CSEA Addresses Asbestos Issue at 240 Old Country Road

Jeff Hyman looks on as Mark Stipano checks the air quality on 240 Old Country Road’s 3rd floor

MINEOLA- March 22nd tests found small amounts of asbestos in the air at 240 Old Country Road in Mineola.  Out of 80 air-quality tests performed only 2 have come back positive with the level of asbestos coming back at .0084 fibers per cubic centimeter which is over 100 times less than the permissible amount allowed in the workplace.  It is even 10 times less than the amount allowed in a school environment.

The asbestos came from an area on the 3rd floor, not near where work was being done.  Despite that fact, CSEA and President Jerry Laricchiuta are still taking a proactive approach.  “We will pay to have our own CSEA independent study done here,” Laricchiuta said at a March 23rd meeting in front of concerned employees of the building. 

Safety and Health Specialist Jeff Hyman, and Industrial Hygiene Specialist Mark Stipano from CSEA Inc. were in town on April 12th to do this study on the 3rd floor in the Treasurer’s Office.  Results are expected back in about 7-10 days from that point.

Local 830 Administrative Assistant Tim Corr, who specializes in health and safety, also addressed the membership in the March 23rd meeting attended by Public Works Commissioner Ray Ribeiro, Deputy County Executive Mary Curtis and many other Nassau County administrators.

“We know we have an issue here,” Laricchiuta went on to say.  “But, we don’t want everyone to panic.  If the building is unsafe then we certainly won’t let you in.”