Fw: Ridenbaugh stairs damaged during piano move

[Otto Keyes]

We recently moved a bunch of old clunkers out of our practice rooms in the
oldest building on campus (Read:  No elevator), which meant sliding them
down 2 flights of ricketty, 100 yr. old stairs.  One nosing was broken in
the process, so I reported it to the music office, who passed it on to the
maintenance people.  Nothing seemed to be happening, so I inquired again, &
we got back the following reason from them.

I could not resist the temptation to step into the breach.  Thought you all
might enjoy this, since I'm sure you run across similar circumstances at
your institutions of higher learning.  Just a little "labor day" reading for
the bureaucratically challenged piano tech.

Otto Keyes

Piano Technician
University of Idaho
208-885-7918

> > Sent: Monday, August 26, 2002 1:53 PM
> > Subject: Ridenbaugh stairs damaged during piano move
> >
> >
> > > Hi Otto -- The reason the stairs are not repaired yet, is that there
> might
> > > be asbestos in the flooring.  The hazmat team will inspect, then put
up
> > > barricades, or whatever is needed until they have a chance to do the
> > > necessary repairs in the necessary hazmat way.
> > >
> > > jyw
> > >
 ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Otto Keyes" <okeyes@uidaho.edu>
> Sent: Monday, August 26, 2002 3:26 PM
> Subject: Re: Ridenbaugh stairs damaged during piano move
>
>
> > To whom it may concern!
> >
> > Due to the recent, unfortunate accident in which step # 13 in the main
> > staircase in Ridenbaugh Hall was damaged, we have ascertained that chips
> of
> > asbestos-laden flooring may have been released into the atmosphere.
Since
> > the carpenters were not equipped with the proper hazmat gear, they were
> > unable to approach close enough to the step in question to either
estimate
> > the potential cost of repairs, clean up the offending chips of alleged
> > asbestos-laden flooring, or tack down the loose flooring.
> >
> > We wish to inform you that they did report seeing a co-ed catch her heel
> on
> > the said loose flooring, causing her to pitch out the south window of
the
> > staircase into the courtyard below.  We wish to warn you that, prior to
> > moving her, the hazmat team will have to be called in to isolate the
shoe
> in
> > question & inspect for any other asbestos contamination.  We have called
> in
> > a specially trained team of EPA flooring inspectors to accomplish this
> task.
> > They should arrive in approximately two weeks.
> >
> > After cordoning of the area, heroic individuals from our department, at
> > great risk to themselves, did throw down the cushions from the roof onto
> the
> > co-ed in question in order that she might be comfortable for the ensuing
> > wait.  While they could not hear her response clearly, since she was
> covered
> > by a pile of cushions, they assumed the muffled responses & feeble
> > gesticulations were expressions of thanks.  She did manage to raise at
> least
> > one finger in grateful salute.
> >
> > We are now in the process of covering the courtyard in plastic to
contain
> > the contamination.  In addition, we will be cordoning off, and placing
the
> > step in question under quarantine.  In lieu of installing an elevator,
we
> > would suggest that you issue each of your students a pogo stick to
> navigate
> > over the offending step.  However, please be aware that prior to their
> use,
> > pogo sticks must be cleared by our office, and each user must undergo
> > intensive training and proper safety instruction.  Our course, entitled,
> > "Pogo Sticks -- A Guide to Climbing the Educational Staircase", will be
> > offered in the Spring Semester, 2003.
> >
> > For more information, please refer to the website we have constructed
for
> > this breaking incident, or see our latest press release.
> >
> >
> >
> > Piano Technician
> > University of Idaho
> > 208-885-7918
>
>