Welfare Office Clear of Asbestos
Officials at a Baltimore City welfare office say reports of “active asbestos dust” in the aging building were unfounded and deemed that the report was merely retaliation by a disgruntled former employee.
Earlier this week, several Baltimore-area newspapers reported that members of AFSCME Maryland, the union representing state and higher education employees, made allegations as to the presence of asbestos after the building’s administration postponed and then canceled a meeting intended to address the asbestos claims with union members. The building has previously been plagued by rodents and other toxins, according to reports.
However, according to an article in The Examiner, it has been determined that an employee with a maintenance contractor who alerted EPA officials to the presence of “active asbestos” on pipes in the building wasn’t telling the truth.
The allegations “could be the result of a disgruntled employee and ex-partner of A&E Mechanical which were terminated during the course of this job,” company President Jay Austin wrote in the letter released to the media.
An inspector’s note also released to the media states that no asbestos was found on the pipes, only modern fiberglass insulation and “hard-mudded fittings”.
“I would not have any staff working in a building that is not safe,” said Brian Wilbon, interim director of the Baltimore City Department of Social Services.
