NIPSCO worker contracts disease

Union says utility is doing little to warn other employees
 

Spokesmen for the union representing NIPSCO workers say at least one employee of the R.M. Schahfer Generating Station in Wheatfield has been diagnosed with Legionnaires' disease.

Jim Blythe, president, and Dave Chlebek, vice president, of United Steel Workers District 7, Local 12775, say the disease was positively identified through a blood test.

Kris Richmond, grievance committeeman at Schahfer, said the company sent the employee to a doctor for a test, and it was positive.

When contacted late Thursday afternoon, NIPSCO spokesman Tom Cuddy said it was too late in the day to respond to the matter, but promised to investigate and get back to The News-Dispatch.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Legionnaires' disease is caused by the bacteria Legionella. Naturally found in the environment, it grows best in warm water and often is found in cooling towers, hot tubs, hot water tanks, large plumbing systems or parts of air-conditioning systems of large buildings. It does not seem to grow in car or window air-conditioners.

Legionnaires' disease is not contagious from person to person, the CDC reports. People usually contract the disease by breathing in mist or vapor contaminated with the bacteria. A person might breathe in the bacteria from an improperly cleaned and disinfected hot tub, for example.

Blythe wants to know more about NIPSCO's testing for Legionella and about hygiene habits.

“We'd like to investigate the use of biocides - chlorine and bromine -at the cooling towers,” he said.

“We'd also like to look at the frequency for Legionella - How often does NIPSCO test and how often do they find the Legionella?

“During the week of Oct. 16, water testing analysis determined that the Unit 17/18 cooling tower water (at Schahfer) was contaminated with Legionella bacteria,” Chlebek said.

Both Chlebek and Richmond say NIPSCO officials failed to warn employees of the contamination.

“About three weeks ago, a supervisor said the water tested positive. They say wear a respirator and a paper suit,” Richmond said. “The trouble is, the word doesn't get out everywhere

“When (union officials) met with the company and we asked when they would be notifying the rest of the station about the contamination, they didn't have an answer.

“They never told me, and I'm the grievance committeeman,” Richmond said. “I'm the one who is supposed to represent the workers.”

Richmond does not know how often the waters in the cooling towers at the Michigan City and Bailey plants are tested. Because both of those are nearer to populated areas than is the Schahfer plant, he wonders whether the public could be endangered by contaminated vapors and water droplets. The CDC Web site documents outbreaks of Legionnaires' disease traced to vapor coming from cooling towers, although none of those was in Indiana.

According to the CDC, Legionnaires' disease comes in two distinct forms. One, known as Pontiac fever, is a milder form of the disease with no pneumonia associated with it. Symptoms of Pontiac fever include fever, headaches and muscle aches, and usually go away without treatment.

Legionnaire's disease causes symptoms much like other forms of pneumonia: high fever, chills and a cough. Some patients also have head and muscle aches. An X-ray is required to diagnose the pneumonia. Usually, it can be successfully treated with antibiotics, but people with compromised immune systems, from chemotherapy, HIV or advanced age, as well as individuals with pre-existing pulmonary conditions such as asthma, may not respond as quickly or as readily. Some victims do die. The CDC lists the mortality rate as between 5 and 30 percent.

Chlebek, who chairs the union's health and safety committee, said, “(NIPSCO) is not providing a healthy and safe working environment.”

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