Environmental Hazards Management in the Residence Halls

University of Michigan Housing is committed to providing students with a safe environment in the residence halls. One of the University’s Occupational Safety and Environmental Health (OSEH) Representatives is dedicated to University Housing. Over 60 other OSEH Representatives support Housing’s representative and make it possible for Housing to keep up to date on the latest information and research in the field. Together these specialists monitor the environment in Housing, addressing safety and environmental hazards proactively when possible, and reacting very quickly when necessary. For more information, contact Housing’s OSEH Representative at 763-5641 or visit the OSEH Web site.

Here are some commonly asked questions about potential environmental hazards:

Q. When is asbestos hazardous?

A. The presence of asbestos does not necessarily represent a health hazard; only the disturbance of asbestos where fibers are released into the air produces a hazard. Many studies show that inhalation of the microscopic asbestos fibers can cause lung lesions and cancer.

Q. What is University Housing doing about asbestos in the residence halls?

A. Environmental consulting firms have conducted surveys in all residence halls to identify where asbestos is present and determine whether its condition represents a potential hazard to residents and/or staff. The surveys have indicated that the condition and location of the asbestos materials in residence halls are such that they generally do not pose a hazard. This information has been used for planning and conducting corrective actions.

Housing has been encapsulating asbestos for years. Encapsulation means covering the asbestos with a material designed to bond to it, thereby preventing fiber release. This containment approach is consistent with the recommendation of most experts.

We continually monitor asbestos-related research and assure that service staff knows where asbestos is and how to manage it.

Should the need arise to address a high priority hazard, Housing can employ the services of the Plant Department, licensed by the state for asbestos abatement. In addition, we have made arrangements with a reputable outside asbestos abatement firm.

Q. What should I do if I believe there is an asbestos hazard in a Housing building?

A. If you believe or suspect that there is damaged and exposed asbestos, call FIXIT (763-4948) immediately.

Q. When is radon a hazard?

A. Radon gas, a naturally occurring radioactive gas created by the decay of radium in soil and rocks, can break down into small particles that adhere to dust. This dust can be breathed into the lungs. Prolonged exposure (over years) to radon increases one’s risk of developing lung cancer. While outdoors the gas dissipates and is not a threat, indoors it can accumulate to levels that present a health hazard.

Q. What is University Housing doing about radon?

A. Over the last several years, comprehensive radon testing has been conducted at 550 sites within Housing buildings. Approximately 20 sites required remediation. That remediation, involving the installation of ventilation fans, has been completed. Follow-up testing has been conducted where remediation was performed, and radon levels were found to be acceptable. The installed systems will be maintained and serviced as required. New sites will be tested and acted upon accordingly.

Q. What is University Housing doing about pests?

A. Protecting individuals and their immediate surroundings, as well as the greater natural environment, is the goal of Housing’s pest management program. The University has five state-certified Pest Management Specialists on staff who contribute to an integrated pest management approach in Housing. This approach includes regular inspections, structural and housekeeping controls, and material treatments when needed. Materials used to treat rooms and apartments are carefully selected to be safe and effective, and to have little or no odor. Residents should not apply over-the-counter products themselves.

Residents can help reduce pest problems by limiting the amount of food in their rooms and by keeping their rooms clean. Food should be stored in containers, and clutter should be removed from the floor so as not to harbor pests.

Q. What should I do if I believe there is a pest problem?

A. To report a pest problem in a residence hall room, call FIXIT at 763-4948. Specify the location, and if possible, provide a description of the pest.

Q. What are “sharps”?

A. Sharps are hypodermic needles or blood test lancets. These items represent a potential threat to others as well as to the environment. We are therefore required to separate sharps from normal trash and dispose of them in a safe manner. Housing has established a “Sharps Program” to facilitate disposal of used sharps.

Q. How does Housing protect people and the environment from used sharps?

A. Each residence hall has a disposal site that is periodically emptied by University Hazardous Materials personnel. The sites are indicated by a red and yellow label.

People who use sharps are asked to put them in a sharps collection envelope before placing them in the collection container at the disposal site. Collection envelopes are available from the residence hall front desk.

Q. When is mercury a hazard?

A. Mercury is a hazard when it is released into the environment, for example, through a broken thermometer or thermostat. Long-term exposure to mercury may affect the brain, spinal cord, kidneys and liver. The amount of mercury in a single household thermometer can destroy the ecosystem of a 20-acre lake.

Cleanup of mercury spills is costly and involved.

Q. What is Housing doing about mercury in the residence halls?

A. Students are prohibited from bringing mercury thermometers into the residence halls. Call OSEH at 936-5238 for a pickup of your mercury-containing thermometer. You can get a non-mercury-containing thermometer from University Health Service (UHS) for a modest fee. Students will be charged the cost of any mercury spill cleanup that results from a broken thermometer that they have brought into the hall. Clean-up costs range from $300 to $400.

In addition, mercury-containing devices (such as thermostats) in building systems are being replaced with non-mercury-containing counterparts and Residential Dining Services has replaced all of its mercury-containing thermometers. Any mercury-containing devices discovered in the future will likewise be replaced.

Housing also participates through OSEH in the University’s fluorescent light bulb reclamation program. Under this program, discarded fluorescent light bulbs, which contain mercury, are directed to a facility that captures and sorts the component materials for recycling and re-use.

Q. What should I do if I suspect a mercury spill?

A. Call FIXIT (763-4948) immediately. They will contact OSEH’s HazMat (Hazardous Materials) Department for cleanup. Do not touch the mercury. Questions regarding these hazards should be directed to the University’s Department of Occupational Safety and Environmental Health.

See Environmental Health and Safety for additional information.

Revised 8/05