‘Toxic fumes’ force closure of Corbin employment, welfare offices

Some minor renovation led this past weekend to the removal of asbestos from the Corbin Office of Employment and Training, and the branch office will be closed until Thursday after employees began complaining of headaches, burning eyes stomach pain and other problems.

Kim Brannock, Public Information Officer for the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet, said Tuesday that the offices seven employees are currently working in offices, libraries and other places from London to Harlan during the closure.

"They are airing it out right now," she said. "Nobody had to go to the doctor or anything, but we just felt for their safety it was best to get them out of there. The plan is to reopen Thursday morning."

The problems stem from work done to the building over the weekend. A private contractor started removing carpet from the Employment and Training side of the building after business hours on Friday. Brannock said while the work was being done, officials decided that asbestos tile underneath the carpeting should be removed as well.

"There was really no problem or danger to the employees. The asbestos wasn’t the reason the work was being done, but we just decided since we were taking up the carpet we’d get rid of the tile as well," Brannock said. "The contractor went by EPA regulations and it was all done the way it was supposed to be done. It was only precautionary."

When the office reopened Monday, employees started reporting problems related to strange fumes – chest congestion, headaches, stomach pains, etc.

Brannock said a chemical used to removed the carpet, likely some type of solvent, is to blame.

The building is owned by the state of Kentucky. People typically use the office to apply for and receive unemployment benefits, as well as to look for work. It is split into two sections. The other side deals solely with welfare benefits. Brannock did not know if there were plans to remove carpet and tile from the welfare side of the building.

Workers were in the building until about 2:30 p.m. Monday before the decision was made to close.