Cleaning up campus
Remodeling will also remove asbestos from old buildings
By MICHAEL CULVER
Wall finishes, pipe insulation, floor tile and acoustical material used
during the original construction of the Psychology/Human Services Building
contain asbestos, a hazardous material banned in 1977, and cause special
measures to be taken to ensure public safety.
Construction company worker Elcid Rojas is part of the team remodeling
the Psychology Building. Photo by Joseph Hollak |
Administrators, environmental specialists and construction specialists
are working together to ensure the safety of students, faculty and workers
at Fresno State as construction and remodeling projects move forward across
campus.
A report issued by by environmental consulting firm Brooks and Associates
Environmental said many products used during constructionin the 1950s,
are now considered unsafe and dealing with these materials, in a safe
way, requires additional safety measures be taken during remodeling.
For instance, High Efficiency Particulate Air Filters, (HEPA) filters,
which are required and designed so asbestos fibers do not pass through,
are used to provide ventilation for workers inside, while maintaining
the integrity of the air being passed out of the building.
Additionally, the contractors, such as PARC Environmental, a certified
hazardous material clean-up specialist, have to submit their plans to
the facilities department,” said Lisa Kao, the university environmental
quality manager.
They have to submit their injury and illness prevention plan, their hazard
communication plan and a variety of other plans.
These plans are required by the California Occupational Health and Safety
Administration, (OSHA) and indicate that the company is aware of the regulatory
requirements that must be followed when doing any work on campus.
Kao said all applicable California and federal guidelines are being met.
PARC’s responsibility during the project is to do the “clean-up,”
and provide the general contractor’s workers with a safe environment.
Nelson Construction Company will perform the actual remodel of the building.
Kao said it is important to note that asbestos is only a danger to public
health under certain conditions. The material must be disrupted, and asbestos
fibers must be released into the air.
Work on the PHS project began Jan. 2, but before the actual remodeling
began, samples of materials that would likely be disturbed during the
remodel were taken to EMC Labs Inc, an independent analytical testing
facility. EMC tested the materials, and found that many them to contain
levels of asbestos in quantities that is potentially dangerous and requiring
abatement.
Abatement is an industry term used to describe the process of cleaning-up
or securing hazardous material.
“If the sampling contains asbestos, we don’t allow them [the
workers] to go forward until a certified abatement company does the work,”
said Kao. “They must do it in a manner that protects the building
occupants.”
“The university hired Brooks & Associates as a consultant on
the project to oversee the abatement.
“They shadow the activities of the project and work as the eyes
and ears for the university,” Kao said.
Brooks & Associates Environmental Inc. is responsible for gathering
the samples for testing, getting the samples to the testing lab and preparing
a report explaining the nature of the findings from the lab.
A preliminary test is done to determine if abatement is necessary. If
abatement is needed, PARC Environmental Inc. is then contracted to do
the work.
Kao said air samples are then taken inside the building, and sent back
to the lab. When these samples return at a level of .1 fiber or less,
the CAL-OSHA standards of compliance are met and work on the building
can proceed.
Final Clearance for stage one of the two stages of the project, was given
on Jan. 11, when air samples ranged from .002 to .001, far below CAL-OSHA
standards.
Kao said abatement on stage 2 was completed on Feb. 2. The air samples,
collected by Brooks & Associates, were sent to the lab and final results
are expected by Feb. 8.
“Although asbestos is a dangerous substance, perhaps,” Dan
Ladd, a junior mechanical engineering major said, “I was born in
an old hospital that probably had asbestos in it and probably still does.
At least they’re doing something about it here.”
The remodeling is expected to be complete on May 31.
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