Jun 4, 2002 By Paul Sunyak 6 min read

Fayette County workers began removing carpeting in the controller’s office Monday and will replace existing ductwork, as recommended by a firm hired to examine indoor air quality. Commissioner Sean M. Cavanagh said the carpeting will be replaced with tile as the commissioners strive to eliminate possible sources of an irritant that has forced the temporary relocation of the controllers’ office to the Federal Building.

AGX Inc. of Wexford, a firm subcontracted by FACE Associates of Uniontown to perform the air testing, found nothing life threatening in the environment, said Cavanagh.

“Basically, the conclusion was inconclusive,” said Cavanagh. “They had recommendations, which we’ve already taken. One of the problems is that carpeting holds mold.

“We’re taking all precautions. We’re going to replace it with tile, so we don’t have any issues of mold in carpeting. We’re taken out the ductwork and replacing it. We’re leaving no stone unturned.”

Cavanagh said that the official findings contradict a statement by Controller Mark Roberts, who previously warned a county Building and Grounds worker that a fatal “black mold” was present in the office.

“As far as the tests are concerned, there is no fatal mold as was broadcast previously from the controller,” said Cavanagh.

Roberts has denied telling the county worker that the mold was fatal. On Monday afternoon, Roberts said he had little commentary on the matter beyond addressing the issue of employee safety and health.

“I don’t care what anyone else has to say about it. From this point on, all I have to say about the issue is that I just want my staff to be provided with a safe, healthy, comfortable and respectable work environment,” said Roberts. “If Mr. Cavanagh chooses to continue to make this a political issue by attacking and accusing me, that’s his prerogative. But I won’t be a part of it any more.”

Roberts declined further comment on the matter, including whether he still intended to release findings from a Greensburg-based microbiologist who had conducted her own study of environmental samples taken from his office.

As a further precaution, Cavanagh said he and Commission Chairman Vincent A. Vicites agreed to have AGX conduct further testing in three areas that previously were inaccessible when testing was conducted.

Cavanagh and Vicites also have agreed to hire a second firm to get another opinion — a move that Commissioner Ronald M. Nehls did not think necessary after he consulted extensively with four employees at the state Department of Health in Greensburg.

“What this company (AGX) has said is that they didn’t find anything major. But they made recommendations, which were to clean out the ductwork and remove the carpeting. I agree with that … they’re a very reputable company. I think that we’ve done everything they need to do,” said Nehls.

“(But) the state Department of Health in Greensburg has told me, ‘If you are looking for a specific thing, you’ll find it,’ because these things are all over the place. Basically, what they’re hearing (from us) is the typical thing for air quality (concerns). And the interesting thing they told me is that there are no standards for indoor air quality that they could provide.”

Nehls said that he believes the county should follow the AGX recommendations, especially as they concern ways to reduce or eliminate the presence of airborne irritants, but should not pursue further testing.

The AGX report found fungus spores of two types – aspergillus and penicillium – in the courthouse basement space used by the controller’s office, at levels “slightly higher” than found in an outdoor air sample used for comparison.

The report also found that the fungal spore levels in the controller’s first-floor courthouse office were similar to the outdoor air sample “and did not indicate degraded air quality.”

Vicites said he agreed to hire a company for further testing because he thinks it wise to get a second opinion in matters that concern employee health. He said it’s no different than the practice many people follow regarding their own medical care.

“Just like with a doctor, when you’re getting an operation you get a second opinion. I did support that (concept here),” said Vicites. He added that the testing, coupled with implementing the AGX recommendations that include better general housekeeping procedures, represents a “two-pronged approach” to dealing with the issue.

“We can hopefully lessen the problem, but we should still get another opinion from a company that has this professional expertise,” said Vicites. He said he also supported having AGX do additional testing in areas that it couldn’t access the first time around.

“There were a couple of places that were locked up and you couldn’t get to, from my understanding. I feel that we should get those areas as well,” said Vicites.

Cavanagh said that one “no-no” that arose from the AGX report is that no large-scale paper shredding should occur within the confines of the controller’s office.

“Certain paper has chemicals in it, and it just creates pollutants in the air. It makes the air quality worse,” said Cavanagh, who added that he’s “going above and beyond the call of duty here” to make sure that all possible sources of the irritant are found and effectively dealt with.

“This building was built in 1882. There’s probably still some dust floating around from then,” said Cavanagh. “One of the concerns I have, though, is that we’ve advised the controller’s people not to go in there, but they keep going in there. And they’re not wearing the (surgeon-like dust) masks as we’ve advised. That pretty much baffles me.”

While the first round of testing by AGX cost $2,400, Cavanagh said the commissioners are still in the process of getting price quotes from a second firm and thus have no idea what it will cost.

In its recommendations, AGX advised the county to prevent mold growth by controlling moisture, which spurs such growth. The firm also advised the county to “clean, dry and/or remove” any water damaged materials – and to replace any carpeting, flooring and drywall that remains wet for more than 48 hours.

AGX also advised the county to check the controllers’ office suit for the presence of “pests,” such as mice and rats, and to discourage them from being in the building. The report noted that “mouse droppings” were observed on the ceiling tile by a window.