Update:  Air Quality Testing at 60 Charles Lindbergh Blvd.

UNIONDALE- CSEA staff visited 60 Charles Lindbergh Boulevard on January 22 to distribute 35-page booklets to all CSEA members regarding the most recent updates on the air quality testing in the building, as well as a chronologic report of what has been done over the past 3 years to rectify it.  CSEA represents over 1,000 members in the building from the Departments of Social Services, Senior Citizens Affairs, Drug & Alcohol, and Mental Health.

The most recent report was conducted by CSEA Health & Safety Specialist Jeff Hyman in December 2007.  The major problem that still exists according to Hyman is the lack of an emergency evacuation plan, which was also discovered during a February 2006 walkthrough by former CSEA OSH Specialist Komilla John.  In addition, employees still complained of fluctuating temperature and humidity in the building, as well as observations of damaged and stained ceiling tiles.

Pasts tests including May 2004 showed water quality was satisfactory, a November 2005 test showed adequate temperature and relative humidity but a high level of CO2, and a July 2006 showed mold sampling was in compliance with the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists guidelines. Finally, an October 2006 test backed up the November 2005 test of satisfactory temperature, relative humidity, and now CO2 levels dropping to an acceptable level. 

After all these findings, Hyman recommended that a questionnaire be distributed to all members requesting individual employee’s thoughts on the air quality, temperature, and observations of mold and mildew.  This questionnaire was included in the 35-page package delivered on January 22.

The questionnaire was due by January 31, and shortly thereafter CSEA’s Industrial Hygienist Mark Stipano will review the findings to see what the next step will be.