Controllers File Ethics Complaint, Exploring Lawsuits

Representatives with the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) told Aero-News this week that controllers at Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW) filed an ethics complaint Thursday against certified industrial hygienists hired by the FAA, and urged the agency to immediately address a black mold outbreak in the tower that the union says is endangering controller and air passenger safety.

NATCA reports that controllers at DTW have battled the mold problem for more than a year... suffering through sicknesses, an evacuation, and pleas for help. Controllers are also in the process of filing lawsuits against remediation companies, who they say are not following industry standards for cleaning up the dangerous mess.

"We are running out of avenues here, and the safety of air traffic controllers and the flying public is at risk because of the FAA's systematic failures to deal with this situation," said Vince Sugent, DTWroit facility representative for NATCA, and one of those whose health has been affected by the mold. "We've won three claims with the Labor Department, we've had experts send recommendations on how to fix this problem, and we've asked the FAA to deal with this. Instead of acting, they've brushed us off and left the work to a contractor that ignores industry standards. All the while, we've got continuously ill controllers, which is a public safety issue."

Black mold -- a concern in many older buildings in damp environments -- was found on the fourth and ninth floors of the  tower at DTW during a routine Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) inspection in September 2004. Research into the possible health effects of mold outbreaks is a relatively new field, but recent studies show that adverse physical reactions to mold are likely caused by toxigenic spores that can directly inhibit cellular lung and immune system functions if inhaled.

NATCA reports that controllers have suffered polyps removed from the nose, cases of asthma, restricted air disease, lesions, blisters, numerous cases of laryngitis, hives, rashes, cysts and lung scarring caused by the mold.

NATCA maintains the FAA's failure to properly address this issue led to the forced evacuation of the DTW control tower in January 2005 during a blizzard, thereby endangering the safety of air travelers. During that situation, 10 air traffic controllers were forced to seek immediate medical attention.

The controllers union also says the FAA forced controllers to return to work without further testing of their facility. Similar situations occurred again in May 2005 and January 2006 -- and NATCA reports at least two controllers have been permanently injured and unable to work because of mold-related illnesses.

Responding to a recent formal request from airport workers for immediate action to fix the problem, NATCA tells ANN the FAA denied basic problems existed, and refused to take additional steps to address others.

"It's simply mind-boggling that after numerous controllers have fallen ill, and the facility was immobilized, the FAA still isn't taking the basic precautions that are standard in the workplace," said Sugent. "This is a highly dangerous situation that simply cannot be allowed to continue. I am living proof of how this has affected people."

To date, controllers at DTW have won three damage claims with the Department of Labor's Office of Workers Compensation Programs.

FMI: www.natca.org, www.faa.gov