Workers in one Essex County Public Works facility say they have been sharing their work space with mold and rats.

Employees at the North Caldwell public works facility say they have had to deal with moldy walls and urine-stained ceilings for eight years and, most recently, rats. Some workers claim colleagues have developed asthma and respiratory problems due to the mold. The Borough Council president says the mold situation has been brought to his attention and a company has been hired to get rid of it.

Town officials say they don?t want employees working under unhealthy conditions. Town leaders add they were unaware of how bad the mold and rat problems were at the facility.