Metro 911 Dispatchers Want Safe Building

Metro 911 dispatchers say they are scared to return to a building with a history of alleged chemical leaks.

Late last month, a total of 15 workers went to the hospital after smelling fumes. Dispatchers say doctors found 14 cases of toxin exposure and one case of chemical burns in the eyes.

After the incident, the Emergency Communication Center moved operations to a backup site.

Today workers presented the center’s operations chief with a petition signed by almost three-quarters of the dispatchers. 

Thom Brown says it’s no coincidence that he’s had four sinus operations over his 18-year career at the center.

“We have a lot of people who come to work here and for unknown reasons seem to have sinus problems and upper respiratory problems since they’ve started working here. Now, you can’t explain it. You know, we’ve had people say their doctors can’t explain it other than you started working here and all a sudden now, there is something wrong with you.”

Metro departments have inspected the center finding no evidence of a chemical leak.

Brown says he and his fellow workers want written reports from a credible third-party source.