News Releases
News from
Lane Community College, Eugene, Oregon
Contact: Joan Aschim, 463-5591
For more information: Dennis Carr, director of Human Resources, 463-5585
for release February 12, 2004
LCC mitigating mold problem
EUGENE -
Lane Community College will remove carpeting in affected areas of the
first floor of Building 1 on main campus due to mold found in some carpet
samples. The affected areas include the student services counter off the
lobby, and two staff-only areas behind the counter.
Disruption to student services is expected to be minimal. Work in the
service counter will be conducted over the President's Day holiday weekend
with the intent to open the counter on Tuesday, February 17. Many of the
services provided at the counter are available online at 2011sitearchive.lanecc.edu
via ExpressLane.
Carpet removal
in the other areas may take up to two weeks and staff will be temporarily
relocated. A professional firm using a mold abatement protocol will conduct
the work.
College officials scheduled the carpet removal following a February 3
recommendation from industrial hygienist Kathy Ellis of Wise Steps, Inc.
The recommendation was based on tests of carpet samples that showed the
presence of molds or yeasts. The molds found are common in the Northwest
environment. Air samples have not shown mold spore. The molds are characterized
as an irritant and can cause allergic reactions such as skin rash and
cough but are not known to cause more serious illness.
Facilities personnel will increase air circulation in the affected area and will not reinstall carpet. Alternative floor coverings are being evaluated. The college will test the rest of the building as a precautionary measure.
Forty-nine
employees work in the affected area, of whom 32 will be relocated during
the carpet removal. Employees have been kept informed, provided with data,
and have met with college officials, Kathy Ellis of Wise Steps, Inc.,
and occupational health physician Dr. Paul Panum. The college is covering
the cost for employees who wish to visit the occupational health clinic
for an assessment. There is no data to indicate exposure to anyone walking
through the adjacent lobby.
The cost of abatement is unknown at this time but will include consultant
fees, lab tests, and carpet removal.
The college has worked with Wise Steps since becoming aware of a mold problem in spring 2002 and has tested air and carpet samples, replaced some sections of carpet, changed air filters more frequently, and otherwise attempted to identify and mitigate the problem. Carpet removal is the next step.
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