DHS workers return to building, union leaders question safety

November 20, 2009 8:22 AM

BATTLE CREEK, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - Employees are returning to work at the Department of Human Services in Battle Creek Friday and union leaders want to know why.

That office was shut down due to health concerns earlier this week.

We are told all employees are to report to a staff meeting at 8:30 Friday morning and will return to work, but not everyone is happy about that news.

The Department of Human Services shut down earlier this week for the fourth time since August. This, after workers complained something in the office was making them sick.

We are told the county, which owns the building, conducted three environmental studies and found nothing wrong with the air in the building.

But 17 workers have filed formal complaints, saying they have serious health problems and some say they are still reporting symptoms.

"Damage to their cornea, collapsed lungs, high blood pressure, infected puss-filled blisters in their nose and throat. They have restricted airway disease," said Teresa Garcia-Blom, UAW Rep.

Calhoun County officials tell us all tests have come back showing it is a safe work environment. More testing is planned, but for now workers are being told to come back to the building.