MARION - The VA Medical Center in Marion is now coping with moldy buildings.

Some employees claim they were exposed to mold toxic enough to cause eye, nose and throat irritation, as well as headaches. No patients were affected.

The problem areas centered on two new modular buildings built less than two years ago, which mainly house administrative and clerical personnel, and Building 13, which houses administrative, engineering and safety staff.
The VA's position is that the problem was identified and addressed immediately to ensure the health and well being of employees. Two of those employees did not want their names published in this article for fear of repercussions by their employer.

This cleanup process is the latest problem encountered by the medical facility, which came under fire last fall for a noticeable spike in patient deaths that has led to multiple investigations of the hospital's surgical unit. One surgeon resigned and has since lost his Illinois medical license and three others are working on restricted status. There have also been employee complaints about violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act, sexual harassment and age and gender discrimination.

"The abatement process for removal of the mold was finished two to three months ago on one of our modular buildings," said hospital spokeswoman Rebecca Shinneman. "The abatement process is conducted by an environmental company which specializes in mold removal. When mold has been identified in a work area, employees are moved to another work area and the area is contained."

Shinneman said the abatement process entails removing wallpaper and drywall, cleaning the walls with a solution to kill the mold, applying a solution to prevent future growth and then rebuilding the area with new products.
"Air quality samples are taken before the abatement and after to check for mold," Shinneman said. "Our facility conducts ongoing inspections for environment of care."

Roger Ditterline, environmental manager at the Marion facility, said he thoroughly checked each of the 20-plus buildings on campus for mold when employees began to complain of discomfort early last summer and found areas of concern in both the modular buildings and Building 13.

Ditterline said Resun Leasing, Inc. in Euless, Texas, which specializes in modular buildings, did perform mold abatement when contacted that there was a problem. He added that he would prefer buildings to be constructed on a concrete base rather than a concrete pier foundation because it helps prevent mold from spreading.
"The company could have done a better job with those buildings," he said.

Ditterline said the main problem area that remains to be cleaned is in the basement of Building 13. Employees are warned to wear respirator masks if they must retrieve a medical file from the area until the area is abated. No employees work in the basement.

Ditterline said any employees with respiratory difficulties or who are ultrasensitive to even the lowest level of mold conditions have been awarded high-efficiency particulate air filters near their work space to ensure comfort.
Ditterline confirmed that one employee did go into anaphylactic shock, but it is believed her reaction was due to the presence of vinyl products and not mold.

http://www.southernillinoisan.com/articles/2008/01/04/front_page/22819687.txt
 
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