January 11th, 2008

A group of workers that took care of the Tunnels beneath the Capitol settled their complaints against the Architect of the Capitol. The workers claimed that, after stating their working conditions were unsafe due to high levels of asbestos, the Architect retaliated.

A complaint by 10 “tunnel rats” brought against the Architect of the Capitol last year turned into a fight of finger pointing. The workers, who maintain the tunnels delivering water and steam to multiple buildings in the Capitol, said that their complaints about working conditions in the tunnels brought retaliation from their superiors. One of the main complaints about the tunnels was the high level of asbestos present, and which the workers were not protected against. After the complaints were filed, the workers began complaining that standard protection gear was taken away and that their jobs were threatened.

The high levels of asbestos in the tunnels are due to the walls deteriorating, causing the material to become exposed. Exposure to asbestos has been known to lead to respiratory illnesses including mesothelioma, emphysema and asbestosis. Mesothelioma is a type of lung cancer that is directly related to breathing in asbestos fibers, and is often terminal when detected. Some of the workers in the suit are already experiencing respiratory problems that may later turn into mesothelioma.