Lake County closes some offices while checking for asbestos

Lake County closed some of the offices in the Administrative Building at 18 N. County St. in Waukegan Friday over concern about possible exposure to asbestos after a heavy piece of printing equipment was moved.

About 100 employees who work in the basement, treasurer's office and county clerk's office were sent home, and the offices won't reopen until air testing determines it is safe, officials said in a news release.

Environmental experts have been called to clean the area and test the air. Work will be done over the weekend and the expectation is that the offices will reopen Monday, said Jenny Vana, chief communications officer for the county.

Several hundred employees remained at work in parts of the 10-story building that are not affected as they are not connected to the same air handler.

The concern arose when it was found Friday morning after the equipment was moved that floor tiles containing asbestos had been disturbed. The health risk is very low, according to the county's licensed asbestos abatement contractor.

Floor tiles are made of non-friable material, meaning it cannot be crumbled, pulverized, or reduced to powder by hand pressure and thus is less likely to release measurable levels of asbestos when disturbed. Asbestos is naturally found in the environment and health risks associated with exposure develop after many years of exposure to high levels, according to the contractor.