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Legionnaires' Bacteria Found in State Building Water
14 Jul
Summary
- Legionella bacteria discovered in Lodi Department of Industrial Relations building water.
- Union reports similar health and safety issues across multiple state agencies.
- Remediation efforts are underway with property management, state says.
The Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) building in Lodi has a confirmed presence of Legionella bacteria in its water system. This bacteria can lead to severe pneumonia and was found in pipelines supplying various fixtures. The discovery comes as California state workers report ongoing health and safety issues upon returning to their offices.
SEIU Local 1000, the union representing state employees, states that this is not an isolated incident. Union president Anica Walls reported similar problems across multiple state agencies, including asbestos at a Caltrans office and bed bugs at the Department of Education. These issues cause both health concerns and financial strain for employees.
The DIR acknowledged the situation, stating the Lodi building is privately leased. They are actively communicating with property management to implement remediation measures. The department emphasized that Legionella is commonly found in building water systems and that employee health and safety are paramount. They also noted the absence of specific federal and state OSHA standards for Legionella levels in building water, though general workplace safety requirements apply.
San Joaquin County confirmed they were not contacted about the Lodi building's water issue and stated there is no requirement for such a report to the county's public health department. The union vows to address these recurring member concerns to ensure a safe working environment.
