TSA Agents Claim Unhealthy Working Conditions

CREATED Jul. 12, 2012

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  • The TSA received a complaint last week from one of their agents about the air quality because of construction work. The work lasted less than a week, and already the airport is cleaning out those vents. Video by kmir6.com

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Complaints of "deplorable conditions" at a security checkpoint have some airport workers worried about their health.
 Now they're asking the TSA to take action to address the concerns.

We're looking at a pair of complaints from TSA agents concerned about dust and possibly mold at a security checkpoint at Palm Springs International.
The TSA received a complaint last week from one of their agents about the air quality because of construction work.
The work lasted less than a week, and already the airport is cleaning out those vents.
Some TSA agents claim ventilation at a security checkpoint is making them sick.
"I was advised that one of our officers was even taken to urgent care as a result of dust from the construction going on at the checkpoint, and possibly the mold issue as well," said Chris Soulia, President of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 1234.
There was dust raised by a brief construction project, but is mold really an issue?
"This afternoon I did speak with the industrial hygienist the TSA had sent out, and he said upon his initial inspection, he does not believe its a mold issue," said Soulia.
TSA spokesman, Niko Melendez, says in May, they received one complaint about the air quality and immediate action was taken to clean the vents and ceiling panels in question.
In response to another complaint last week, the TSA sent an occupational hygienist to check it out and offered medical help to employees, only one person used it.
The American Federation of Government Employees president says he's heard complaints from six agents.
"If it is an issue, and I want to stress if it is, we're not sure yet, I'll wait for the occupational engineers to come back with their verdict, but if it is it will have a far-reaching impact," said Soulia.
The complaint was lodged with the TSA, who are tenants of the airport.
The airport says the TSA brought some facility items to their attention and they consider it a priority... We are committed to ensuring the work space they occupy is comfortable, safe and ergonomically efficient.
"I'm very happy from what I've seen, I won't know that's solved until I actually get the reports and forward those reports to our health and safety people and get them to sign off on it, but at least they are taking appropriate action and they have been very quickly on this, so I'm very pleased with that," said Soulia.
The lab results regarding air quality are expected back next week.
Palm Springs International Airport's executive director says this is a simple fix.
He says they're on top of it to ensure quality comfort for the TSA employees.