The following is an excerpt taken from the
CWA News/March 2006 issue that is sent to your homes for review
which was submitted by a Steward on the Essex campus.
STEWARDS FORUM Q & A
MOLD EXPOSURE; ADA RIGHTS, PG. 9
CWA stewards are invited to send general questions for the Stewards
Forum to:
cwa news@cwa-union.org
WE HAVE A MOLD PROBLEM HERE ON OUR CAMPUS. SEVERAL OF OUR MEMBERS
ARE EXPOSED TO MOLD AND HAVE BEEN ASKED TO GO TO THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE
THAT THE COLLEGE DESIGNATED. Do I (as a steward) have the right
see the reports that were done on the mold?
Mold is a form of bacteria that may be toxic to exposed workers.
Within the indoor workplace environment, mold usually forms in
the ductwork of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning
(HVAC) system. In turn, when the fan within the HVAC system operates,
the mold may be distributed throughout the workplace potentially
exposing the affected workers like yourself and your colleagues
and causing potential health problems.
Indeed you do have the right to see the exposure
or monitoring reports that have been performed by the employer.
Under the OSHA Access to Medical Records and Exposure Standard,
upon your request, the employer must make records available to
you. (For a summary of the OSHA Standard and a sample letter to
the employer, please go to the union's safety and health webpage,
www.cwasafetyandhealth.org, click onto the CWA occupational Safety
and health manual, and go to Chapter 6, “Tactics and Strategioes,”subsection B, “Access the
medical Records”).
Also, while viewing the union's safety and health
webpage, go the category “Fact Sheets” and click on Fact Sheet 20, “indoor
Air Quality and the Workplace.”
