[Purposely] Hidden Health Hazards Affecting Ohio’s Soldiers
Part Two: Asbestos Exposure in Piqua
By Colonel Six, Defend Ohio News Group
Friday, December 4, 2020
Piqua, Ohio — The major health effects associated with asbestos exposure are related to the lungs and include: lung cancer, mesothelioma (a rare form of lung cancer), and asbestosis (a serious non-cancer lung disease). Several autoimmune conditions have also been linked to asbestos exposure, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and thyroid conditions such as Hashimoto’s Disease. The risk of developing harmful health effects increases with greater exposure to asbestos. Pre-existing breathing or lung conditions and smoking increases this risk. Disease symptoms typically develop 10 or more years after exposure, and it can be difficult to associate them with asbestos or service-connect them through the VA.
In 2010, the Ohio National Guard Environmental Office tested floor tiles from the Piqua Armory. The results came back that the floor tiles contained dangerous levels of asbestos. If undamaged and undisturbed, the tiles wouldn’t pose much of a health risk. The problem, however, is that the tiles were in high-traffic areas. Also, they were completely pulverized, with many walkways covered in crumbled tile remnants that had been reduced to no more than dust. Soldiers had been sweeping up the debris, unaware of the health hazards, for decades. The historic building, which houses the 1487th Transportation Company, the 1-134th Field Artillery, and OHARNG Recruiters, has been in operation for over 60 years.
LtCol Stephanie Steve, the OHARNG State Surgeon at the time of the asbestos discovery, contacted unit personnel to provide instructions on what to do prior to the abatement project. She recommended the unit sweep up any broken tiles before dragging the unit’s equipment out of the area. The unit rep told her that the tiles were mostly powder, and that they weren’t comfortable sweeping it up without PPE. She responded that respirators were the only breathing PPE that could filter the asbestos, but that the state couldn’t provide them because of risks involving individuals with potential heart issues. The unit rep, unsatisfied with that reply, was able to acquire basic face coverings at a local retail store for himself and the others involved in the cleanup and move.
One of those Soldiers has recently experienced serious medical issues consistent with asbestos exposure, but will have difficulties service-connecting these issues for several reasons: First, the amount of time between exposure and the symptoms appearing has been substantial. Second, and most significant, the Ohio National Guard says there are no records whatsoever of this abatement ever taking place! Colonel Six contributor “Big Sarge” shared documents he received through a Freedom of Information Act request submitted to National Guard Bureau. The request was forwarded to OHARNG, who responded with no records of the project. Call me crazy, but for a project that likely cost $100,000+ of taxpayer money to have no paper trail, it would seem that an investigation is warranted. Apparently ARIMS documentation isn’t required above the company level in the Ohio National Guard.
According to sources, this building also has a history of asbestos ceiling tiles and lead contamination. It’s highly unlikely that any of these hazards have been communicated to the Soldiers who had to work amongst these dangers to their health. It’s also extremely unlikely that the Ohio National Guard has conducted any medical monitoring of Soldiers exposed to the hazards. Some of these requirements are referenced in the footnotes of this article. We can only pray that the Soldiers assigned to this facility over the past 50+ years have received the appropriate medical care that they deserve. Hopefully, someday OSHA will step in and demand answers.
Like the other articles in this series, we’re looking for more first-hand information from Soldiers with knowledge of these hazards. If you were assigned to the Piqua armory, we’d love to hear your stories, especially if you’ve experienced lung, thyroid, autoimmune, or cancer-related conditions. Contact us at colonelsix@dongvideos.com .
- Six out.
Additional reading:
· AR 40-5 (The Army Public Health Program), paragraph 2-23: Commanders at all levels will
o Ensure that the health of all personnel in their command is promoted, sustained, and protected in all military activities through aggressive implementation of Public Health services.
o Provide hazard control and hazard communication.
o Ensure proper use of personal protective measures and protective clothing and equipment.
o Ensure Public Health communication.
o Implement worksite, occupational health, and environmental health surveillance.
o Implement occupational health, including ensuring that Soldiers and employees under their command who are enrolled in an occupational health medical surveillance program comply with the medical surveillance.
o Ensure Soldiers who were exposed to known or suspected occupational or environmental threats, report their exposure to medical personnel.
o Ensure that assigned PH personnel receive, enter, manage, report, and maintain all PH information in the appropriate systems of records.
· AR 40-5 paragraph 2-23: Army managers and supervisors at all levels will—
o Ensure that the health of all personnel under their supervision is sustained and protected in all Army activities through aggressive implementation of Public Health activities, to include:
- Training.
- Hazard control.
- Communication of hazards and health risks.
- Worksite OEH surveillance.
o Adhere to federal, state, and host nation statutory and regulatory laws, directives, licenses, and guidance governing OEH in garrison and during training exercises.
· DoDI 6055.01 DoD Safety and Occupational Health (SOH) Program excerpts:
o The DoD Components must comply with the federal regulatory standards distributed by OSHA at all nonmilitary-unique DoD operations and workplaces, and with regulatory requirements of part 20 of Title 10, CFR part 1040 and sections 1040.10 and 1040.11 of Title 21, CFR.
o While military personnel are excluded from the definition of “employee” in federal regulatory standards distributed by OSHA, the DoD Components must apply these OSHA standards to military personnel in nonmilitary-unique workplaces.
o Local-area Hazard Safety Briefing. Develop and keep current pertinent safety and health hazard briefings for unique local-area and workplace conditions and practices to include overseas locations. Provide this briefing to all DoD personnel before being exposed to the hazards. Provide applicable installation-related information to non-DoD visitors in conjunction with obtaining an installation visitor pass.
o Personnel Notification. Notify affected personnel of risks, risk mitigation actions planned and completed, their role in risk mitigation actions, and actions they can take to further reduce risks.
· DoD 6055.05-M
o Facilities with employees exposed to stressors at or above the action level (AL) are required to perform appropriate medical surveillance examinations if a suitable examination exists. The scope of these medical screening examinations shall be determined at the Service, command, or activity level based on the nature and extent of personnel exposed at or above the AL.
