Smithsonian Employee Files Asbestos Exposure Complaint

The Smithsonian Institute’s National Air and Space Museum is facing a federal complaint from an employee who claims the museum was negligent in containing asbestos-contaminated dust, putting employees at risk of illness.

The employee, 53 year old Richard Pullman, has worked at the museum as an exhibits specialist for 27 years. He has recently been diagnosed with asbestosis, an illness causing scarring of the lungs. In his complaint he states that the museum did not take the proper measures to inform workers of the presence of asbestos nor, did it educate employees on the proper handling of the dangerous mineral until March of 2008.

The Smithsonian admits that it has known of asbestos in the outer walls for 16 years. It blames miscommunication as the reason for employees not being aware of the carcinogen. Pullman said he was only made aware in March 2008 during a training session and then filed the complaint to the federal authorities. He also claims managers made disparaging remarks calling him the “asbestos police” and he has received lower performance evaluations as well demoted to a lower-level manager since the event.

Exposure to asbestos can cause a number of illnesses including asbestosis and malignant mesothelioma, a fatal lung cancer. Symptoms can take 20 to 50 years to appear, often too late for any effect treatment. Currently, there is no cure for either disease.

The Smithsonian was cited for violating three federal asbestos regulations in July of last year by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The museum denies having retaliated against Pullman and has no plans of removing the asbestos from the building claiming that if it is handled properly and left undisturbed it poses no dangers.

Museum spokeswoman Linda St. Thomas said Pullman still has the same salary and his position was changed due to department reorganization. She also said she is unaware of any other workers suffering from an asbestos-related disease. In February the museum spent $27,000 to clean up dust and conduct air monitoring tests.