Warriner Mall scenics
On Friday, May 29, 2015, staff at Central Michigan University's Office of Risk Management and Environmental Health and Safety were informed of elevated levels of asbestos in the air of the first and second floors of Warriner Hall.
(Courtesy | Steve Jessmore, CMU)
MOUNT PLEASANT, MI -- Scores of Central Michigan University employees have been temporarily relocated or are working from home after the evacuation of offices in Warriner Hall because of elevated levels of asbestos in the air.
On Friday, May 29, staff at Central Michigan University's Office of Risk Management and Environmental Health and Safety were informed of elevated levels of asbestos in the air of the first and second floors of Warriner Hall, CMU officials report via the university's website. As a result, university officials asked all employees and visitors to leave the building.
The findings were based on air samples taken the night before after crews working on water lines discovered insulation and old pipes in a large air duct in the building's crawl space.
Warriner Hall, the main administration building on CMU's campus, opened in March 1928.
Provost Mike Gealt is among 169 employees who work in Warriner Hall. He said all affected employees were to be temporarily reassigned to other locations on campus or to work from home.
"Out of an abundance of caution, the university will close Warriner temporarily, at least through Monday, until environmental consultants give us an all-clear based on continued testing," Gealt said in a statement Friday.
"We have acted promptly and will take all precautions needed to clear the asbestos."
As of Tuesday, June 2, those affected offices remained closed.
"Air tests taken Friday for asbestos in Warriner Hall have come back clear with the exception of the duct under Plachta Auditorium, where damaged asbestos was discovered," according to an updated news release issued about 1 p.m. Tuesday. "Dust tests taken Saturday also have come back clear with the exception of the first floor lobby outside of the auditorium and a portion of the tunnels."
Fibertec, an environmental consulting firm from Holt, did the testing.
HBC, an asbestos abatement contractor, removed the damaged asbestos from the air duct. The firm also is cleaning the auditorium and lobby so new tests can be conducted as soon as possible, according to the release.
Asbestos is a mineral fiber that occurs in rock and soil, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. It has been used in a variety of building construction materials for insulation and as a fire retardant.
When asbestos-containing material is disturbed during product use, demolition work, building or home maintenance, repair or remodeling, asbestos fibers may be released into the air, according to the EPA. Exposure to asbestos increases one's risk of developing lung disease and smoking increases that risk.
There are some federal bans on asbestos.
Read more about asbestos here.
Heather Jordan is a reporter for MLive/The Saginaw News/The Bay City Times. She can be reached at 989-450-2652 or hjordan@mlive.com. For more news, follow her on Twitter and Facebook.