CITING WORKERS’ SAFETY, CAO CLOSES HOUSE UPHOLSTERY SHOP
Media Contact: Jeff Ventura, 202-226-5680; jeff.ventura@mail.house.gov
September 4, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Lab tests confirm the presence of harmful mold from un-repaired water leak
The Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of the House of Representatives, Daniel P. Beard, today announced the immediate closure of the House’s upholstery shop due to the confirmed presence of two types of mold spores that have been shown to pose possible health risks to humans.
The temporary closure, which will result in the relocation of the entire operation, including the geographical reassignment of six House employees, was detailed in a letter from Beard submitted to the Acting Architect of the Capitol (AOC), Stephen A. Ayers.
The closure and relocation of the department, which upkeeps and repairs all upholstered House furnishings, including many requiring historic preservation, comes nearly 18 months after the CAO requested the AOC repair a water leak attributed to structural damage in the shop, which is annexed to the subbasement of the Rayburn House Office Building.
“Unfortunately the delay in the resolution of this issue by the Architect of the Capitol has now become a safety issue for my employees, and that is unacceptable,” said Beard, who ordered samples from the shop be sent to an independent lab for analysis on August 29. “All employees of the House of Representatives are entitled to not only a safe working environment, but to the expeditious resolution of problems that jeopardize that environment.”
The laboratory results for one sample showed 10 times the allowable level of two types of airborne fungi known as Penicillium and Aspergillus, commonly referred to as “black mold.” Both contaminants can pose allergic reactions in some people who endure prolonged exposure.
Additionally, Beard alerted the House’s Office of Compliance, which enforces safety standards for Legislative Branch organizations. The CAO advised the AOC it was seeking “guidance” on the issue from that office out of concern the upholstery shop environment has possibly been in continued violation of acceptable workplace safety standards.
Beard also sent copies of the letter addressed to the AOC to House leadership, the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on House Administration.
“I am hopeful the AOC will move quickly to resolve this issue,” added Beard. “It’s understandable that structural repairs require careful planning, but when the safety of employees is involved, the AOC must also act with a constructive degree of rapidity.”
House safety officers overseeing the mold analysis remain confident that the contamination is primarily localized to the shop’s wet flooring and advised Beard that immediate closure of the shop will also prevent the mold from spreading to other areas of the building.
