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Laidlaw Drivers Still Fuming Over School Bus Fumes
Nov 17, 1999 --
As much as a gallon of motor oil is spewed into the atmosphere in the course of a school year by a typical diesel school bus, according to engineers at Racor, a Modesto, CA firm that maufactures air and oil filtration systems for diesel engines.
Some of the oil drips onto the pavement and is flushed by rain into storm sewers and into surrounding bodies of water. The remainder enters the atmosphere, and some of it undoubtedly enters the interior of school buses, subjecting drivers and passengers to fumes.
"It seeps out around the edges of the dog house," explained Racor spokesperson Bill Kirby, referring to the engine hatch cover between the driver and the front door on most school busses. "The seals deteriorate over time, letting the fumes seep in. And there's a slight vacuum effect every time the door opens, sucking fumes into the interior of the bus."
Kirby said that fumes entering bus interiors this way could be responsible for a rash of complaints from school bus drivers around the Puget Sound area who say they are being made ill by the fumes.
Northshore School District is testing a Racor blow-by device designed to collect crankcase exhaust and send it back through the engine for more complete combustion and reduced emissions. Northshore, which includes Bothell and several surrounding communities, owns their own fleet of 120 buses.
Maintenance supervisor Brian Egan said when a driver complains about bus fumes, the bus is taken out of service and thoroughly tested before it goes on the road again.
"I take every complaint seriously," Egan said. "They live on those buses."
At the Lake City Terminal for Laidlaw, which provides most of the school busses for Seattle public school students, at least 30 of the 120 buses have been identitified as hazardous by drivers. Several Laidlaw drivers told The Seattle Pressthat if a driver complains about fumes, the driver is switched to another bus and the bus is kept on the road with another driver.
Several Laidlaw drivers picketed the terminal one day last week to show support for their shop steward, Ron Zier, who was suspended by the company for 10 days shortly after an article quoting him appeared in The Seattle Press.Laidlaw charged Zier with driving a route that picked up no children. Zier says he was assigned to the route despite reporting daily for several weeks that he picked up no passengers.
At press time, Laidlaw officials had not replied to inquiries from The Seattle Press.
Reader Comments
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Lori
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Sep 07, 2002
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Rhode Island
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schoolbus driver
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I would like to talk to other laidlaw employees, please email me |
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Anonymous or get fired
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Oct 21, 2002
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Southeastern CT
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Laidlaw School Bus Driver
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It looks like Laidlaw is the same all over the country... cutting corners, saving money at driver expense and nonresponsive to legitimate concerns of drivers. A company is only as good as the management it hires..... that about says it all. Mechanics hands are tied many times by direct orders to NOT make certain repairs that are costly. |
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larry johnson
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Dec 10, 2002
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milwaukee,wi
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school bus driver
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hello,i too have recently become
sick from bus fumes,headaches
nasea,lightheadedness, and shor
ness of breath are my main symp-
toms,causing missed days from work.
so anything you or others are doing to take a stand, lawsuits,
strikes,protests etc,please me
know. p.s. i'm also a laidlaw driver.
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Lisa Niemi
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Feb 23, 2003
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Camano Island Washington
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para-ed/caregiver
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I would like to form a coalition of injured school bus drivers to stand up and fight for the kids that have no voice. My own daughter got diagnosed with leukemia that I have compelling evidence that the high levels of benzene, toluene and other chemical gave it to her. I also have been repeatedly exposed to ethylene glycol vapors via the heater hoses leaking and heater cores leaking. My bus flooded on four sepertate occassions with the anti-freeze. I have several co-workers that were also forced out. The buses are making the kids have bloody noses acid reflux, headaches, sleepiness, confusion ,memory loss infrequent urination rashes, and chronic effects in drivers are incontinence, urinary tract problems kidney failure diabetes, hearing loss blurry vision tingling in limbs, twitching, crying depression, low back pain, a slow poisoning from the ethylene glycol. We have Thomas buses that come brand new with coolant leaking and making drivers and kids nauseated. I believe based on facts that I have collected going on seven years now. Please contact me and help. |
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RICK NIFONG
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Mar 04, 2003
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#2 UNION 70 CENTER ST.LOUIS MO.
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SHOP MANAGER
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TO MANY BLACKS IN ONE LOCATION |
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Lisa Niemi
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Mar 11, 2003
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Camano Island Washington
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para-ed/caregiver
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if you're sick from school bus fumes e-mail me at wynn niemi@aol |
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barbara Zydorski
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Mar 13, 2003
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New Egypt NJ
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School Bus Driver
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I have been ill for three years since I was asighned a brand new bus which was a Thomas Snub nose and I smelled antfreeze imediately. I kept writting it up and was told it was ok to drive. I kept falling all the time Herniated a disk in my back dislocated my arm. Then had insomnia,night sweats a prickling sensation all over my body. Doctors kept doing tests for MS, Brain Leshion,Lymes.Spinal taps, Mri with Die all kinds of test. Which were all negative.Then something started happening to my heart. Then my lungs started to hurt. My one doctor told me it was the glycol etheyline making me ill to get out of the bus and stay out of it, after I told him my High school students were complaining of an oder coming from the rear heater. It was antifreeze. If you are having any of these symptoms get out of it before it dos permanante damage like it has done to me and many others. We need to take a stand against this. This is big and it is nationwide. Stop poisoning us and the children we transport. |
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BUS DRIVER
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Sep 03, 2003
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N.Y.
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SAME
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LAIDLAW NOT DEALING IN GOOD FAITH WITH 200DRIVER ON LONG ISLAND |
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Anonymous
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Sep 03, 2003
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TRYING TO CUT HOUR AND SENORITY0N DRIVER THERE FOR 10 TO 15 YEARS |
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mercy
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Mar 01, 2004
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atlanta, ga
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bus driver
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I am sick from bus fumes! My doctor has said my job has diabled me. The home health care person delivered a nebulizer to my home a couple of weeks ago and he said I was the 6th bus driver in my area he had delivered one to since January. I am scared to go back. My own children have ridden with me for extended periods of time for the past 6 years and now they are having health problems. I need more information. I am afraid they will try to fire me for attempting to take disability (which I pay for myself as attachment to my insurance policy).
Mercy |
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Chris Vaughn
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Sep 07, 2005
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Seattle, WA
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Former School Bus Driver
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Laidlaw not dealing in good faith... Not surprising, from my 7 years of working for them I learned that faith and good have nothing to do with their operations. |
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kerry
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Jan 12, 2006
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stamfordct
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retired
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this is for the suprt if this is the company in stamford ct for laidlaw school busses. one parks on the wrong side of the street in front of our house and has a ciggarette. cleans out the buss and dumps it on the grass in front of our house. and blocks the view from our drivway we cant see anything. i complaind to the super a few daysa go and i complained to the stamford police today. there would be no problem if he parked on the right side of the street so we can see from our drivway. but now i see trash being dumped here thats all buddy. i took pictures today showing how bad he blocks the view from our drivway. do you wanr me to email the puctures you |
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