WATERFORD NURSING HOME SAYS NO ASBESTOS DETECTED IN AIR

Waterford — Greentree Manor, ordered by the state to evacuate 69 residents from its nursing and rehabilitation facility last week because of asbestos concerns, said Friday that air quality tests show there is no risk of exposure to the material.

In a statement released Friday, Greentree said Mystic Air Quality Consultants has been at the facility since March 9 and the results of the tests show “no risk from asbestos fibers.” Residents will be able to return once Greentree receives approval from the state Department of Public Health. A timeline for that return is not known.

DPH ordered Greentree to evacuate the residents March 9 because of the possibility that asbestos tiles were being disturbed during unannounced renovations. DPH said the renovations were done without asbestos testing and without first notifying the agency as required by law.

Asbestos-containing material is not a health risk unless it is disturbed by activities such as renovations. If disturbed, asbestos can release fibers that can cause lung diseases.

“Throughout this process we have worked closely with DPH on our common goal to protect the health and welfare of our residents. We look forward to working with them to get our residents back to Greentree Manor as soon as possible,” Dr. Robert Sbriglio, the chief medical officer for Greentree Manor, said in a statement.

DPH, in a March 10 order, mandated that Greentree Manor abide by a list of orders before it could allow the evacuated residents to return. That list includes covering concrete floors, posting signs, conducting asbestos tests throughout the building, installing negative air scrubbing machines and providing DPH with a full renovation plan for the facility.

DPH spokesman Christopher Boyle said once DPH is notified that the required work has been completed, a team will be dispatched to complete an inspection of the site.