November 13, 2008
Official Notices
Asbestos labeling under way
Starting in September, Facilities Services began labeling selected asbestos-containing materials on campus. Over the course of the next three years, these labels will be installed in almost all UW buildings. Building occupants and visitors should be aware that labels are only being installed on those materials which are most vulnerable to damage or disturbance, with subsequent release of asbestos fibers into the air. Other, less vulnerable building materials, such as floor tile, may still contain asbestos, and should not be assumed to be non-asbestos-containing materials simply because they are unlabeled.
The labeling effort complements the EH&S’ online general asbestos awareness training, which has provided training over the past six months to UW employees. The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) requires that all UW employees who may come into contact with an asbestos-containing building material take this training this year. All employees must take this training because no building owned or leased by the UW has been proven to be asbestos-free.
If any UW employee has not yet completed the general asbestos training, he or she must complete such training by Dec. 31, either in a classroom setting or online. Classroom training is available once a quarter and employees can register here. The online training is available at all times (allow 20-30 minutes to complete) and equal to the classroom training. Please have your supervisor’s name and email address ready when taking the training so that a record of the training can be easily sent.
Due to the efforts of UW Facilities Services and EH&S, asbestos-containing building materials on campus do not pose a significant health or safety risk to building occupants. All employees are asked to remember the following and do their part to ensure the continued safety of everybody on campus:
- Be aware of the possible presence of and do not disturb suspect asbestos-containing materials in your workspaces. This includes flooring, walls, ceilings and other surfaces, even though these materials may not be specifically labeled as asbestos-containing materials. If you need to drill, cut, or disturb any surface, contact UW Facilities Services for assistance.
- Report damaged building components to your supervisor or building coordinator so that they are promptly repaired and any potential hazard minimized.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding asbestos issues on campus, contact Roy Smith in the EH&S Occupational Health and Safety Office at 206-543-1713 or at roysmith@u.washington.edu.
Memory research project needs volunteers
Are you an older adult and interested in your memory? Are you concerned about a family member’s or a friend’s memory? The Somatotrophics, Memory and Aging Research Trial (SMART) at the UW seeks healthy men and women aged 55 to 90 with either normal memory or with memory problems, for a study of how an experimental drug that increases the body’s natural secretion of growth hormone may improve memory. To learn more, contact the SMART study at 206-685-6607.
Board of Regents
The Board of Regents will hold a regular public meeting at 3 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 20, in the Petersen Room on the 4th floor of the Allen Library.
Blood Drives
Friday, Nov. 14, 10 a.m. – 6:30 p.m., Health Sciences Lobby.
Institute for Ethnic Studies in the United States invites applications
The Institute for Ethnic Studies in the United States (IESUS) invites applications from UW faculty members who are engaged in or are beginning projects on ethnic issues in the United States. The deadline for applications is Nov. 15. For more information on application guidelines, please see the IESUS Web site or direct questions to Kelly Koo via email at iesus@u.washington.edu.
