ALL ACADEMICS AND STAFF AT UCSD (Including Healthcare)

SUBJECT:    Asbestos: Notice to Employees (Connelly Act, AB 3713)

State law requires notification to all UCSD personnel of the presence of asbestos in certain building materials used in the construction of University buildings.

Environment, Health and Safety has conducted an extensive survey to identify those areas at UCSD where asbestos containing building materials (ACBM) are present. For specific locations of ACBM, please contact Denise Devall-Hall at (858) 534-6748.

Certain buildings at UCSD, with the exception of those built since 1981, contain non-friable asbestos materials in public access areas. These materials include vinyl asbestos floor tiles and/or linoleum sheet flooring as well as the mastic used to secure them. In addition, some laboratory and machine shop areas have benches and/or fume hoods constructed of transite and/or colorlith. The asbestos in these materials is bonded with vinyl, epoxy, cement or other materials and under normal conditions does not pose any danger to the user. If the material is cracked, drilled, sanded, or otherwise disturbed, however, it could result in the release of asbestos fibers into the air that could present a health risk. Such work must only be performed by trained personnel using proper work practices, containment equipment, and personal protection.

Some other areas contain sprayed-on acoustical material containing asbestos. These materials may be reduced to powder by hand pressure, but do not present a problem as long as they are not disturbed. Only trained workers with the proper equipment should perform work that would have the potential to disturb such materials.

Some fire doors used in stairwell smoke towers, and the entrances to mechanical rooms and cores in the larger buildings also contain asbestos. These doors are usually wooden and have a metal label on the inside edge or top identifying them as having a type "B" fire rating or a rating of one hour or greater. As long as these doors are intact, they pose no health risk to building occupants.

Some larger buildings have asbestos materials in areas of restricted public access such as mechanical rooms and cores. Asbestos was not used in air system ductwork. In very few instances, asbestos insulated pipes are in public corridors. As long as the outer canvas cover or metal sheathing on the pipes is intact, the insulation presents no health problem. If the protective covering is disturbed, call the Work Service Center (x42930) to report the problem.

Please disseminate this information to all new employees in your respective departments. As asbestos containing building materials are abated, the database for asbestos is continually updated.

If you have any questions, or would like more information about asbestos, please contact the Asbestos Control Coordinator, Denise Devall-Hall in the EH&S Office at (858) 534-6748.