Asbestos
 
Asbestos in Buildings
Preventing Exposure
Cardboard on Your Floor?
Asbestos Exposure Report

Notice to Employees

(This information is to be provided to all new University employees)

All University of Washington employees are required by the WA State Dept. Labor and Industries Asbestos Regulations to receive notification of the presence of asbestos containing materials (ACM) in University owned or leased buildings.

All UW employees are also required to complete General Asbestos Awareness training on an annual basis. This training is available online or in a classroom setting. Online training requires UWNetID and you will need to take the course in one sitting. Or you can register for classroom style training thru our safety classes on the training registration page. Registration also requires a UWNetID.

Note regarding security certificates:

Please see the Asbestos in Your Workplace Poster to learn more about asbestos at the University.

Asbestos in Buildings

Many buildings at the University have ACM in certain building materials used in their construction. Certain University buildings contain intact asbestos materials in public access areas. These materials may include:

  • Vinyl asbestos floor tiles or linoleum sheet flooring
  • Mastic used to attach flooring, ceiling tiles, carpet, cove base, cork board
  • Pipe insulation
  • Joint compounds used in sheetrock walls
  • Acoustical/decorative plaster
  • Spackling
  • Fire doors
  • Acoustic ceiling tiles
  • Baseboards
  • Concrete pipes and siding
  • Exterior siding
  • Window putty

The asbestos in the above listed materials is normally bonded with vinyl, epoxy, cement or other materials.

  • Under normal conditions they do not pose a health threat.
  • However, if the material is cracked, drilled, sanded, or otherwise disturbed, it could result in the release of asbestos fibers into the air that could present a health risk.
  • As long as the outer canvas cover or metal sheathing on the pipes is intact, the insulation does not present a health problem.

In addition, some laboratory and machine shop areas have benches, storage cabinets, or fume hoods constructed with ACM.

ACM such as, pipe insulation, gaskets, flex duct connections, and roofing asphalt may be found in areas not normally accessed by the public.

Any work involving ACM must only be performed by personnel who have received asbestos awareness training or are certified asbestos workers using proper work practices, containment equipment, and personal protective equipment.

Preventing Exposure

Introduction

You can help prevent the potential of asbestos exposure to yourself and others by observing the following practices:

  • Immediately report damaged ceilings, walls, pipe insulation, floor tiles, or other building surfaces to your supervisor or building coordinator.
  • Ask to see the Good Faith Inspection (GFS) before the start of a project that may involve disturbing ACM or Presumed Asbestos-Containing Material (PACM).
  • If there has not been a GFS conducted then all materials are considered PACM and treated as asbestos until otherwise confirmed as non-asbestos.
  • Be careful not to damage building materials and surfaces that may contain asbestos. For example do not:
    1. Disturb walls or ceilings, especially if they are plaster coated
    2. Pound in nails to hang pictures
    3. Put hooks in ceilings for plants
    4. Install wall-hung shelving
    5. Pull up carpeting which is glued down
  • Do not enter construction areas.
  • Do not enter restricted access areas that have this sign posted:

The University is involved in a variety of activities to control asbestos hazards on campus. The University has conducted surveys to identify areas where ACM is present and manages ACM in place. If you suspect a material in your work area may be ACM or PACM and it appears damaged or is releasing fibers, contact EH&S at 206-543-7388 or the Facilities Services Asbestos Coordinator at 206-685-3357.

For additional information refer to the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s) about Asbestos.

Cardboard on Your Floor?

Environmental Health and Safety has issued an awareness letter for building occupants who have had cardboard placed over their flooring. We have also issued a notice for those who may be unknowingly damaging their floor tile.

Asbestos Exposure Report

A remodeling contractor permitted asbestos containing dust to enter two rooms of the Magnuson Health Sciences Building in the T Wing: T-747 and T-739. The attached pdf report discusses the incident and relates the laboratory test results. The incident occurred during July 6 - August 9, 2005.