The Sacramento State office of Environmental Health and Safety released its annual survey of asbestos-containing building materials in campus buildings on Jan. 9.

Under California law building owners are required to conduct an annual survey of asbestos-containing building materials in any building constructed prior to 1979. Building owners are then required to notify employees of the survey results and procedures and restrictions to prevent and minimize asbestos exposure, according to State of California Health and Safety Code, section 25915.

Inhaling airborne asbestos fibers can cause lung cancer, according to Steve Leland, Occupational Safety Specialist for EHS.

There is no risk to faculty, staff and students if ACBMs are kept intact and not disturbed, Leland said.

To keep ACBMs from being disturbed, employees are required to contact Facilities Services or EHS to make any repairs or modifications to affected buildings.

This includes hanging pictures or bulletin boards in faculty offices, Leland said.

Facilities Services have eight employees that are certified to make repairs and modifications to buildings containing ACBMs, Leland said. These facilities workers have completed a 40-hour asbestos safety course and are required to take a yearly refresher course, said Leland.

All facilities and maintenance workers, including custodians, are trained in asbestos awareness and report any deterioration of ACBMs to Facility Services and EHS, said Leland.

EHS notifies university employees about results of the annual survey through e-mail and a memorandum, Leland said.

Math lecturers Abe Mirza and Caroline Ramirez, who share an office in Brighton Hall, said they did not know about the annual asbestos survey and requirements.

“I guess we are okay, though,” Mirza said, “because we just use tape to put things up on the wall.”

Professor of School Psychology Steve Brock, who has a variety of pictures and awards mounted on his office wall, also said that he was unaware of the requirements.

The danger of releasing asbestos fibers by hanging a picture is very small, Leland said. Even this small risk requires asbestos containment work, said Leland.

Criminal Justice professor Dimitri Bogazianos said he was not aware of the annual survey or memo put out by EHS, but he did know through word-of-mouth from other faculty that he is required to get in touch with facilities services to make any modifications to his office.

English professor and writer in residence Mary Mackey said she reads everything that comes across her desk and has seen this year’s annual memo.

“I know it is important for faculty members not to chew on the brown floor tiles,” said Mackey.

Specific information about the asbestos survey and the 60 affected buildings is available online at the Environmental Health and Safety website.