CROMWELL – a number of Town Hall employees are concerned about toxic fumes that spread through the building from a floor refinishing job in the gymnasium attached to the Town Hall.The floor was refinished over this past weekend using a commercial polyurethane, which contains benzene, among other compounds.Reportedly, a building maintenance supervisor rejected suggestions from his staff that the building be ventilated Sunday, saying the Parks and Recreation Department, which manages the gymnasium, was responsible for taking action.The building remained unventilated until it opened for business on Monday. by then the distinctive aroma had permeated throughout the building.as the week progressed, many offices closed their doors to try to keep the odor at bay.“It’s like working in a Sharpie,” one exasperated staff member said Wednesday.“We’re going to be ventilating the building over the weekend,” first Selectman John M. Flanders said shortly after 3 p.m. Wednesday. “We were replacing the gym floor, which we needed to do.”The smell was much less severe on Wednesday than it had been earlier in the week, the first selectman said.“Inconvenience is inherent with progress,” Flanders added.The union that represents Town Hall employees has filed a complaint with the state Occupation Safety and Health Administration, said union Vice President Patti Kratochvil. The United Public Service Employees Union represents 30 employees in the building.Employees researched a material safety data sheet for the product used in the gym, PolyTurf moisture cure urethane coating.The MSDS overview says, “Vapor harmful; may affect the brain or nervous system, causing dizziness, headache or nausea. Causes skin and eye irritation. Causes respiratory tract irritation. may cause allergic skin reaction. may cause allergic respiratory reaction.”besides being concerned for their own health and safety, a number of employees were particularly concerned for the health of senior citizens who also use the building.and the MSDS references to the effects of overexposure to PolyTurf via inhalation does give cause for concern for people with chronic lung conditions or allergies.“Possible irritation of the respiratory system can occur causing a variety of symptoms such as dryness of the throat, tightness of the chest, and shortness of breath. may cause central nervous system depression characterized by the following progressive steps: headache, dizziness, staggering gait, confusion, unconsciousness or coma. Allergic conditions can occur in certain individuals with high sensitivity to isocyanates; this may result in asthma-like symptoms. may cause respiratory sensitization, may cause lung damage.”The federal OSHA web site (at osha.gov.) says of isocyanates, “Health effects of isocyanate exposure include irritation of skin and mucous membranes, chest tightness, and difficult breathing. Isocyanates include compounds classified as potential human carcinogens and known to cause cancer in animals. The main effects of hazardous exposures are occupational asthma and other lung problems, as well as irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, and skin.”The employees checked with the union representative, who urged any worker who feels they were adversely affected by the fumes to “file a report of first injury as a precaution.”as of Wednesday afternoon, Kratochvil said the union had not heard from either the first selectman or the town’s human resources director.Jeff mill can be reached via e-mail at jmill@middletownpress.com.
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