BALTIMORE (Map, News) - Regulators chalked up claims of powdered asbestos at a Baltimore City child welfare office as an act of retaliation by a fired contractor.

“The allegation is by a disgruntled worker,” said Brian Wilbon, interim director of the Baltimore City Department of Social Services, which oversees child welfare. “You can’t look at dust on a pipe and say, ‘That’s asbestos.’ It has to be tested to verify asbestos.”

Wilbon held a meeting with staff at the 1510 Guilford St. building Tuesday afternoon to answer questions and assure employees there was no danger.

“There were several inspections by the EPA and local inspectors, and nothing has been identified as asbestos,” he said.

Members of the AFSCME Maryland, the union representing state and higher education employees, made the allegations Monday after they said the building’s administration postponed and then canceled a meeting intended to address the claims.

Union officials could not be immediately reached for comment Tuesday.

According to the union release, an employee with a maintenance contractor alerted EPA officials to the presence of “active asbestos” on pipes in the building. 

An open letter from A&E Mechanical Services, however, said its employees made no such claims.

The allegations “could be the result of a disgruntled employee and ex-partner of A&E Mechanical which were terminated during the course of this job,” company President Jay Austin wrote in the letter.

An inspector’s note provided to The Examiner found no asbestos, only modern fiberglass insulation and “hard-mudded fittings” on pipes.

The city has been cited by Maryland Occupational Safety and Health for rodent problems and inspected for leaks. Union officials said there was no follow-up about those issues.

Wilbon said any suggestion that workers are being kept in an unsafe building is taken very seriously. “I would not have any staff working in a building that is not safe.”

khille@baltimoreexaminer.com