The state is obligated to provide safe and healthy environments for its employees and the citizens they serve. State employees are working to achieve a quality of life for themselves and the citizens of Maryland. Unfortunately, the environmental conditions of the buildings they serve our community in is impairing their health. There is a pattern of acute health conditions linked to the time employees spend in state center buildings. Employees have been diagnosed with an illness, including but not limited to vertigo, chronic ear infections, allergies, asthma, and sinusitis that have been associated with the time spent in their workplace.

The most recent case of bed bugs in the 201 Bldg., and 1510 Gulford Ave., sadly, are a common occurrence within state buildings. Frequent sightings of mice droppings, mice, roaches, asbestos particles, and mold have become a way of work-life for state employees. These conditions are shameful and should not have a place in one of the wealthiest states in America.

To further ignore poor conditions of state buildings, jeopardizing the health and well- being of the public will exacerbate the problem. We call on governing officials to declare these buildings SICK BUILDINGS and take these immediate actions to better conditions until long term solutions are determined:

• Completion of professional pest control evaluation and needs assessment of
entire buildings
• Release of full reports from all prior air testing in the past 24 months
• Completion of independent air testing of entire buildings
• More specified scope of services determined by requested assessments
included in contracts for pest control and building maintenance
• Current reports and assessments of building ventilation systems
• Regular (to be negotiated by union and management) cleaning of ventilation
systems/ duct work and replacement if needed
• Implementation of proper accommodations for employees such as relocation,
tele-work, or administrative leave without hesitation when IAQ issues arise
• Implementation of a claims process if an employee contracts bed bugs at work
their workplace