Overview
- State workers' union SEIU Local 1000 said tests found Legionella in a tap water line at the Department of Industrial Relations building in Lodi that supplies ice machines, refrigerators and water fountains.
- The bacteria was detected in June, and DIR contractors are disinfecting and flushing fixtures, adjusting water temperatures, and coordinating remediation with the building's private property manager while the office remains open.
- SEIU has filed a complaint with the California Public Employment Relations Board to challenge the safety of return-to-office orders and to press for pay and hazard protections for staff.
- Public health and safety officials note Legionella commonly colonizes building plumbing, there is no numeric OSHA standard for acceptable Legionella levels, and San Joaquin County said it was not notified because reporting is not required in this case.
- The finding raises questions about monitoring and maintenance of leased or aging state offices and could increase scrutiny of the state’s return-to-office policy, with advocates urging routine testing, clearer reporting rules, and targeted protections for higher-risk workers.