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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Sorry Gang,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>(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.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Otto</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Piano Technician<BR>University of
Idaho<BR>208-885-7918</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>We recently moved a bunch of old clunkers out of our practice rooms =
in
the<BR>oldest building on campus (Read: No elevator), which meant =
sliding
them<BR>down 2 flights of ricketty, 100 yr. old stairs. One nosing =
was
broken in<BR>the process, so I reported it to the music office, who =
passed it on
to the<BR>maintenance people. Nothing seemed to be happening, so I =
inquired again, &<BR>we got back the following reason from =
them.<BR><BR>I
could not resist the temptation to step into the breach. Thought =
you
all<BR>might enjoy this, since I'm sure you run across similar =
circumstances
at<BR>your institutions of higher learning. Just a little "labor =
day"
reading for<BR>the bureaucratically challenged piano tech.<BR><BR>Otto
Keyes<BR></DIV>
<DIV>----- Original Message -----</DIV>
<DIV>Sent: Monday, August 26, 2002 1:53 PM<BR>Subject: Ridenbaugh stairs =
damaged
during piano move<BR><BR><BR>> Hi Otto -- The reason the stairs are =
not
repaired yet, is that there might<BR>> be asbestos in the =
flooring. The
hazmat team will inspect, then put up<BR>> barricades, or whatever is =
needed
until they have a chance to do the<BR>> necessary repairs in the =
necessary
hazmat way.<BR>><BR>> jyw</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>---------Reply--------<FONT face=Arial></FONT></DIV>
<DIV>To whom it may concern!<BR><BR>Due to the recent, unfortunate =
accident in
which step # 13 in the main<BR>staircase in Ridenbaugh Hall was damaged, =
we have
ascertained that chips of<BR>asbestos-laden flooring may have been =
released into
the atmosphere. Since<BR>the carpenters were not equipped with the =
proper
hazmat gear, they were<BR>unable to approach close enough to the step in =
question to either estimate<BR>the potential cost of repairs, clean up =
the
offending chips of alleged<BR>asbestos-laden flooring, or tack down the =
loose
flooring.<BR><BR>We wish to inform you that they did report seeing a =
co-ed catch
her heel on<BR>the said loose flooring, causing her to pitch out the =
south
window of the<BR>staircase into the courtyard below. We wish to =
warn you
that, prior to<BR>moving her, the hazmat team will have to be called in =
to
isolate the shoe in<BR>question & inspect for any other asbestos
contamination. We have called in<BR>a specially trained team of =
EPA
flooring inspectors to accomplish this task.<BR>They should arrive in
approximately two weeks.<BR><BR>After cordoning of the area, heroic =
individuals
from our department, at<BR>great risk to themselves, did throw down the =
cushions
from the roof onto the<BR>co-ed in question in order that she might be
comfortable for the ensuing<BR>wait. While they could not hear her =
response clearly, since she was covered<BR>by a pile of cushions, they =
assumed
the muffled responses & feeble<BR>gesticulations were expressions of =
thanks. She did manage to raise at least<BR>one finger in grateful =
salute.<BR><BR>We are now in the process of covering the courtyard in =
plastic to
contain<BR>the contamination. In addition, we will be cordoning =
off, and
placing the<BR>step in question under quarantine. In lieu of =
installing an
elevator, we<BR>would suggest that you issue each of your students a =
pogo stick
to navigate<BR>over the offending step. However, please be aware =
that
prior to their use,<BR>pogo sticks must be cleared by our office, and =
each user
must undergo<BR>intensive training and proper safety instruction. =
Our
course, entitled,<BR>"Pogo Sticks -- A Guide to Climbing the Educational =
Staircase", will be<BR>offered in the Spring Semester, 2003.<BR><BR>For =
more
information, please refer to the website we have constructed for<BR>this =
breaking incident, or see our latest press release.<BR><BR><BR><BR>Piano =
Technician<BR>University of =
Idaho<BR>208-885-7918<BR></DIV></BODY></HTML>