a Eh PEPE TINY OP SGT TT Gt Eat ‘ | ; t . E by Dee Thomas A recent survey, completed by Dianne Morrow, Co- ordinator of the Occupational Health Program at Douglas, expresses serious doubts about the health and safety conditions on campus. Morrow explains in the re- port that she and members of .the Faculty Association had been receiving a number of voiced complaints regarding environmental health hazards. ‘The goal was to find out if the informal complaints were ran- dom, scattered, inconsistent or whatever.”’ The report itself consists of the results of a questionnaire that had been circulated to all faculty, and findings of a walk- through of the building by Morrow and two students. The student body was not asked to contribute. Some of the issues that were addressed include tempera- ture (heat, cooling systems), lighting, ventilation-especially chemical fumes in certain areas, and emergency/disas- ter plans. The fact that students were not asked for input is of some concern, but. Morrow says ‘“‘students should be aware that there have been comp- laints...they’re not alone.”’ Morrow also admits, ‘‘I don’t know what the extent of the problem is. It’s just a very basic study. It’s such a begin- ning thing it’s almost embarr- assing.”’ ‘“‘There hasn't been a real workable system. Accurate data? We don’t have it. I’d like to see recording of base- line data. It doesn’t necessar- ily have to cost a lot of money.”’ However basic, Ralph Stan- ton, President of the Faculty Association, has shown his support for the study. “It’s a good start in defining problems in health and safety in the college. The Association has a long term interest in this issue and is going to watch it very carefully. We've sent a letter to the administration asking that the paper be wide- ly distributed in the college for discussion.”’ Despite the support, Morrow recognizes her limitations. “I’m in a difficult position. I’ve just heard of complaints and I’m concerned about it. This is a volunteer project, so I’ma resource person and that is all. If the people in charge don’t take action, that’s on their consc- ience not mine.”’ “IT wasn’t meaning to put a whole lot of pressure and force on the administration, but they should be concerned, es- pecially when the building is new.”’ Clearly then, the major re- sponsibilty lays elsewhere, ie. the administration. But their response to questions about the survey is disappointing. VOLUME 14. NUMBER 9 MARCH 30 TO APRIL 13, 1983 Is this building slowly killi Bill Day, President of Doug- las, said he had not seen the study and couldn’t comment. West Graydon, Superinten- dent of Physical Plant, was unable to make any state- ments for similar reasons. Sooz Klinkhamer, Project Assistant in the Physical Plant Department at Douglas, was willing to discuss the ‘status’ of the building, but not the survey. ‘‘We have not had an opportunity to discuss it (the report) within our office or with Dianne. I am not in a position at this time to answer questions about it.’’ Klinkhamer does believe that many of the problems people have been experiencing on campus, with temperature, lights etc., have to do with the newness and size of Douglas College. ‘As with any new building, systems must be balanced. In our case, it is a huge building. Size means delay. 40,000 square feet is a lot to cover.”’ “‘The M.C.C. power comput- er controls the system. Pro- gramming is getting close to completion for heating. By next fall there should be no problems.”’ Certain problems, ie. with heat, in various areas of the building, it seems, require a re-adjustment in the comput- er’s program. Lighting levels can be reduced in other ways. ‘‘Adjustments can be made to the flourescent lights by build- ing maintenance workers, with a written request. It can be done in rows, turn lights on only on the dark side of the toom, or take out the tubes and disconnect.”’ Taking walkthroughs of the building is part of Klink- hamer’s job. ‘‘We can now determine our needs having been here a few months. I can go around and select priority areas, keeping my eyes open for areas of concern.”’ Staffing and construction have also been real problems, according to Klinkhamer. ‘The reason we’re so busy, is with the people putting this thing together-the architects, the mechanical engineers. We have one staff carpenter to do all the ‘little’ adjustments. It will take a full year before we feel comfortable with all as- pects of the building. Part of it is education. For instance, the use of fan switches. We're learning along with it.”’ In answer to questions about hermetically sealed buildings, Douglas in particular, Klink- hamer says ‘‘it requires un- derstanding what sealed means. In our case, it is no windows open, but we do have fresh air. It’s a complex situa- tion. A whole lot of other things must come into play. One is people’s resistence to change, ie. the move to this new campus...that kind of stress. It is unfair to come through with a blanket state- OTHER PRESS DOUGLAS COLLEGE STUDENT NEWSPAPER ngs ) Sean Valentini gus? ment that it’s the hermetically sealed building (bothering them).”’ Some of the recent papers that deal directly with the iss- ue of health problems for in- habitants of hermetically seal- ed buildings; in particular, T.D. Sterling of Simon Fraser University, are not as comfort- able as Klinkhamer is with the idea. In fact, they are gravely con- cerned about the complaints, illness and symptoms express- ed by persons in such build- ings. They do admit however, to the complexity of the situa- tion and the fact that existing investigations have not pro- vided consistent data, which would enable comparison of results. Klinkhamer is, however, con- fident in the abilities of the people setting up the system. “Tl feel comfortable. We have a group of competent people.’’ But admits, ‘‘I don’t think it’s perfect. It’s. run by humahs. There is a possibility that something can go wrong with a system. No one person has all the answers. We rely on the professionals.’’ Morrow’s report has not been tossed aside, assures Klinkhamer. ‘‘We’re not ig- noring Dianne’s report, we just haven’t got to it. Nothing in it is news. I believe the problems are temporary. We'll kecp the pressure on the people doing the work.”’