Asbestos-Related Workers' Compensation Claims Filed at U-Montana Campus

Missoula, MT (WorkersCompensation.com) - Surprisingly, every day as many as 1.3 million people in the United States are exposed to a rather significant amount of asbestos in the workplace, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Recently, some of the employees at the University of Montana experienced this group of naturally occurring minerals that are resistant to heat and corrosion, in one of their buildings on campus.

As of this month the school has had more than 30 asbestos-related employee claims over worries about contamination that was discovered at McGill Hall. All of the claims may include student workers, faculty or staff. 

According to McGill Hall Asbestos Identification and Testing Timeline on the college’s website, on December 13, 2018, a facilities technician making a routine repair to an oil valve observed white powder and immediately called an asbestos manager. The area was contained, once the asbestos manager confirmed the presence of asbestos.

Even though a certified industrial hygienist and University officials have stated that results show that there are no detectable levels of asbestos in the air, within the McGill Hall center there had reportedly been concentrations of asbestos on surfaces as much as 80 times higher than the federal threshold cleanup. The university evacuated all of McGill Hall, affecting some 70 staff, faculty as well as students.

“We are offering pulmonary function tests for those employees who wish to proceed in order to establish baseline testing,” said Michelle Wheeler, the UM Workers’ Compensation Manager. “This is being done under a reservation of rights at this time.” She also told WorkersCompensation.com that this is not the first time that the University has received claims for possible asbestos exposure from employees.

A surface test done at the Craighead Child Care facility located south of the campus detected significantly lower levels of asbestos. Craighead has since been moved to another location on campus.

Officials and consultants for the University have emphasized that surface asbestos does not draw a parallel to a health hazard.  A consultant has said that mucous generally washes asbestos right out of the digestive tract, but if it happens to remain can cause lesions. The carcinogen causes lung cancer, asbestosis, and mesothelioma if inhaled, but dormancy periods can run from at least 10 to 40 years.

University of Montana’s Vice President of Operations and Finance, Paul Lasiter in a statement to the University declared “Regardless of where the funds are coming from, we're committed to making McGill Hall a safe place for our employees and students to work and learn.” Lasiter sent an email out before learning that the Craighead child care center had to be relocated.

WorkerCompensation.com tried to contact Lasiter to find out if cost estimates for work in McGill were available, but did not receive a response before press time. A spokeswoman for the University, Paula Short said that UM from here on out will make every asbestos test result available on the University's website and will continue to consult with a wide range of experts and other assistants in the health of the preschoolers and other occupants of the building in the future.

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