Aztec Shops began an asbestos abatement project in the East Commons dining facility yesterday.
The project will be completed in three phases, with the first to be completed May 15. Phases two and three will take place during the summer and will be completed before the start of fall classes.
Despite the construction, it will be business as usual in East Commons.
“Aside from the closure of the front of the building, we don’t expect to affect operations in Commons East,” Aztec Shops CEO Harvey Goodfriend said.
Margaret Casey of Aztec Shops described the safety procedures that would be used.
“Air samples will be taken hourly by an asbestos-certified industrial hygienist and the area will be sealed off with plywood sheets and two layers of heavy duty plastic,” she said. “The air inside of the closure will be filtered for asbestos. We will be in compliance with all regulations and standards of the health and safety codes.”
The project is part of a $4 million renovation that includes expanded food-service capacity, a face lift for the 40-year-old building’s exterior, the installation of air conditioning and improvements in disabled access.
Watkins Construction Inc. has been contracted to remove asbestos on and around the building’s roof decking. Szares Companies will monitor the project.
Asbestos is a mineral mined throughout the world. Used in construction materials such as cement, tiles, vinyl flooring, plaster and insulation, asbestos is not only valued for its flame-retardant abilities, it also insulates and absorbs sound. Its use in ordinary construction has tapered off since the 1970s, but it is still being used. Between 1900 and 1980, some 30 million tons of asbestos were put into place in the United States.
Asbestos is a carcinogen that can cause lung cancer and gastrointestinal cancer. Exposure has also been linked to increased incidence of esophageal and kidney cancers. Smokers exposed to asbestos are as much as 50 times more likely to develop cancer than nonsmokers who are exposed to the mineral.
When asbestos is disturbed, particles can be released into the atmosphere. Many of these particles are so tiny, an electron microscope is needed to detect them. There is no known level of airborne asbestos contamination that is considered safe.
Section 1529 of Title 8 in the California Code of Regulations states that in areas where asbestos abatement occurs, employees will not eat, drink, smoke, chew tobacco, chew gum or apply cosmetics.
