Crews have worked during the weekend at the U.S. Geological Survey to complete the phase of a remodeling project that sent three employees to the hospital after a chemical solvent made them ill.
National Geospatial Technical Operations Center (NGTOC) Director Kari Craun said the chemical that made people ill was not among the chemicals the contractor said would be utilized in the renovation.
Craun said the construction crew filled out a Material Safety Data Sheet that lists all the chemicals to be used, and it was not on the list. Craun said when she learned this, the crews were made to stop their use immediately.
She said the construction crew, which she could not name because it’s been contracted through the General Services Association, then used an alternative solution to remove the adhesives.
The NGTOC director said the construction has been continuing for months.
While workers will complete this phase of the remodeling this weekend, she expects the project will continue into February.
Craun said a new 15-year lease was signed recently, and since that lease, the federal offices at the USGS have been getting some much-needed renovation. The center now contains six agencies. Employees of those agencies have increased the building population at 1400 Independence to about 200 employees.
