Workers at the Columbus Museum of Art in Ohio have complained to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) about headaches, nausea, and dizziness thought to be caused by a chemical sealant used on gallery floors.
As reported Tuesday by the Columbus Dispatch, the museum used the floor sealing product GT 275 during recently commenced renovation work on its Ross building, and employees have complained about fumes throughout the institution in the weeks since work began. A former gallery associate told the paper that several museum workers have called in sick and that the “maintenance team gave the workers information on the sealer and handed out N95 masks.”
According to the Dispatch, which cited safety information from the manufacturer of GT 275, “Inhalation of the sealer can adversely affect the central nervous system, causing symptoms like drowsiness, dizziness, headache, nausea and ‘lowering of consciousness.’ Acute overexposure via inhalation can cause respiratory distress, confusion and unconsciousness.”
The product is supposed to be used outdoors or otherwise in well-ventilated areas, and instructions for use include words of caution: “Do not breathe dust/fume/gas/mist/vapors/spray.”
Eric Clift, the former gallery worker who spoke with the Dispatch, said, “I think part of some people’s concerns is that if they stopped work today and gave us all that information today we can’t un-breathe in what we’ve already ingested and who knows what the long-term ramifications for that could be for particular people.”
According to the paper, Clift claimed that the museum remains open during renovations and “a tour for young babies and their caregivers occurred on one of the days when the fumes were the worst.”
Reached for comment by ARTnews, a spokesperson for the Columbus Museum of Art said, “The museum is aware of and takes seriously the concerns related to recent renovation work. We are actively reviewing conditions and responding to the OSHA inquiry. The safety of our staff and visitors is our top priority, and we will continue to take any necessary steps to ensure a safe environment as work continues.”
