GSA to Convene Panel of Experts (Let's hope they aren't the same ones they used on the bleeding lungs research review)

[Guest guest]

http://www.starbanner.com/articles/breaking_news/1624.shtml

Problems in the air at courthouse

RICK CUNDIFF

Staff Writer

OCALA - Although workers complain about it, air quality in Ocala's federal

courthouse is significantly better than other federal courthouses in the

region, according to a consultant's report.

A report released last week noted that occupants of the offices in the

Golden-Collum Memorial Federal Building complain that the building is " the

noisiest, stuffiest, hottest and most odor-filled " of the five Middle

District courthouses tested for indoor air quality.

But the same report notes that the Ocala building has no significant mold or

fungus contamination apparent, even though the indoor humidity is high. In

contrast, the report cites significantly higher mold and fungus

contamination in courthouses in Fort Myers, ville, Orlando and Tampa.

The report did note, however, that federal employees in the Ocala building

have more problems related to the lack of windows, poor lighting,

uncomfortable furniture and closer proximity to photocopiers.

The study, done by AET Environmental, an independent consulting firm, noted

that the building is significantly less comfortable to occupants than it

should be, mainly due to indoor humidity, which is sometimes as high as 85

percent.

Unlike the other four courthouses surveyed, AET found no evidence of unusual

mold exposure in Ocala. Mold was a significant issue in the other four

buildings, the report noted.

Many of the reported problems can be traced to not running air conditioning

24 hours a day, said Tom , the federal General Services Administration

manager responsible for the Middle District courthouses.

Such problems are not unique to federal buildings, said, noting that

any building in a high-temperature, high-humidity climate can have similar

air-quality problems.

" What causes the problems is the high humidity-heat index in Florida, " he

said. The government has responded by running the air conditioning systems

in all five courthouses 24 hours a day, seven days a week, he said.

In addition, the GSA will convene a panel of experts from the Centers for

Disease Control and Prevention and the Public Health Service to review the

problems in all five courthouses, said. Actual renovations to improve

the courthouse problems aren't likely until after that panel meets sometime

within the next two months, he said.

" In these kinds of problems, which can be elusive, you can spend a lot of

money and not gain anything, " he said.

The AET report also recommends increased training for housekeeping and

maintenance employees in the Ocala building, the appointment of an Indoor

Air Quality Manager to investigate and respond to air quality complaints,

and cleaning of the building's ductwork.

Rick Cundiff covers the courts. He can be reached at

rick.cundiff@..., or at 867-4130.