Why is there asbestos on campus? Asbestos was used in building materials for many years for sound absorption and resistance
to heat, electrical and chemical damage. In 1973, the Environmental Protection Agency
began regulating the use of asbestos as a part of The Clean Air Act. The University
has been systematically abating asbestos from campus as it renovates areas. The amount
is decreasing each year; and there is still some asbestos left on campus.
What are the two different types of asbestos? Non-friable asbestos is any material that contains more than 1% asbestos but cannot
be pulverized under hand pressure. The asbestos is basically encapsulated in the product.
Examples include vinyl asbestos floor tile, mastics, and caulking. Friable asbestos
is any material that contains more than 1% asbestos by weight or area and can be crumbled,
pulverized or reduced to powder by the pressure of a human hand. Examples include
some types of fireproofing, pipe insulation.
Are there health hazards associated with asbestos? Yes, there can be negative health impacts (primarily lung related diseases) associated
with exposure to asbestos. These impacts generally occur 15-30 years after exposure.
Do asbestos abatement projects on campus present a real-time hazard to me? No. Abatement activities are conducted only as allowed by Code Rule 56 which requires
isolation of the abatement area from you work or travel area. You cannot inadvertently
wander into a containment area. Signage is required to give you guidance; physical
barriers will not permit your entry into the space without significant effort.
What is the University doing to protect me during an asbestos abatement project? The NYS Department of Labor and EPA tightly regulate asbestos abatement projects.
Bulk material sampling and air sampling occur before a project begins and continue
throughout the abatement project; samplings and testings are performed by a third
party. Both the contractor and consultant are certified to perform their respective
work. In addition, the University has staff trained and certified in asbestos planning,
abatement and monitoring who provide an additional level of review on the project.
Enclosures are built to completely seal all air from escaping the abatement area and
only allow air to enter. The air is also filtered through HEPA (highly efficiency
particular air) filters which capture 99.7% of all particles down to 0.3 microns in
size. One micron is 1/25,000 of an inch.
Is the air in my building safe to breathe during an abatement project? Absolutely! The health and safety of students, faculty and staff is of the utmost
importance to the University. As mentioned above, the air is constantly monitored
before, during and after a project. The University would never allow individuals into
a building if the air was not safe to breath.
Why does the air sometimes smell different during a project? General construction dust and debris may have an odor; however this not harmful.
Some people may be more sensitive to environmental conditions than others.
Who do I contact if I have questions or concerns during a project? You should always feel free to contact Environmental Health & Safety at at 777-2211
with questions or concerns regarding asbestos or any related safety concerns. General
information on asbestos, as well as building specific information is available on
Facilities Management Website.
