
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, September 14, 1995                   TAG: 9509140064
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JAN VERTEFEUILLE
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

CLEANUP SENDS POST OFFICE FUMING

Workers and the public using the main post office in Roanoke may have smelled a product being used this week to remove asbestos tiles on the second floor, but the fumes were not dangerous, Postmaster Billy Martin said.

But Dan Dixon, president of the local chapter of the American Postal Workers Union, said the fumes were strong and believes notices should have been posted informing the public and employees of the cleanup.

Martin said a union representative was notified Monday that the cleanup would take place Tuesday and Wednesday and that it was up to that person to notify employees. The process was complete by Wednesday afternoon.

Workers were concerned because the solvent being used to remove the tiles contained a derivative of benzene, a carcinogen that can cause leukemia in adults and birth defects. Benzene is also a compound found in gasoline.

Martin said employees were told they could work in different locations if they were concerned, although Dixon said he believes only pregnant workers were notified. But he stressed that the amount of benzene in the solvent was far below the level considered harmful and that a company that specializes in such cleanups was called in.

The solvent also leaked through the second floor and dripped into the Roanoke Postal Employees Federal Credit Union below. One worker went home as a result, Martin said.

by CNB