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01005 ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
PART 1: GENERAL
1.01 Summary
| Cornell University is very concerned about the health and safety of workers employed to
perform construction, the campus population, and protecting the surrounding environment.
When specifying certain products for a project consider the long and short range
implications. Short range would include use, storage, and disposal of the item on site.
Long range would include project stability and potential health issues. |
1.02 Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
| Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) should be available for all chemicals used on the job
site. The MSDS should be kept in the job office at the site and kept on file with the
Construction Management Office. For example, MSDSs should be available for: adhesive
glues, paints, sealers, solvents, roofing materials, etc. MSDS are provided by the
manufacturer of the product in use. |
1.03 Storage/Disposal of Chemicals
| Chemical compounds used at the job site should be stored and used where they will not
leak or spill to the ground, do not cause a fire hazard, and do not obstruct passageways.
The manufacturer's directions for use should be followed for all applications. This
includes disposal of containers at the end of use and cleaning of any application tools.
Drain disposal of any compounds is forbidden without permission. The Office of Environmental
Health and Safety should be contacted before any drain disposal is considered. |
1.04 Asbestos
| A. Asbestos materials are very common on the campus, especially in utility areas. Also,
some buildings have ceilings containing asbestos. Asbestos is a proven carcinogen and must
be handled or removed only by State licensed contractors and certified workers. An
asbestos survey has been done by Cornell and asbestos materials are labeled in most
utility areas. Designers should consider that asbestos is present in existing campus
buildings until demonstrated otherwise.
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| B. The Office of Environmental Health and Safety has information regarding the
location of asbestos in most buildings on campus. |
1.05 Confined Area Entry
| A confined area is any place that is not normally occupied by anyone; it would include
manholes, steam or electric vaults, inner mechanical rooms, tanks, pipes, etc. Confined
areas can accumulate poisonous or flammable gases and/or not have enough oxygen to support
life. The University has a policy in effect that pertains to its employees and
contractors. The key of safe entry for confined areas is using a gas meter to first
check the air. Contact Environmental Health and Safety for assistance. |
1.06 Direct Steam - Human Contact
| Steam generated from the University’s Central Heating Plant contains additives
which have the potential to cause adverse health effects under certain circumstances. The
following is a list of guidelines for use of direct steam where there may be human
contact:
| Direct steam should not be used for general building humidification.
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| Direct steam should not be used for heating food.
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| In general, direct steam should not be released to any indoor atmosphere. Any exceptions
to this must first be approved by Environmental Health and Safety and Planning,
Design and Construction, after a review of the proposed steam use on a case by case
basis. |
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Standard Last revised on 03/01/96
Web Page Last updated on 01/26/00
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