TRACON RADAR CTLR COMPLAINT ABOUT DUST AND LACK OF PRECAUTION TAKEN WHEN CEILING TILES REPLACED IN THE TRACON. SOME CTLRS LEFT THE CTL ROOM AND SUPVRS AND SOME CTLRS ATTEMPTED TO KEEP THE OP GOING. RPTR ALLEGES 2 OPERRORS OCCURRED DURING THIS PERIOD.

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ON OCT/WED/97; CONTRACTORS BEGAN REPLACING CEILING TILES IN THE OPERATIONAL CTL ROOM AT THE NEW YORK TRACON. WHILE THE FACILITY WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT THIS; WE WERE NOT NOTIFIED THAT THESE WERE FIBERGLAS CEILING TILES. FURTHER; I WAS PERSONALLY GIVEN ASSURANCE THAT; IF NEEDED; PLASTIC SHEETS WOULD BE USED TO CONTAIN DUST AND DEBRIS; AND THAT THEY WOULD IF NECESSARY; 'VACUUM AS THEY GO.' NO SUCH PROTECTION WAS ATTEMPTED. FACE MASK WERE MADE AVAILABLE; BUT THE LABEL ON THEIR BOX SAID: 'WARNING: THIS MASK WILL NOT PROTECT YOUR LUNGS.' THE MASKS DID NOT PROTECT THE EYES. AS CTLRS BEGAN WORKING; THEY BEGAN EXPERIENCING BURNING SENSATIONS IN THEIR EYES AND THROATS; NAUSEA; AND DIZZINESS. APPROX 75% OF THE CTLRS HAD TO LEAVE THE OPS ROOM AND COULD NOT RETURN FOR THE REST OF THE SHIFT. THOSE CTLRS WHO STAYED HAD TO USE 'AIR HOODS;' WHICH FULLY ENCLOSED THE CTLR'S HEAD AND PUMPED IN AIR PURIFIED BY A 'HEPA' FILTER. DURING THE PERIOD WHERE CTLRS WERE UNABLE TO RETURN TO THE OPERATIONAL AREA; EXCEPT WHEN WEARING THE AIR HOOD; STAFF AND MGMNT PERSONNEL WERE USED TO ATTEMPT TO KEEP TFC MOVING. DURING THIS PERIOD; THERE WERE 2 OPERRORS; APPARENTLY CAUSED BY TFC MGMNT UNIT PERSONNEL ATTEMPTING TO CTL MORE TFC THAN WAS PRUDENT BASED ON THE CONDITIONS.