Minister says occupational health and safety issues are being addressed

Tom Rideout, Minister of Transportation and Works, said today that occupational health and safety issues at the Motor Registration Division Building in Mount Pearl are being addressed.

Minister Rideout said: "I want to reassure all employees that the situation in the Motor Registration Division Building is being addressed. Safety of all government employees is utmost in our minds and will continue to be a priority for government.

"Officials in my department have been actively addressing occupational health and safety orders since July 5, 2005. Staff addressing the situation include our regional director, regional engineer and building manager."

On July 5 of this year, staff from the Department of Transportation and Works visited the basement of the building. Since that time the department has engaged a consultant in order to provide us with information that will enable us to clean the mould up appropriately.

Minister Rideout said: "In order to determine the appropriate measures to take, we engaged a consultant. While occupational health and safety has taken samples of the mould, more work is needed to ensure the appropriate cleanup work is carried out.

"My department is taking action by ensuring exactly the concentration of mould we are dealing with here and that we are responding to it effectively. Different action may be required depending on the extent of the mould."

While the process of detecting mould is fairly straight forward, determining how to prevent and control the growth of mould can be a much more involved process.

Technicians from the design division of the Department of Transportation and Works have also reviewed site elevation and drainage issues in the building, both with design drawings and a site visit. They have checked various field conditions including catch basins, finished floor elevations and sump elevations.

Staff from the department have also met with staff at the Motor Registration Division and updated them on progress with occupational health and safety orders, communications with the OHS division of the Department of Government Services, action taken and plans for the future.

Minister Rideout said: "The Motor Registration Division has advised my department that this area has always had restricted access by employees. Given the OHS concerns they have advised the affected staff of the ongoing assessment and are seeking advice on specific protective measures which may be needed until the cleanup is complete.

"On October 6, an air quality monitor was placed in the basement of the building to test temperature and humidity. Tests are generally indicating that readings are within acceptable parameters in the rooms that have been tested thus far. As well, the department�s mechanical engineer is in the process of completing a review of the HVAC system at Motor Registration Division and we expect that report to be available in the near future."

Media contact: Lori Lee Oates, ABC, Communications, (709) 729-3015, 690-8403

2005 10 19      5:25 p.m.