Hall of Justice a health risk?

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Hall of Justice a health risk?

RICHMOND: Workers file claims citing exposure to mold, asbestos,

floodwater, human waste

By Karl Fischer

CONTRA COSTA TIMES

http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/news/14793932.htm

In the small interview room where police detectives once settled

rape victims for tense, often tearful debriefings, a bulbous brown

crust -- possibly mold -- basked in plain view on a window ledge.

Down in the basement, where the property vault holds a raft of

criminal evidence, clerks have spied mosquito larvae wriggling in

dark floodwaters that can reach 10 inches after long winter rains.

One worker photographed a " rainbow sheen " across the grimy tide,

trailing from the cabinets where they store confiscated drugs.

The menu of dangers at Richmond's Hall of Justice runs long and

unwholesome, according to a statement attached to five workers

compensation claims on March 17:

" Prolonged exposure to: Molds, fungus, asbestos, medical waste,

chemicals, corrosive materials, toxins, smoke, lead, concrete dust,

untreated human waste, stagnant water, mosquitoes, flies, rodent

droppings, submerged electrical cords; slippery, flooded floors with

standing water in depths ranging from one to 10 inches, medical and

biohazard waste, human blood and body fluids. "

Nobody who works there knows if the decrepit building contributes to

their ailments. But they worry about it. And after remaining

relatively quiet about it for decades, many have begun to agitate.

So far this year, at least 28 workers in the building have filed

claims citing exposure to mold and asbestos, city records show. The

complaints document symptoms that range from persistent coughs to

recurring skin infections. Some upstairs complain of dizziness and

nose bleeds.

Most expect no compensation. They filed the claims to document their

working conditions, laying a paper trail should they fall seriously

ill, said Detective , president of the Richmond Police

Officers Association.

" It's become so noticeable that the city can no longer ignore it, "

he said.

New Police Chief Magnus " immediately recognized the problems

when he came here, " added. " Because of that, I think a lot of

officers are no longer afraid to bring it to management's attention. "

Magnus agrees that the current building is unsanitary and

structurally unsound. But with a new Hall of Justice still two or

three years away, he faces a dilemma.

If the health risks are verified through recent testing, will parts

of the department need to move out? And if so, where?

" Our absolute first concern is the health of the people working

here, " he said. " The bottom line is I will not allow conditions to

continue if they are putting people at risk. "

History of hazards

Government offices moved out of City Hall to a rental property in

2003 because of safety concerns. It's no secret that the Hall of

Justice, built next door in the same 57-year-old complex, has

similar problems. Both are " likely to suffer partial collapse " in a

large earthquake, according to a 1996 city report.

But most police employees interviewed by the Times were more

concerned about what happens when it rains.

The roof leaks every winter. Water dribbles through ceilings and

walls on all four floors. It collects in the basement, where police

store records, seized property and criminal evidence.

" The evidence techs always just walked around in the water. I

couldn't believe it, " said Ray , an officer who retired in

2004. " It flooded every year I was there. I was hired in 1975. "

Current employees, including several who filed claims, would not

speak publicly about their concerns. Some said they were wary of

retribution from City Hall.

Claims began rolling in Feb. 16, when seven workers complained

of " exposure to mold and suspected asbestos " in the second-floor

offices of the Family Services Unit, which investigates sexual

assaults, domestic violence and juvenile crimes.

That office leaks in winter. Garbage pails collect drips. Mildew

forms around windows, and crusty lumps of an unknown material --

some thought it was mold -- nestle near heater vents.

The department moved the employees out in May to begin renovations.

Where the water goes

Years ago, reserve officers used to gauge the power of recent storms

by how far the wooden pallets in their locker room would float.

They stood on the pallets while they dressed, to keep their pants

dry.

Near that basement locker room, in the office leading to the

property vault, clerks dwelt in a surreal environment that included

neatly arranged office furniture, computers, family photos, desktop

trinkets and, every winter, an inch of water across the floor.

Richmond's public works department has battled water for years.

Workers have unclogged and reconfigured drains, and ground furrows

in the concrete floor to improve the flow. But every year, new

problems arise, or old ones resurface.

" I think this certainly is an issue where management feels pretty

much the same way as the employees, " Magnus said. " It's really

frustrating that I have no answers to the questions that people are

asking. "

Photos snapped by workers show submerged power cords plugged into

wall sockets. Inside the property vault itself, employees say

conditions grow much worse.

In metal file cabinets and modular shelving, some raised on wooden

blocks, police store confiscated firearms, toxic and explosive

materials taken from drug labs, DNA samples in a refrigerated locker

and more mundane evidence, mostly stacked in paper bags.

The whole place floods to some degree, employees say.

" Being an evidence technician, I frequently handled ... bloody

clothes, rape evidence, a lot of sensitive material, " said Joe

Deville, an officer who retired in 2004. " Having to handle it while

ankle deep in water? I think that was a concern. "

Magnus said he does not believe any evidence or records have been

compromised. That said, the department has not recently audited the

vault.

Hoping for high ground

Magnus demonstrated great zeal for eradicating grime during his

first four months in Richmond, starting with a whirlwind of repairs

started days after his arrival.

The Public Works department spent about $250,000 this spring on the

Hall of Justice, mending the roof, painting, replacing broken

windows and ripping out water-damaged ceilings.

The claims poured in soon after, and the city ordered air sampling

around the building for mold and toxins. said the union

encourages officers to file claims; they have proven effective in

drawing city resources to long-ignored problems in the building.

So far, neither workers nor city have sought aid from outside

agencies, officials from the Contra Costa Health Services department

and state Department of Industrial Relations said.

Results of last month's air tests still have not returned, Magnus

said this week.

Tests last fall and in 2003 detected nothing harmful.

" I understand the inclination to assume the worst, but at the same

time, we don't know what the situation is yet, " Magnus said.

If the new results indicate an immediate health risk, the department

may need to move the property vault, possibly out of the building.

Magnus hopes to avoid that logistical nightmare -- finding a secure

facility nearby that meets legal requirements for storing evidence --

at least until the city builds a new police department near 24th

Street and Barrett Avenue.

Design work for that project, part of a $78 million renovation of

the Civic Center, has begun. City officials plan to finish the new

Hall of Justice by 2009.

" This has never been a priority, at least not on the chief's part, "

said of earlier administrations. " I've got to hand it to this

guy, he's really trying hard to fix this problem. "

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Staff writer Simerman contributed to this article. Reach Karl

Fischer at 510-262-2728 or kfischer@....