Asbestos removal in Swen Parson Hall poses no health risks to NIU students and faculty, according to NIU administrators.

Jim Nelson, industrial hygienist for the NIU Environmental Health and Safety Department, said the asbestos removal is “in support of a chilled water upgrade for an air conditioning system in the building.”

Nelson said the first phase of the abatement, completed on Thursday, was done in the south mechanical room and workers are then moving to other areas of the building.

The Capital Development Board (CDB) is overseeing the $33,800 project. Eddie Williams, NIU vice president of Finance and Planning, said the money is coming from CDB to NIU. If a shortfall occurs, Williams said the money will be taken from other CDB projects.

“I have been informed that the work has been done in a very professional manner,” Nelson said. “The engineering methods being used contain the material.”

Nelson said workers are using a glove bag technique, in which workers wrap a special bag around the pipes, so the material stays contained within the bag.

“It’s a very safe process that they’re using,” he said. “There is very little chance of any fiber release from the work area.”

Nelson said the work area is under what is called “negative pressure.

“It’s an additional safeguard to prevent possibilities of fibers getting out,” he said.

Nelson said to help ensure safety, there is a duct venting out of the building. Apparently several holes which have been patched by duct tape do not pose a health risk either.

“The air runs through a special filter before it even gets to the hallway so it is clean when it leaves the building,” he said.

Additionally, Nelson said as part of the project, air samples are conducted regularly.

“The air was, is and will be monitored,” Nelson said. “It passed the clearance limit, which is 0.01 fibers per cubic centimeter of air.”

Nelson said the samples are being done in conjunction with CDB’s established regulations.

“They are running a minimum of two personal samples on workers per day,” he said. “In addition, two samples are taken outside the containment per day and a minimum of three taken inside the containment per day.”

Nelson said in order to pass clearance when the project is complete, a minimum of five samples have to be taken inside the

containment and all have to come out less than the 0.01 level.

CDB spokesperson Mia Jazo said the project has been in progress for less than two weeks.

“It’s a small job and is only scheduled to last for 30 days,” she said.

Students and faculty at NIU’s College of Law have raised questions about their safety because of their exposure to the asbestos.

“People have expressed some concerns, but the concerns were addressable,” said James Alfini, dean of NIU’s College of Law.

Alfini said the details of the abatement were given to him one week before the project began.

“I’m very impressed with the way the university came in early to explain to me in some detail how the process would be done,” Alfini said.

Alfini also said he sent out a memo to faculty members and students at that time to let them know what kind of work would be done.

“They used a glove and bag technique and took care of the airborne particles,” Alfini said. “As far as I know, it is being done in a safe and environmentally sound way.”

Additionally, Alfini said he has been kept informed about the progress of the project.

“The guy who was monitoring the air said the air is cleaner now than when they started,” he said.