Ill From Portsmouth Naval Shipyard But Ignored

My name is Janet Stevens and I am employed at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. I am a GS 9 Tech Info Specialist and have been an employee for 16 years. I worked in this flooding moldy basement for eight years then above for three years with holes in the floor and an open freight elevator.

I started with hives, had sinus surgery then progressed to asthma that I have never had in my life. Every building they put me in I reacted as they are all old moldy brick buildings with ceiling leaks. The ONLY option given to me was to stay out on administrative leave if I PROMISED to apply for retirement disability. This is 40 percent of my pay. I am a 39 year old single mother and Workmen’s Comp threatened and insulted me then closed my case. There have been 21 buildings closed there due to this.

I have been fighting for months to work at home as I am housebound from my hypersensitivity to mold with air cleaners and a 3m mask outside. I suffer joint pain in moldy weather so bad I lay in bed and cry for days.I have also become Multiple Chemical Sensitive as well as allergic to most foods.There was an Environmental Report done a year before I became sick that explained what molds there is and how dangerous it was to human health. I was told it was not addressed until I became sick as it was the end of the fiscal year period and they were busy. I have all paperwork documenting.

NAVSEA Instruction 12620.1A states it is MANDATORY to have a telework policy in place. The Portsmouth Shipyards answer to that is we have no policy and there will be none. No one is eligible.

Ill From Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, But Ignored

I have asked for help from government officials, my own union and NAVSEA and have gotten no where. I heard they want me gone so as not to deal with me and to hide the mold problem as BRAC commission is coming around. I am not stupid, I have high clearance and I know lies and cover ups when I here them. HRO writes lies to the Senator and OWCP to help close my case. Well, it worked. I was shut off.

I STRONGLY believe this needs to be investigated and I will fight for my job until that paper comes in. How can I live, as a single mother who gave her career to the Shipyard on 40 percent of my pay? And cover ups? It seems like the government is above all and no one else counts.

Is this something you can help me with?
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Janet A. Stevens
South Berwick, ME

Author: Carolyn Willbanks