TAYLORSVILLE, Ky. (WDBR) -- Complaints filed this week allege that rodent droppings, mold and dangerous holes in the floor make for an unsafe workplace for Spencer County, Ky., EMS employees.
Undercover video appears to substantiate the complaints about where those employees work and sleep while on duty, Spencer County EMS headquarters on Spears Drive in Taylorsville.
A community activist and an EMS worker say they filed safety complaints with the state labor cabinet late Wednesday afternoon. The labor cabinet could not confirm its receipt of complaints; it does not comment until after an initial inspection.
The pair, in separate complaints, say conditions inside the EMS headquarters have been filthy for weeks, if not longer.
Community activist Lawrence Trageser says Spencer County EMS employees are afraid to complain of filthy conditions.
His video shows one of several examples: rodent droppings on the floors of the kitchen and a storage area, near where medical supplies are stored.
"All of these boxes have medical supplies that, while they're encased in individual plastic wrapping, the potential is that the mice can defecate and urinate on those packages, thus creating a scenario of cross-contamination," Trageser said.
Trageser said workers asked him to record the conditions to video earlier this week.
Trageser and an EMS worker (who asked not to be identified) say they filed what are called "alleged safety or health hazard" complaints with the state labor cabinet in Frankfort.
Trageser also asked to the county health inspector for a look-around.
EMS headquarters resembles a small, manufactured home.
Another complaint from inside involves three, deep holes in moist and sagging floors.
Those might be especially dangerous for a medic awakened in the middle of the night for a call.
"What you're seeing is the top of the insulation, the bats that run in between the floor joists. So if you step on that, you will go 2 1/2 to 3 feet down to the rock that's underneath the house," Trageser said.
Trageser's video shows what appears to be mold on the walls and air registers, and what may be mold as a greenish area on another wall that's covered with a plastic sheet.
It's adjacent to a bed.
Complaints also include holes in the foundation, a broken step on a back deck, exposed duct work and piles of wet debris at the recycling center next door.
We made numerous calls to the county health department, the EMS director and the county judge-executive Wednesday afternoon and evening.
None were returned before 11:30 p.m. Wednesday.
The building also houses the county emergency management office, which also is headed by the EMS director.
Copyright 2012 WDRB News. All rights reserved.
