Lake County administration building to fully reopen after asbestos removed
Lake County says offices in its Administrative Building will reopen Monday after asbestos was cleaned Friday and Saturday.
Some of the in the Administrative Building at 18 N. County St. in Waukegan, including the treasurer's and county clerk's offices as well as the basement, were closed Friday over concern about possible exposure to asbestos after a heavy piece of printing equipment was moved. About 100 employees were sent home.
The county said in a news release that a licensed asbestos abatement contractor worked Friday and Saturday to clean the area and test the air. The testing showed "safe levels for the affected area," the county said.
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 county said.
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 was 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, the county said.