PORT ANGELES – Clallam County employees in the basement of the courthouse in Port Angeles are awaiting the results of tests for mold.
Samples of the air and carpet in the basement were taken on Thursday.
“We’re kind of in a holding pattern, waiting for test results to get back,” said Joel Winborn, county division manager for parks, fairgrounds and facilities.
The basement-wide testing came after a detection dog found mold in one of the Health and Human Services offices in late May.
The health department received complaints from its basement employees of headaches, respiratory problems and other symptoms that could be tied to mold.
Winborn brought the dog to check offices in late May.
“In the basement, there’s always some area of concern,” said Iva Burks, director of Health and Human Services.
The dog and a follow-up test revealed mold in one office.
The office was emptied and the employee relocated.
Then, employees in other departments in the basement asked to have their offices checked as well.