Ridenbaugh stairs damaged during piano move

[Otto Keyes]

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Sorry Gang,

(That's an apology, not a commentary)  I forwarded the exchange on the =
damaged steps & it came back almost unreadable, so I'll send it our =
again in hopes it will be more coherent.

Otto
Piano Technician
University of Idaho
208-885-7918

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

----- Original Message -----
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

---------Reply--------
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


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