YUFA
Health &
Safety
Information Session Regarding Renovations in Ross and Complex 1: Report from YUFA’s Communications Officer
25 Jul 06 – On 7 July, I attended my first meeting as YUFA’s new Communications Officer (report is a little late; I’m also on the Bargaining Team). This was a meeting basically about concerns with hazardous materials dislodged or discovered during renovation of the Ross Building and Complex 1.
The meeting was called by the Joint Health and Safety Committee with Co-Chairs Barry Miller and Paul Grayson present. Also in attendance were Norm Ahmet, Assistant Vice President, Human Resources and Employee Relations, York Office of the Vice-President, Finance and Administration; Steven Dranitsaris, Senior Executive Officer, York Office of the Vice-President, Finance and Administration; Steven Fraser, Director, Maintenance Utilities and Energy Management, York Facilities Services; Richard A.R. Grundsten, P.Eng., Occupational Hygienist, York Occupational Health and Safety; Nuri Jazairi, YUFA Steward; Ron Ogata, Facilities Planning and Renovations, York Facilities Services; Blair Wm. Price, Maintenance Supervisor, Zone 5, York Facilities Services; R. Paula Gowdie Rose, YUSA Representative; Harriet Rosenberg, YUFA member from the Health and Society Programme; Robert Thomas, P. Eng., Vice President, Hazardous Materials, Pinchin Environmental Company, and Patricia Yu, Director, York Occupational Health and Safety.
On the agenda was an overview of changes regarding asbestos management, scheduled renovations in the Ross Building and Complex 1, and the planned update of the University’s asbestos inventory in view of new provincial legislation coming into effect 1 November 2007.
Agenda Item
1. Overview of Changes
Regarding Asbestos Management
The changes regarding handling of asbestos stem from new legislation in
effect as of 1 November 2005, regarding the requirements for different
types of working procedures. At York, our maintenance workers are almost
always performing Types 1 and 2, where (Type 1) they have the option of
protective clothing and a HEPA vacuum or (Type 2) they are required to
wear a respirator and suit, required to post signage, and required to
seal the work area with the ventilation system turned off and take
readings of asbestos
fibres
to ensure they are at the lowest legal level before turning it back on.
YUFA members with offices in the Ross Building had been concerned
because there had not been sufficient signage warning them of dangerous
work taking place. Signs needed to be larger, bolder, more noticeable.
Ron Ogata of Facilities Planning and Renovations spoke to the variety of conversions, additions, moves, renovations, and energy management programmes going on. They did a hazardous material review and found and removed “friable” insulation (friable means easily crumbled). They also found sprayed textured ceiling tiles and floor tiles both with asbestos, in Ross. The majority of the ceiling tiles in Ross contain asbestos.
Asked why asbestos was not found in the inventory done in Ross in 1991, Barry Miller (the Employer’s Co-Chair of the Committee) replied that it had been a different environment, with looser laws and different sampling methods. The inventories taken in 1991 were not as detailed as those preceding a renovation. Undamaged ceiling tiles were not and are not deemed to pose a risk; it is only when this material is disturbed during a renovation that danger exists. Tiles are said to be a low risk; workers are allowed to take out ten 2x4-foot tiles without safety precautions.
For many of us who work in the York buildings, knowing that these tiles are not considered a risk is small comfort. We are aware that the dust and fibres have been in the air for decades, in a building without windows that can open.
The Asbestos Abatement Plan was distributed with the promise that, as new inventories are completed, the information will be updated.
Paul Grayson (YUFA’s Co-Chair of the Committee) asked how people who work in the area are notified and was told that this is done through the Joint Committee on the Administration of the Agreement (JCOAA) and through Department Chairs.
Agenda Item
2. Scheduled
Renovations in Ross and Complex 1
Asbestos removal is now almost complete. Robert Thomas of Pinchin
commented that recent tests no long show asbestos. Ron Ogata said they
are about to do extensive testing in Founders and Winters. Harriet
Rosenberg, YUFA member from the Health and Society Programme, pointed
out that it would be a good thing if when replacing asbestos tiles, they
were sure to avoid tiles with other potentially friable fibres such as
“rock wool.”
Agenda Item
3. New Inventory under
New Asbestos Laws
The contract for this has been awarded to Pinchin; the work is expected
to take about a year. The cost for all the asbestos work is in the
$100,000 to $1,000,000 range. The inventory alone cost a quarter million
dollars. As asbestos is found, the general approach is to remove it. The
good news is that as renovations proceed, fewer asbestos fibres are
being found.
Nuri Jazairi, YUFA Steward for Arts, Economics noted that to name this meeting “about renovations” was not a full description, and should have included mention of asbestos. The Employer agreed to do so in the future.
Harriet Rosenberg, whom I’ve known – it seems – forever at York, sat beside me at the meeting. She noted what was perhaps the most fascinating bit of information from the entire two hours: Did you know that the architectural style of the Ross Building is called “Brutalism”?!
Louise Ripley
YUFA Communications Officer