Salem, OR-Officials have cancelled inmate visiting and shut down two separate offices at the (OSCI) after a chunk of ceiling insulation material was discovered on the floor of a mechanical room, on Wednesday, January 13, 2010. It is feared that asbestos may have traveled through the heat-dispensing ventilation system into the visiting room and offices of the 891-inmate prison, as reported by that Statesman Journal.
Until air-quality tests are completed, it is unknown if anyone was exposed or how many people may have potentially been exposed to the human-carcinogen. The closure of the visiting area and offices were prompted after an OSCI employee discovered a mass of ceiling insulation material lying on the floor of the mechanical room, which houses the plumbing and heating systems. The fallen insulation reportedly measured 2-feet by 3-feet. Previous testing in the mechanical room proved the presence of asbestos, which has officials concerned about the fallen insulation and possible exposure. When the insulation fell to the floor it may have released asbestos fibers into the air, which potentially could have traveled through the ventilation system into other rooms of the prison. The inmate visiting room and the two offices reportedly receive their heat directly from the affected ventilation system. It is unknown how long the insulation was lying in its damaged state on the floor; the last time an OSCI employee was in the mechanical room was a few weeks ago. Licensed asbestos consultants are at the scene and performing necessary testing.
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