Gray Stone Day School cited for failure to tell employees of asbestos

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.