SEVIERVILLE (WATE) -- The Lowe's home improvement chain is looking into employee complaints of mold at its store in Sevierville.Employees from the Lowe's store #693 contacted 6 News concerned about a potential health hazard.  

A spokesperson from Lowe's assures 6 News it takes the safety and well-being of its employees and customers very seriously.

And in response to the allegations by one employee, that management is not doing anything about the mold complaint, a spokesperson says, "While we cannot comment on personnel issues, we have been evaluating this issue ourselves since it was brought to our attention."

Lisa Clark works at the Lowe's store. "To me, it's playing Russian roulette with people's health, especially with the pregnant women in the store. I don't think it's fair to the customers, and it's not fair for us employees."
Clark says she believes there's a mold problem in the air conditioning unit that's making people sick. "Some of these employees...one in particular, he's scarred very bad from it."

The employee Clark is referring to talked to 6 News off-camera. Out of fear of losing his job, he didn't want us to use his name, but says it's a real concern. He's under the care of a Knoxville doctor who's treating him for a rash on his hands and arms.

Clark says, "I've seen it so bad. It's worse than poison ivy."

While Clark is upset by the potential health hazard, she is more disappointed in the way she says management is handling the situation. 

"My understanding was, they said 'If you don't like the environment where you work at, you need to find another job.' This is not right by human resources, there at Lowe's," Clark says.

"They should be looking out for Lowe's and their employees, too," Clark adds. 

In hopes of bringing about change, Clark is filing a complaint with TOSHA. "I'm willing to risk my job to see that these people, you know, have a better environment to work in."
 
Representatives from Lowe's also told 6 News they changed the air filters at the Sevierville store as recently as April 3.

But they say, "As a precautionary measure, they will test and clean the grills in their air circulation system as soon as possible, conducting tests and taking whatever precautionary measures are necessary to ensure the health and well-being of employees and customers."

http://www.wate.com/Global/story.asp?S=6367874

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