Staff exposed to lead, cadmium

Medical teams are headed to the prison to determine exposure levels.

THE VINDICATOR, YOUNGSTOWN, OH

ELKTON — A preliminary report issued by the United States Department of Justice, Office of Inspector General has revealed that staff at the Federal Correctional Institution here have been exposed to the dangerously toxic levels of cadmium and lead.

Bill Meek, the vice president of the American Federation of Government Employees, Council of Prison Locals 33, Local 607, announced the finding late Thursday.

The union represents employees at the prison.

Meek, of Wellsville, is one of about 250 staff members at the prison in Elkrun Township. He said there were about 50 other workers at the facility.

A multiagency investigation determined that people were exposed at levels 450 times that are allowable by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, he said.

The exposures took place while changing air handling filters in the ventilation system at the inmate work factory known as UNICOR.

UNICOR has operated a recycling operation that breaks down computer parts that contain the two metals.

Meek said staffers also were told by the federal government that medical teams will be coming into the institution in the near future to try to determine exposure levels.

The inspector general also is to issue a final report in the near future that may determine criminal negligence, he said.

A prison spokesman couldn’t be reached late Thursday.

The facility opened in 1997 without the current safeguards, Meek added.

Some staffers have unexplained medical problems, but there are no serious medical cases at this time.

Meek said, “First we need to make sure that our staff are treated properly in all aspects relating to this exposure. Secondly, we need to make sure that the people responsible for this exposure are held accountable.”

The tests results were done with protective equipment already in place that included respirators, protective clothing, ventilation, and booths where glass components are broken.

Meek said when the prison opened, the only tool used back then by staff was a hammer and a box full of glass tubes that were to be broken.

“When you think of this kind of thing happening, you think of it happening in a sweat shop. We work for the federal government; this should not have happened,” he added.