WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 2003
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN *9A*
A CHRONIC STRUGGLE
Struggle
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8A
fund a new ventilation system as Gaunt said, the University would work to make other revenue available.
Some of that money could have come from the $2.5 million a year that Legislature gives to the University for repair and rehabilitation, Russell said. With the help of the provost's office, the School of Architecture could have used some of that money to improve the air quality in the shop. Judging from past experience, Russell said the deans who were adamant about their proposals had almost always been successful in financial negotiations with the provost.
In one example, a couple of years ago the School of Fine Arts wanted to make improvements to its common shop in the Art and Design Building. The renovations to the shop were to cost approximately $200,000. Within six weeks, Russell said, the
deals with the provost's office and used some of its own money for improvements.
A similar financial agreement was made between the office of the provost and the School of Architecture, but the deans did not accept the offer. Lindy Eakin, vice provost, said that in 2001, he offered to give the School of Architecture $50,000, which would cover about two-thirds of the cost to install a new ventilation system. The School of Architecture would have had to fund the rest — about $25,000. Gaunt and Swann declined the offer because they said they did not have the $25,000 at the time. Eakin said.
"We had to look at the bigger picture," Eakin said. "For accreditation purposes we had to move into the digital age, and the shop could be managed through other ways besides a new ventilation system."
In the same year, Eakin said the University spent $500,000 on improving the electrical infra-
Kelley Weiss/Kansan
studios could convert to a digital format. That money came from the repair and rehabilitation fund, not the School of Architecture's budget. Improvements on electrical distribution had to be made so the School of Architecture could keep its accreditation from the National Architecture Accreditation Board. Eakin said keeping accreditation was more important than improving the shop.
"They had to ask what's more important," Eakin said. "If we can improve the education of students to become professional architects, it's a no-brainer."
If the provost's office thought the shop was enough of a risk to people, it would shut the shop down, Eakin said. The deciding factor, Eakin said, was that the shop did not pose an immediate threat and that the digital upgrade needed to be made.
SAFETY STANDARDS
Mark Umholtz displays the respirator he wore during the last year he worked at the craft shop in Marvin Hall. He said he had to wear the respirator at all times while in the shop because it was too difficult for him to breathe without it. He no longer works at the shop because of his respiratory condition.
If a person works in the shop for 40 hours a week, the risk increases for health hazards, as in the case of Umholtz, Russell said. The ventilation and dust collection system in the shop are not at the proper level for engineering design, which increases the risk for shop users, Russell said. The school is not legally bound to make the improvements, but replacing the ventilation system is the right thing to do, Russell said.
The exhaust ventilation for the welding area also is not at the level for modern safety standards, Russell said.
"What they have in there isn't prudent practice design," Russell said. "It could easily be changed for $10,000 to $15,000."
Welding fumes can be some of the most toxic in a shop, Russell said, so it is important to test the air of the indoor welding facilities. Tests have not been conducted because students must be using the welding area and creating the toxic fumes for four to six hours straight for an accurate reading. But the use of the welding equipment in the shop is sporadic, and much of the welding is done outside in an open area. In the last three years, the school has not made arrangements to conduct the testing, Russell said.
Russell said he did not understand why the school had not installed a new ventilation and dust-collection system.
"The recommendations were very reasonable," Russell said. "They just took care of all the easy stuff."
Umholtz was awarded full workers' compensation for all his medical expenses from the state when he had to leave his job in December of 2001.
DISSENT FROM THE DEANS
Linda Fund, assistant director of human resources, said an employee was never awarded workers' compensation unless he could prove that his work environment injured him.
But Gaunt and Swann said Umholtz's award of workers' compensation was not an indication that the air quality in the Marvin Hall craft shop harmed him.
Gaunt said the respiratory specialist's medical evaluations of the cause of Umholtz's illness were inconclusive.
"We can all speculate on these things," Gaunt said. "I don't really know what his situation is specifically, so I don't see the value in evaluating the situation."
"Our concern would be at a much greater level if we had evidence that was conclusive in any respect about the air quality in the shop," Gaunt said. "We don't. And we take every precaution that we should take."
But Gaunt said he wanted to know what caused the development of chronic respiratory illness.
But Witte is not concerned about respiratory problems.
"I've been around a wood shop for over 15 years," Witte said. "I'll protect myself." LOOKING FOR CHANGE
"It would be nice ... to know exactly the cause of Mark's problem and to know exactly what role his job and the environment played in that," Gaunt said. "We don't know, and all we can do is the best we can do."
Gaunt said he could not say whether the employee who had replaced Umholtz was in danger of developing occupational asthma or chronic respiratory conditions. When Witte, the new shop supervisor, was hired, Gaunt and Swann said they did not tell him that Umholtz had left because of health reasons.
LOOKING FOR CHANGE
"The University needs to be accountable for protecting the health of all students and employees."
Although Umholtz says he is upset for what happened, he still has strong ties to the University. His father, two brothers, himself and his mother have a combined 80 years of attendance and work at the University.
Tune in to KUJH, Channel 66, tonight at 5:30 p.m., 7:00 and 9:00 to see Greg Barry's television package to find out more about the air quality conditions in room 109 Marvin Hall and how those conditions have affected Mark Umholtz.
- Edited by Lindsay Hanson
Do you feel endangered by the shop's air quality? Should the University put in a new ventilation system?
"I've personally never had any problems working here; I wasn't here as much as Umholtz was. What he did was great for the school. He was very nice and always concerned about safety. The school should be taking care of him."
Jake Johannes
Powhattan senior
"We haven't had any other complaints. We wear the masks, and I totally feel safe. I didn't know enough about it to have an opinion."
Jason Newland Springfield, Mo., senior and shop assistant
"I don't feel in danger in the shop. But Mark was in there a lot more than I was. There's been talk about getting a new ventilation system, but nothing has been done. From an employee's perspective, it needs to be replaced."
Vincent Duet Chicago senior and shop assistant
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