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Some employees at Legislature leave early due to varnish smell
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Posted on Aug 15 2011
A strong smell of varnish, which is used in wood finishing, sent home some employees at the Legislature upon recommendation by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Because of health concerns, OSHA recommended that members of the Legislature and all others at the Legislature with “respiratory, asthma, or any medical condition” that may be aggravated by the smell of varnish to immediately leave the building.
Contractors used varnish during the weekend to replace a termite-infested wall in the office of Senate President Paul Manglona (Ind-Rota).
Because the Legislature had to be locked up during the weekend, the smell of varnish got trapped inside the building over the weekend.
When employees reported for work on Monday, they were greeted by the strong smell of varnish, employees interviewed said.
Windows and doors at the Legislature’s building on Capital Hill were opened yesterday to free the building of the strong smell of varnish.
Varnish is used mostly in wood finishing, and is traditionally a combination of a drying oil, a resin, and a thinner or solvent. Varnishes are also applied over wood stains as a final step to achieve a film for gloss and protection.
Legislative Bureau administrative officer Patrick Seman sent out a memo to House Speaker Eli Cabrera (R-Saipan) and Senate President Paul Manglona (Ind-Rota) about OSHA’s recommendations.
Copies of the memo were sent to offices within the Legislature yesterday.
As a result, some employees went home early to escape the smell. But before the close of business hours yesterday, the smell of varnish was no longer in the air.
