Waterford nursing home evacuated over asbestos concerns, health officials say

WATERFORD — The state health department says a local nursing home has been evacuated after failing to comply with asbestos-related regulations.

The state Department of Public Health ordered the evacuation Thursday of 69 residents from Greentree

Manor, a skilled nursing facility in Waterford.

“DPH has determined that the condition of both units poses an imminent danger to the health, safety and welfare of the residents there, and all work has been halted,” DPH Commissioner Manisha Juthani said in a statement.

The health department said officials learned the facility began renovations to its South Center and North Center nursing units on Thursday without notifying DPH in advance, as required by state regulation.

During those renovations, flooring was removed from the facility without being tested for asbestos, health department officials said.

After learning of the alleged oversight, health department officials said they were at the facility Thursday night to “ensure the safe transfer of the residents.”

The evacuation was completed early Friday morning, the department announced Friday.

The health department said the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection requires facility owners or operators to inspect facilities for asbestos before renovations.

“Contractors must not start any renovations where asbestos is present and may be disturbed by the renovation without providing an asbestos abatement notification to DPH,” health department officials said.

The department said it issued “a finding of Immediate Jeopardy,” which means officials found the situation harmful and saw “the immediate need for it to be corrected to avoid further or future serious harm.”

Before reopening, Greentree will need to meet conditions set by the state health department, including asbestos testing and other remediation efforts, officials said.