State Workers Exposed to Asbestos

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Saturday, July 21, 2001

Despite asbestos fear, work goes on

By Bill Cotterell

DEMOCRAT SENIOR WRITER

Three state construction workers who complained to Tallahassee legislators

about being exposed to asbestos resumed knocking out walls in the

Building on Friday, but they weren't breathing easier.

Despite assurances from Department of Management Services supervisors, the

men said they have neither the training nor equipment to work with asbestos

at potentially dozens of renovation sites in aging state offices. They met

Thursday with Sen. Al Lawson and aides to Rep. Loranne Ausley, who expressed

concern that DMS was forcing the men to compromise their lungs to keep their

jobs.

Ralph Cleaver, and Corbin said they removed more than

150 linear feet of sheet rock from the s Building last year, much of it

containing joint compounds filled with asbestos. The three men said

Department of Business and Professional Regulation employees were put on

administrative leave during the work, but that the construction crew was

issued only small nose and mouth masks - which carry a warning not to use

them for asbestos work.

" There was a major release of asbestos, " Cleaver said of the Department of

Business and Professional Regulation work last year. " We cut it in four-foot

sections and carried it out to a truck and took it to the Leon County

landfill. "

On the second floor of the Building, where they worked this week,

the three men said they pulled up carpeting and removed walls that exposed

and broke floor tiles containing asbestos. They said the " tack strips " along

baseboards - formed wooden anchors that cover carpet edges at walls - had

nails passing through asbestos tiles, which released dust when ripped up.

Cyril Brockmeier, an environmental health specialist for DMS, said tests on

a fine white powder released by sledgehammering and sawing showed no signs

of asbestos in the walls or insulation. He said a professional abatement

contractor has been called in to remove tiles and make sure no exposed

asbestos is present.

Cleaver, and Corbin said the powder from their saws irritated their

eyes and throats. They also told Lawson that when they complained about

airborne dust and known asbestos under broken floor tiles, they were issued

" a threatening letter " to keep working.

" Immediately upon receipt of this correspondence, you are to report to the

Building to perform assigned work, " said a memo given to each of the

men June 15 by Keena, director of facilities management for DMS.

" Failure to comply with these lawful supervisory instructions will be

considered insubordination and will result in disciplinary action. "

Sherry Harper, a deputy to Keena, told Lawson the department " doesn't want

anybody to get hurt. " She said DMS probably failed to communicate with the

demolition crew, while deciding whether asbestos abatement was needed.

" I think there's been a see-saw - should we abate, should we not abate? "

Harper said. " It's not considered a health hazard unless it becomes

friable. "

Friable asbestos - any exposed quantities that can chip off a surface or

become dust when rubbed - can cause fatal lung diseases.

Salvo Varazo, a Department of Environmental Protection spokesman in

Pensacola who spent 15 years in asbestos enforcement, said the once-common

fire retardant is " incredibly dangerous " if breathed or swallowed.

" You can't look at asbestos and tell what it is. One human hair can be as

wide as 500 fibers of asbestos, " he said. " If you get it in your lungs it's

easy to have a cystic fibrosis situation and if you ingest it, it doesn't

take but a few fibers to give you real cramps and trouble in your guts. "

Varazo said DEP has inspected the site " but we're only beginning our

investigation. " He said he was not familiar with last year's work at the

s Building.

, who has worked for the state for nine years, said he had some

training five years ago in " recognizing and reporting asbestos " but not

removing it. He said " my certification expired maybe two years ago, " and

both Corbin and Cleaver said they've never had any asbestos training.

The men showed Lawson the packaging of paper masks issued to them. A warning

label on the box says " Using this mask against asbestos, silica, grain &

wood dust, spray paint or other harmful substances may result in sickness or

death. "

Lawson told Harper and DMS Deputy Secretary Matt he wants to be kept

apprised of training and equipment provided to state work crews, as many

World War II-era and 1950s buildings downtown are modernized. The department

executives assured Lawson that there would be no retaliation against

employees for complaining about hazardous conditions.

" After what happened in the s Building, we don't have any faith in

them, " Cleaver said.

Ausley, an attorney, said her legislative aides briefed her on the meeting

with DMS officials and the three workmen. " There are legal issues, but the

bottom line to me is health and safety, " she said.

Lawson told and Harper DMS hasn't listened to its work crew.

" Management shouldn't just assume that they're just complaining, " he said.

" You should listen and be able to demonstrate to people that it's safe. "

Contact Bill Cotterell at bcotterell@... or (850) 599-2243.