Nurses say there is imminent danger after testing
shows toxic mould contamination at Foothills unit
Over 45 nurses and other Employees have filed Occupational Health and Safety imminent danger complaints on the mould-affected unit at the Foothills Medical Centre. The nurses filed the complaints after results came back from the testing by indoor air quality expert Karen Rollins that showed contamination of toxic moulds in several locations.
“Although the investigation has covered only about 10% of the floor area, I feel that there is enough evidence to warrant great concern,” Rollins said in her report to the United Nurses of Alberta (UNA). “There are toxigenic fungi present in several locations and nurses are reporting symptoms associated with toxigenic fungi. I am also concerned for the patients who receive dialysis and who are already immune compromised, and for any other staff who work on Unit 27. I recommend closing Unit 27 until a thorough investigation and remediation can be completed.”
Over 70 nurses from the dialysis unit have experienced health problems, ranging from bleeding noses to respiratory difficulties.
The imminent danger notices were filed with the Foothills Medical Centre this week. The CHR has responded to the nurses and other employees that it has determined there is no imminent danger on Unit 27. The next step is filing a complaint with Alberta Workplace Health and Safety, which must appoint an Occupational Health and Safety officer to investigate the Employees’ concerns.
“ No one should be working in this unit while this investigation and remediation is occurring,” says Foothills UNA President Michelle Senkow. “The Region should close the unit and keep all occupants out of harms way. The number of health complaints is rising every day.”
Under the Occupational Health and Safety Act the nurses have a right and responsibility not to work if, on reasonable and probable grounds, there exists an imminent danger to their health or safety. In their notice to the Health Region the nurses have indicated: “As an RN, I have professional responsibilities to my patients. Accordingly, I will continue to provide appropriate patient care in order that CHR can implement arrangements to provide for my patients’ care in a safe location.”
The nurses filed the imminent danger notice this week because of the new evidence from Rollins’ testing.
Karen Rollins had been on a joint Alberta Workplace Health and Safety technical committee that had commenced sampling earlier this year. Some of the samples had uncovered toxic mould but that committee was disbanded in August and access to the unit for the UNA expert representative for testing was stopped. A court decision on November 12 granted Rollins further access and the ability to take samples in conjunction with the action plan being implemented by the hospital. The latest results come from this renewed testing.
-30-
For more information: Michelle Senkow, President of UNA Foothills Local 237-2377
| 
