Asbestos Exposure Angers Connecticut School Employees

July 18, 2006 - Twelve maintenance workers in the Greenwich, CT School District have undergone chest x-rays and filed complaints with the school board in reference to their exposure to asbestos-containing materials while working at two area middle schools.

Employees at Central and Western Middle Schools in Greenwich told union representatives that they were unknowingly exposed to asbestos when large chunks and pebble-like pieces of asbestos fell to the floor in the schools’ gymnasiums during renovations.  The workers note that they were not immediately notified as to the dangers posed by the asbestos, and say that the areas of concern were not immediately sealed off.

"It's the uncertainty," said Roger Taranto, chief shop steward of Teamsters Local 456, which represents maintenance workers in Greenwich and surrounding areas. "If people were forthcoming in the beginning, more than likely we would not have had to do it. But the problem with asbestos is what you can't see."

But school board officials disagree, according to a recounting of the situation in a recent issue of the Greenwich Time.  "All the air tests came back negative," said Tony Byrne, district facilities director. "The state told us we had no obligation to notify anyone because it was such a minute amount."

Union representatives say that’s not the case.  Taranto notes that he first leaned about the problems on Wednesday, when a custodian called him to tell him about the presence of tar-covered asbestos pebbles on the gymnasium floor at Western.

"If this happened Wednesday morning, why didn't management send the supervisors over there, seal the areas and tell everybody what's going on?" Taranto asked.