters to various agencies since

Dec. 28, he said.

The latest allegation, which also was e-mailed to the Akron Beacon

Journal, involved a complaint to the Ravenna Health Department.

``We decided that it would be prudent for us to bring in an

independent air-quality sampling firm,'' Szczepinski said.

About 35 workers are employed at the location, he said. The

company's offices are at a separate location on Myrtle Street.

The company believes the allegations are unfounded, he said. ``We'll

let the experts tell us'' whether there is a problem, he said.

Results are expected within seven to 10 days, he said.

``If there is by some chance an issue, we'll address and fix it,''

Szczepinski said.

In the meantime, employees were being called back to work for shifts

today.

NBD International has worked with many documents, files and other

items that were damaged by Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans.

The items are stored in refrigerated box cars when they first arrive

in Ravenna, Szczepinski said. The cold retards the growth of mold.

The items then are moved to a heated room for drying. Items then are

sent to the Steris company in Columbus for irrradiation.

``At that point, all the mold is dead and that's certified by

Steris,'' he said.

After an irradiated item is returned to Ravenna, ``we physically

clean it. That could include removing mud, dust, dirt. We may go so

far as changing the staples, the labels on the file folders,'' he

said.

There have been no unusual incidences of employee illness,

Szczepinski said.

``Other than the ordinary flu that has been going around

everywhere... we have no incidences that I'm aware of,'' he said.

This is the ninth time since Dec. 28 that allegations of wrongdoing

have been made, he said. Previous letters alleged illegal

manufacturing, insufficient permits and software issues.

``We've discussed with legal counsel to find out what we can do to

have this stopped,'' Szczepinski said. ``Obviously this is malicious

and unfounded.''

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

-----------

Gloria Irwin can be reached at 330-996-3720 or at

girwin@...