Ruth Ann Matthews Case

Colorado Department of Labor/Employment

Docket ID: 9785-2005

(30 June, 2005)

Claimant Statement of Conditions regarding Unsafe Workplace Conditions and Physical Incapacity to Perform Job

My first application for Unemployment Assistance, based on need to relocate, was denied as having been based on personal choice. At no time during my employment was it ever my personal objective to leave. In fact, I stayed at the job, placing my health in jeopardy, despite poignant advise from two qualified professionals (an M.D. and an EMF specialist) to remove myself immediately.

The basis of my appeal application and the reasons for my leaving were a professional determination of dangerous workplace conditions and the resulting incapability to perform the work due to sleep deprivation, exhaustion and mental effects. These are exceptional circumstances not characteristic of my history or work ethic.

I have worked continuously the past twelve years, following raising three children, without problems of absenteeism, medical problems or unemployment. I took the job at the Wiesbaden three years ago, hoping to stay for a long time and was forced to leave because of damaging workplace conditions and becoming incapable of doing the job.

The basis for this was development of a hypersensitivity to electromagnetic fields (EMF), currently recognized in many countries (Sweden, Germany, Britain and Russia). The World Health Organization has now convened a task force to officially designate EMF reaction as a disease.

The conditions where I worked at the Wiesbaden Hot Springs (Ouray, Colo.) are documented with extensive field meter readings and professional statement regarding their effects such as sleep disorders, exhaustion, anxiety and impairment of mental function are included here. The workplace studies were conducted by Gary Duncan, an expert in the field of Environmental Illness, having studied and documented cases for over 9 years. He will be joining me at the hearing to present his findings. His credentials, findings and recommendations are included here.

I am also enclosing a list of international scientific research studies on Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) since knowledge of their effects are not yet widely publicly or professional known.

Indications of my developing hypersensitivity began over a year ago. They reached a threshold in the fall of 2004 when I abruptly quit sleeping producing a deepening condition of exhaustion. This response is commonly related to EMF exposures and was confirmed approximately 20 times by removing myself to a "0" EMF environment with the unvarying result of sleep restoration.

The owner of the Wiesbaden, was made aware of my developing sensitization in December of 2004. She acknowledged it by permitting me access to rooms at the Wiesbaden, in addition to a 3-bedroom house, in hopes that I could find somewhere safe to sleep. Extensive effort and professional help failed that hope.

Part of this job was to stay on-site overnight at the Wiesbaden while the owner was absent. Extensive meter investigations of the premises showed no safe areas could be found. Attempting to override the adversity (and against professional advice), I stayed anyway, experiencing more sleep deprivation and deeper exhaustion. After struggling to stay for most of November 2005, I knew that I could not continue to fulfill that part of my responsibilities.

My only relief from the sleep deprivation was during my days off staying at a premises documented to be completely free of EMF field. After 2-3 days away from the fields, significant parts of my normal sleep would be consistently restored. On return to the workplace, the sleep would disappear and the exhaustion deepened. I also began to have difficulty working on the computer, the cash register and telephone, including headaches and a constriction in my chest.

My state of exhaustion deepened daily from January through March, 2005. I had difficulty, driving and eventually doing even simple tasks and finally gave my 2 weeks notice following a joint conference and emphatic advice with Dr. Lynda Walters, MD (who has also experienced debilitating EMF effects) and Mr. Duncan.

The owner again acknowledged my illness by trying to make accommodations in my work space, which failed

On March 6th, she met with Mr. Duncan with the clearly stated intent of wanting me to continue work there. In the process of field testing and attempting to remediate the actual desk-space work site itself in the presence of the owner, myself and another employee, his meters discovered fields of extremely high intensity (many times those listed as damaging in the accompanying documents) coming from two distinct sources, leaving the desk attendant sandwiched between them in a work area with no possibility of avoidance.

On March 10th, I experienced a physical collapse in the workplace three days short of completing the two week notice. Mr. Duncan made a two and one half hour drive that night to remove me to a safe environment. I took 7 days in a zero field environment to restore sleep and begin the recovery process.

I remain hyhper-sensitive to EMF. The research evidence and the opinion of Mr. Duncan indicate that I have undergone exposures sufficient to induce a "threshold" and that this hypersensitization is not reversible (it will be permanent).

Many of the EMF anomalies in the electrical system at the Wiesbaden are in fact due to violations of National Electrical Code and insufficient inspection. Enclosed you will find Mr. Duncan's filing of official documentation and complaint to the Colorado State Board of Electrical Inspectors.

Current challenges now pending include: location of a job place free of EMF, provision of EMF safe residence (off-grid), and changes of equipment such as a 12-volt DC powered LCD crystal screen computer, etc.

Of continuing concern is the welfare of fellow employees continuing to be exposed to these fields. One other employee has reported nervous reactions identical to mine connected to overnight stays on the workplace premises. Review of past employees for symptoms is a recommendable possibility.

My state may be related to the fact that prior to termination I was the longest term employee (three years) with the highest weekly workload and spent by far the most time of any employee in the overnight watch position...resulting in the highest level of personal exposure.