Investigation completed on HQ remodel

Glacier National Park officials say they've "learned lessons" from a "near miss" asbestos exposure to employees when the Park's headquarters building was remodeled in 2010.

Last fall, Swank Enterprises began the $986,000 project to upgrade the building's heating and cooling system, which was originally constructed in 1963.

Shortly after Swank began, some Park employees began complaining about dust and white particles on their desks and computers. It turned out Swank was supposed to test the building for asbestos but never completed the tests.

Work was halted on Nov. 18, and the building was tested for asbestos and other possibly hazardous materials. The tests indicated that no asbestos-containing material or other hazardous materials were released as a result of the construction work.

Additional testing of disturbed construction materials by the independent lab confirmed trace amounts of asbestos, lead, silica and non-asbestos fibers were present in the building, but in amounts considered routine and so small that they did not pose a health risk.

Because of the potential severity of the situation, and to help develop measures to prevent similar incidents in the future, the National Park Service's Intermountain Region Office sent a serious accident investigation team to Glacier Park to identify and document all relevant facts and findings surrounding the incident.

While no hazards were ever found in the building, the serious accident investigation team made some recommendations, including ensuring contractors comply with all testing requirements in contracts before work begins; ensuring staff has the tools and means to effectively make risk decisions regarding hazardous materials and ensuring employees know about possible hazardous materials in the Park.

Work on the building continued through the winter, and the building reopened in March. The building was left vacant until the work was completed.