Paint Fumes Make 15 Workers Sick

Fifteen employees inside a three-story building became ill Thursday when paint being sprayed on the roof sent fumes through several open air-conditioning ducts, authorities said.

About 30 employees evacuated several business suites in the building at 1919 William St. after fumes were detected about 11 a.m., said Sandi Wells, a Ventura County Fire Department spokeswoman.

Fifteen people were treated at the scene, and three of them were taken by ambulance to Simi Valley Hospital for further evaluation, Wells said.

County hazardous materials specialists determined that roofing company workers had been spraying an asphalt-based aluminum paint onto the roof minutes before people started feeling ill.

Wells said it was unclear whether the roofers failed to tell businesses to shut air-conditioning ducts or whether the businesses failed to do so. The building has no windows, she added.

Diana Grace, an employee at the American Red Cross’ East Valley district office in the building, said she was never told to shut the air ducts.

“It smelled like paint or paint thinner. I was getting a headache, but I kept thinking it was like when you paint at home and it evaporates after a while,” Grace said.

The building houses a first-floor garage and two floors of individual office suites, including separate mortgage and funding companies. No medical offices or other potentially sensitive services are at the site.

After the roofers voluntarily ceased their work, firefighters and hazardous materials workers opened all the building’s doors and ran air-conditioning units on high levels to air the place out, Wells said.

Employees were allowed to return to work about 1 p.m.