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news:
Contractors take
out asbestos
By Stephine Michrina
Summer On-line Forty-Niner
Cal State Long
Beach is repairing buildings throughout the summer session,
leading the way for several routine asbestos checks to ensure
students and faculty are safe from the dangerous fiber that
can cause Mesothelioma, a cancer of the cells that make up
the lining around the outside of the lungs and inside of the
ribs, or around the abdominal organs.
"There's no
eminent danger to students," said Robert Quirk, the director
of Physical Planning and Facilities Management. "We have
a pretty tight protocol."
CSULB tackles numerous
construction projects throughout the summer that require asbestos
checks to ensure fibers have not been released into the air.
Quirk estimated that of the 80 buildings on campus, about
62 contain asbestos of varying levels. According to Quirk,
students should not be alarmed by the fact that buildings
on campus contain asbestos, and should understand that the
materials become dangerous when released into the air by disturbing
the fibers through activities like knocking down walls and
removing chalkboards.
Facilities Management
posts information online about buildings that have been tested
and found to contain the materials on campus. Also Section
25915 of the Health and Safety Code requires that a written
notification be provided to employees informing them of the
presence of asbestos in buildings.
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