VA clinic workers: Rats, mold are making us sick

CHULA VISTA – Rat feces and mold are making people sick at the Veteran’s Affairs Clinic in Chula Vista, say whistleblowers, who claim their complaints have fallen on deaf ears.

“It’s just incredulous to me,” said a former health care worker at the clinic. “I guess I have the range of emotions, I’m disappointed, I’m hurt, I’m angry.”

A complaint was filed on October 24th with California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health.  That complaint cites an “Infestation of rodents and massive fecal deposits in clinic air ventilation system” and “Mold and fecal deposits on air filters.”  Attached photos show ductwork at the clinic with what appears to be a thick layer of rat droppings, with a dead rat in the foreground.  A second photo shows an air filter caked with debris.

“ There is also an incident where there was rat droppings, poop, on one of the health providers’ desks,” said a second whistleblower who still works inside the facility.

“We’ve always felt that there was something in the building that was making us sick,” the worker added.

Team 10 contacted Cal/OSHA which referred the complaint to the federal government because the alleged problems were reported at a federal entity.

A spokesperson for OSHA told Team10 inspectors did not visit the building, but said “The employer is taking pro-active steps” to resolve the matter.  Jose Carnivale said some of the ductwork has been replaced and that the mold levels are “not significant.”

The workers who contacted Team 10 say that’s not an acceptable answer.  “The reason we submitted the OSHA complaint is you’ve only cut that section, you haven’t explained the portal of entry. You’ve got pictures of a dead rodent in there and a tremendous amount of fecal droppings. That means there’s coming and going in that ventilation system.”

The whistleblowers claim this isn’t the first time the ventilation system has caused health problems.

In November 2012 workers complained of illness due to chemical fumes from construction activity at the facility, which the VA rents from a private owner.  Employees said they felt nausea, numbness, shortness of breath, and one worker suffered anaphylactic shock.

In 2013, more sickness was reported among staff at the clinic, including wheezing, coughing, headache, itching and dizziness.  A Cal/OSHA complaint says the problems arose when a private contractor  used cleaning chemicals in the clinic’s duct work. 

  “A couple of the nurses passed out,” said Vietnam Veteran Charles Rowland, who then made daily trips to the clinic for wound care.  “ A couple of the  staff people passed out and were removed. The VA came out eventually and closed the clinic,” said Rowland, who claims he wrote a letter to the director of San Diego’s VA, but got little satisfaction from the answers supplied.

Rowland told Team 10 he was speaking out to help the health care workers who he said have veterans’ best interest in mind.

The VA claims it takes all complaints  about air quality and “funny” smells  seriously.  Assistant Director Wade Ebersole told Team 10  a bad smell was reported October 16th at the clinic.  On October 17th he said an independent third party contractor conducted an air quality assessment.

The foul odor was coming from the duct, which Ebersole says was replaced immediately. The moldy filter was also replaced.

The VA’s Chief of Environment, Health and Safety said the rats’ point of access on the roof was discovered and sealed.  He said at no time did rats enter the clinic proper.  He also claimed the VA was never told of any rat droppings on a worker’s desk.

The VA admitted there have been problems in the past where construction fumes entered the ventilation system leading to complaints and at least one closure.

The VA leases the space from Dr. Hamid Mani, an ophthalmology specialist  whose practice is right next door.
Mani told us “These are all bogus complaints,” and that the VA didn’t find any environmental problems in his building.

Mani said the complaints to Team 10 stem from a civil lawsuit filed by 12 employees of the clinic who claim they have health problems because of the “sick building” he owns.

The civil litigation is ongoing.

The VA clinic won’t stay on Mani’s property much longer. Ebersole told Team 10  the VA is looking for a 31,000 square foot facility in the South Bay to service the area’s growing number of veterans.

VA clinic workers: Rats, mold are making us sick