For Immediate Release

Friday, Nov. 20, 2015

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Groveland Fire Department Responds to A.W. Chesterton After Employees Report Sickness from Construction Fumes

GROVELAND – Chief Robert Lay reports that the Groveland Fire Department responded to A.W. Chesterton Company yesterday when firefighters received a report that several employees were not feeling well after they were exposed to fumes from onsite construction.

Engine 1 and Squad 2 were dispatched to the business, located at 860 Salem St. in Groveland at 10:18 a.m. on Nov. 19. Trinity Ambulance simultaneously dispatched two Basic Life Support ambulances and one Advanced Life Support ambulance to the scene.

Upon arrival, eight employees expressed that they were feeling ill and having a headache, but all declined to be transported to hospitals.

A.W. Chesterton is in the process of expanding, and while construction workers were laying concrete compound on an adjacent building, weather conditions and airflow caused fumes to be pulled into the company’s main building. Groveland firefighters assisted with ventilating the building and fire department units left the scene by noon.

“Several employees experienced ill effects, so taking the greatest possible care, 911 was called,” said Linda Loreth, A.W. Chesterton’s Director of Environmental, Health and Safety. “The Groveland Fire Department not only responded, but took the extra care and attention to help us air out the building.”

Chief Lay praised the company’s emergency response procedures.’

“A.W. Chesterton is an excellent partner in the community and with the fire department,” Chief Lay said. “They were prepared for an emergency situation, and thankfully no one was seriously hurt.”

###