Claim Contractors Failed To Properly Remove Toxic Substance

Tower controllers at Detroit Metro Airport (DTW) have filed a lawsuit in Wayne County (MI) Circuit Court regarding a nearly three-year-old problem of toxic black mold that has sickened many controllers, according to the National Air Traffic Controllers Association.

NATCA claims several controllers have missed significant amounts of work and continue to suffer breathing and other serious health problems. As ANN reported, DTW controllers filed an ethics complaint against the Federal Aviation Administration on the issue in May 2006.

The recent suit contains allegations contractors hired by the FAA failed to properly remove mold, provide a work plan for effective removal of mold contamination, have a certified industrial hygienist present during remediation, conduct proper testing including clearance testing, and to advise the FAA of the deficiencies in their efforts to remediate the mold. 

NATCA says the problem began in January 2005, with efforts to remove mold and correct a moisture problem in the tower. Controllers allege the contractors' actions in wiping down drywall with soap and water, not utilizing safety precautions to protect controllers during remediation and executing other work plans outside the scope of industry standards, protocols and guidelines have not corrected the problems, thereby harming controller health.

The complaint also alleges that toxic mold remains in the building.

The parties named in the suit are MIS Corporation, Coach’s Catastrophic Cleaning & Restoration Services, Inc., Tillotson Environmental Occupational Consulting, Clayton Environmental Consultants, Bureau Veritas North American, Inc., Jacobs Facilities, Inc., Safe Technology, Inc., and Applied Environmental, Inc.

The air traffic controllers are represented by two Michigan law firms: Dodd B. Fisher, PLC, of Grosse Pointe, and Mancini, Schreuder, Kline & Conrad, P.C., of Warren. 

"The air traffic controllers at the Detroit Metro Tower continue to be exposed to toxic microbial and are suffering significant health problems," said Vince Sugent, Detroit Tower NATCA Facility Representative. "The controllers are also concerned with reprisal for coming forward."

FMI: www.natca.org