King Soopers temporarily closes southeast Colorado Springs store following possible traces of asbestos
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO)-- King Soopers has announced it is temporarily closing its store at the intersection of South Academy Boulevard and Hancock Expressway "out of an abundance of caution," according to a statement released Tuesday.
The store is undergoing an interior remodel during which, the grocery chain stated, the possible existence of asbestos was indicated after testing.
King Soopers said that it is actively addressing the situation and has hired independent experts who are working in full cooperation with the appropriate state agencies, including the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE), to aid in their evaluations.
The store will be closed until all concerns have been addressed and to ensure the safety of associates and customers as a top priority.
King Soopers officials said that they will provide updated information as it becomes available.
Indications are that the store closed Monday night -- surprising and frustrating employees who showed up for work Tuesday morning, and disappointing customers who depend on the store for its convenient location.
One customer was in tears, saying that she was unable to pick up a cake she had ordered from the bakery for her daughter's birthday party Tuesday; another customer was trying to learn if his medical prescriptions would be transferred to another King Soopers branch; a third customer overturned several shopping carts in anger.
The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) confirmed to KRDO Tuesday that a complaint was filed last week regarding potential exposure to asbestos at the store, and that an inspector is investigating.
A statement also was released by the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7, a union representing 105 workers at the store, stating that: "...allegations imply both members and customers could have been exposed to a carcinogenic substance which poses serious health risks."
Loretta Guy, a union steward, said that employees received a recorded message from the corporate office, explaining that they will be paid through the end of the week before being assigned to other King Soopers stores.
"I've worked at the store for six years and have two sons working there, too," she said. "I first heard about the asbestos concern a week-and-a-half ago, from the overnight shift. They said that the construction crew had put plastic over the pharmacy, and had put a ventilation system through the pharmacy. And then everybody's concern was like, what's going on? Nobody was wearing any kind of mask, bio-hazard suits or anything to protect themselves."
Some customers are unhappy that King Soopers officials didn't become aware of the issue sooner, and give them -- and employees -- more advance notice.
"How long is it going to take them to figure this out?" a customer asked. "What will they do with all of the food in there? How long did they know about it before they told us? Why didn't they do a better job of notifying customers and employees?"
Asbestos is a fire-resistant material that was used in building insulation, primarily before 1980; exposed asbestos fibers can cause lung damage if inhaled.
Other King Soopers locations that will be open include:
- 1750 W Uintah St Colorado Springs, CO 80904
- 815 Cheyenne Meadows Rd Colorado Springs, CO 80906
- 7915 Constitution Avenue Colorado Springs, CO 80951
