Park Library still safe, regardless of building construction

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With the library expansion and renovation project progressing on schedule, people may need to take some precautions about safety issues.
Gerald Edgar, Library Business Services manager, said the library project involves a total renovation of the present building and an addition.
“Ground breaking on the project occurred last April and project completion is currently projected for early in the year 2002,” he said.
Edgar said the library construction is a very significant event in CMU’s history, since the new library will be a visual and academic highlight of the campus and will serve the university, the community and the state for many years.
“During the construction phase, there inevitably will be some mess in Park Library and some occasional frustration. But the safety precaution is the most important thing of concern,” he said.
Workers involved in the construction project are employed by the Christman Company of Lansing, Edgar said.
They are required to participate in the Accident Prevention Program by which the employer provided instruction and safety training, Edgar said.
He said it is the employers’ responsibility to train and educate the employees.
“They should instruct each employee in the recognition and avoidance of unsafe conditions and the regulations applicable to his work environment to control or eliminate any hazards or other exposure to illness or injury,” Edgar said.
In addition to the safety-training program, the Christman company also organized periodic meetings to reemphasize safety issues among their employees, he said.
“Construction is always a dangerous business if people are not careful.
“They might have some chances to get injuries, especially when working with overhead constructions. But at least they should have some common sense at the site,” Edgar said.
He said fortunately to date, there have been no major hazards or injuries.
Peter Gorton, campus and space planner for Facilities Management, said overall, it’s safe for people to work on-site at the library.
The Michigan Occupational Safety Health Act required that only those employees qualified by training or experience are allowed at the construction workplace, he said.
Gorton said there are currently about 85 people working on the library project daily.
“They comply with Michigan Safety laws well, plus there are some safety programs in place,” he said.
“I have been only aware of one injury, that a guy was cut by a pipe that slipped off a cart.”
The changes to the library since construction began are quite obvious to everyone on campus, Gorton said.
He said the concrete floors and pillars for the new addition on the east and the demolition of the interior of the old Park Library have already been complete.
The roof for the new addition was put into place in January and the glass curtain wall for the new addition was erected in the early spring, he said.
“Meanwhile, people are working on the steel construction,” he said.
Electricians, carpenters and concrete-finishers are on site, in addition to other construction workers.
“All of them should wear personal protective equipment, such as helmet, hearing and eye protection,” he said.
Gorton said although the fence has been set up to keep other people out, passers-by still need to take certain precautions in case of accidents.
Demolition of the west side of the library is slated to begin this week.
“The commencement also happens during that period, so there will be lots of people on campus,” Gorton said.
“We will post notices on the major areas to remind people about their personal safety,” he said. “We will try our best to prevent people from any accident due to the library construction.”
Richard Vanderputte, Hart freshman, said he has been working in Park Library since the construction began.
“I think it is very safe as long as you watch out for the surroundings,” he said.