Editorial: Sick buildings need a financial antidote

Friday, Feb. 7, 2003 | 4:57 a.m.

WEEKEND EDITION: Feb. 9, 2003

Gov. Kenny Guinn's proposed budget contains $764,000 to cover costs associated with addressing toxic mold, asbestos and lead problems in state buildings. Critics might scoff at spending such a sum in this time of record state deficits. That amount, however, is a bare-bones approach to a growing problem. Asbestos and lead problems have been known for years and abatement programs must continue. Mold emerged as a genuine health risk in both homes and the workplace in the mid-1990s.

The state recently paid a substantial workers' compensation claim to an employee of the Southern Nevada Correctional Center in Indian Springs. The employee, who developed lung problems because mold was present in her office, was forced to retire early and is now considering a lawsuit against the state. Meanwhile, 88 employees of the Division of Child and Family Services on West Charleston Boulevard are pressing a mold lawsuit against the state. To avoid more lawsuits, the state must prioritize maintenance at its buildings. And just as contractors no longer use asbestos and lead, the construction of new buildings should include designs that will minimize the threat of mold.