EDITORIAL BOARD Editor in
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 Michael Falcone
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 Edward Chiao
 Kelly Rayburn
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 Maegan Carberry
 Edward Chiao
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While UCLA did in fact follow its safety procedures before
beginning construction on asbestos-infested Powell Library, it
wasn’t enough to ensure that the destruction of
asbestos-laden tiles were done in a safe environment.
The university repeatedly fell short of federal testing
regulations in its attempts to have construction plans approved,
even after employees voiced concern for their health. Students
working in Powell could also have been unknowingly affected by
exposure to asbestos, and health problems resulting from exposure
will not show up for years. Properly administered tests were
finally conducted four days after construction began, but the
health hazard continued ““ it was another four days before
these tests prompted the university to give the order to
evacuate.
The university deserves credit for immediately evacuating the
area as soon as the test results came back showing the area
contained asbestos, but the evacuation wouldn’t have been necessary
in the first place had initial testing procedures been more
thorough.
An inquiry is being carried out to determine whether or not UCLA
knew about the asbestos before construction began. Regardless of
the result, the university’s policies and procedures in
dealing with hazardous materials should be reexamined, and in cases
of asbestos testing, should be strengthened to ensure this incident
never repeats itself.