| Rash outbreak closes Beach elementary
school |
| By Raymond Bowe |
| Enterprise-Bulletin (Fri, February 16, 2000) |
| WASAGA BEACH - St. Noel Chabanel school was closed Thursday
after teachers raised concerns as to whether it was a safe working
environment. |
| A rash outbreak at the new elementary school in Wasaga
Beach is being investigated by the Simcoe County Health Unit, the
Simcoe-Muskoka Catholic School Board and specialists. |
| "The teachers have had concerns,"
said Diane Legg, communications officer for the Simcoe-Muskoka Catholic
School Board. 'We saw today (Thursday) as an opportunity to sit down
with the teachers, and a s a result, a Ministry of Labour inspector is in
to determine whether it is a safe workplace, even thought the health
inspector confirmed it was. |
| "We're taking all of the steps necessary." |
| Legg said the board had concerns that the rash may have
been caused by microscopic fibres in the air, but an industrial hygienist
on scene determined that was not the case. |
| A cleaning company was also in on Thursday to thoroughly
clean the duct system. The school has been closed to do as much
cleaning as possible to rid the school of the problem. |
| "We want to further explore possibilities and to take
all the steps to ensure a safe environment," said Legg.
"We're optimistic, and we hope to be open tomorrow (Friday). |
| Lorie Hutton, a concerned parent of a Grade 2 student at
the school, said she was first notified of the situation last week through
a letter sent home by the school's principal., although the school was not
closed until yesterday. Another letter was sent out on Monday
confirming that a health inspector had visited the school but they were
inconclusive in their findings. |
| Hutton had noticed a rash developing on her seven-year-old,
but then it would go away. |
| "It's like a sunburn on the neck, legs and arms,"
said Hutton. "To me it is not satisfactory to get a letter
telling me what's happing from the school." |
| She said that the rash has been ongoing since around
Christmas, and speculated it may be caused by the fiberglass in the
insulation of the recently-completed school. |
| Hutton had contacted the school, but was told her child
couldn't be affected because the rash was only affecting senior-grade
students, and her child is in a primary grade. |
| "There have been occurrences of a short term skin
irritation and they (the school) were perplexed," said Fran Gelder,
public health inspector and a Health Protection Services manger with the
Simcoe County Health Unit in Barrie. |
| After consulting school administration about the symptoms,
the health unit does not think it is communicable. |
| "The rash is localized to the forearms, and there is
no fever or respiratory symptoms," said Gelder. "It is
perplexing, and it is not always obvious what is causing it." |
| Inspectors are looking at everything from cleaning
compounds and art supplies to the overall air quality at the school, she
said. |
| "What we're seeing is a localized irritation, and at
this point we're looking at all different aspects," said Gelder.
"Initially, it seems to be at one end (of the school), but not
exclusively." |
| The health unit is calling it an "isolated
incident." |
| "Generally, there have been reports of a rash in
students and staff," said Legg. "The school has notified
our health and safety people here. |
| "The health unit has been out and determined it (what
is causing the rash) is nothing contagious or communicable." |
| The problem was narrowed down to the ventilation system in
the school, and an industrial hygienist investigated. Air sampling
has also ongoing and and results should be in by the end of the week. |
| "We want to reassure parents it is nothing major to be
concerned about," said Legg. "The school is taking the
regular steps, and I think things are well in hand." |
| Legg also said that the school is "very dry,"
which may or may not be compounding the problem. |
| St. Noel Chabanel, which opened in September, was not
closed immediately when the problem became apparent. |
| "With this type of rash, which is short lived, I think
the appropriate action has been taken," said Gelder.
"We feel there's no need to be alarmed. Lots of things can
cause rashes and it may take time to investigate." |
| "A few kids have developed a rash, but it goes
away," said acting - principal Joe Timmins. "When a
concern is raised it is taken very seriously, but there is no imminent
health threat. |
| "To my knowledge, a couple of teachers have raised
concern, and one teacher had a minor irritation." |
| The investigation continues. |
|
