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Thursday, June 26, 2008 8:22 AM
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By Sarah Nagem
snagem@salisburypost.com
MISENHEIMER — The state has cited Gray Stone Day School for being lax about determining the presence of asbestos-containing materials in its building and informing its employees.
Gray Stone, which is on the campus of Pfeiffer University, must pay a $350 fine to the N.C. Department of Labor.
The Harris Science Building, where Gray Stone is housed, contained asbestos, a toxic material, in thermal insulation on steam piping and also in sprayed-on fireproofing material, according to a citation report from the Department of Labor.
The building also contained lead paint, but the school was not cited for that, according to the report.
The state had received a complaint about the building, said Paul Sullivan, supervisor of the Bureau of Compliance for the Department of Labor.
The state determined that asbestos-containing materials were in the building, Sullivan said.
Gray Stone also received a citation, which carries no monetary fine, for not having a "written hazard communication program," the report states. Employees exposed to chemicals must have access to information about potential hazards.
Another citation, which has no fine, stems from a lack of employee training about hazardous materials.
Employees should have been trained on the handling of acetic acid, iodine, aluminum oxide and dry-board cleaner, according to the report.
Pfeiffer is now in the process of training its employees about potential environmental hazards, said Natasha Suber, director of communications for the university.
Pfeiffer also has plans to assist in training Gray Stone staff, she said.
"If there's asbestos present, the areas of concern will be addressed," Suber said.
The building contained lead paint on door and window paint trim, stair rails and exterior wood, the report states. The walls did not have lead paint, according to the report.
Citations for lead paint occur only "when there is airborne exposure to the lead," Sullivan said.
Suber said Pfeiffer contracts with two environmental companies that regularly test the buildings for environmental hazards.
"We check our buildings regularly," Suber said.
Suber also said the university will take necessary steps to comply with state standards.
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Gray Stone's Fault? : Monday, July 07, 2008 4:52 PM
Gray Stone does not own the building and this comes as no real shock to a current Gray Stone student. The Harris Building is very old and has had no significant changes in many years. Pfeiffer should be completely at fault. Gray Stone neither owns the building nor has it completely to itself.
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Concerned parent of student at Gray Stone : Friday, June 27, 2008 9:40 AM
It's bad enough that the employees weren't warned about the condition of the school, but it's worse that our children who are and were students at the school were NEVER informed.
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Possible Litigation? : Thursday, June 26, 2008 2:28 PM
It sure looks like a real good opportunity for some legal action here against Gray Stone. Not only from current and former staff, but from all past and present students. Also, how much of this is Pfeiffer's responsibility? It is their building after all, and by allowing the school to remain in that location only compounds the issue. What a can of worms this could end up being!
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: Thursday, June 26, 2008 1:32 PM
I don't think Gray Stone owns the buildings - the college does.
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What about the children? : Thursday, June 26, 2008 12:55 PM
What about the children that attend Graystone Day School that have been or are being exposed to this?
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Andrew McCombs, GSDS Class of 2006
What about the students? : Thursday, June 26, 2008 12:49 PM
Um...aren't they forgetting about something else...like the STUDENTS who spent four YEARS there! That explains a lot, now that I think about it. I wouldn't be surprised if many GSDS students were exposed to high levels of both asbestos and lead, and the related health problems they cause go undiscovered until later in life. When I think off all of the leaking pipes, falling ceiling tiles, and falling insulation and ceiling coverings, it makes me think about just how much we may have been exposed to without our knowledge. I'm going to say that it's quite possible that some student's unexplained respiratory and nervous system problems are directly related to the conditions we were exposed to constantly. Think of all of the peeling paint that fell behind the radiators and was subsequently burned off and released into the air of the classrooms. I personally helped clean several leaking pipes, which included removing water-damaged insulation that is reported to contain asbestos. The students removed and disposed of broken ceiling and floor tiles, and often dusted windows and surfaces that were covered with chipped lead paint. We didn't think about it then, but we should think about it now, especially since six years-worth of students have passed through the building. We need to determine whether we are at greater risk of disease because of our attendance to GSDS. Please forward this information to any current and past GSDS students. Thanks, Andrew McCombs GSDS Class of 2006
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