Ivan Hilton Science Building Update
(Published Sept. 30, 2024 3:41 PM)
GLOBAL: Message from President Woolf: Ivan Hilton Science Building Update
Greetings, New Mexico Highlands University Community,
As we continue to move forward with the work of reopening the Ivan Hilton Science building, I want to make it clear that the safety and security of our students, faculty, and staff guide every action we take in this effort. Campus safety officials are working with complete transparency and cooperation with all state and local agencies throughout this process, as these agencies provide oversight and guidance to both NMHU safety officials and our independent contractors.
Under my direction, NMHU convened the Hazardous Materials Protocols Workgroup this past Tuesday to examine our campus HazMat policy and seek opportunities to strengthen these protocols. Here are the outcomes of this first meeting:
- The committee agreed to utilize the protocols in the 2017 Ivan Hilton Science Technology Building Hazardous Materials Handling and Storage Guidelines when the building reopens.
- Faculty working in labs and classrooms are developing a Standard Operating Procedure for those spaces before reintroducing hazardous chemicals. The academic department chair and the Environmental Health and Safety office will review this operating procedure before it is enacted.
- All students, staff, and faculty members will be trained in the use of hazardous chemicals in each of our labs before being allowed to enter them, and this training will be documented.
The science curriculum at NMHU includes studying many natural specimens, including rock specimens. In the review of the building, several rock samples containing natural radiation were discovered in one of the Natural Resources Management Department’s Geology labs. As part of the New Mexico Environment Department’s comprehensive review of the building, it brought in the Radiation Protection Programs Radiation Control Bureau to conduct a radiation survey throughout all areas of the building on Wednesday, September 25.
The survey determined that no radiation exposure rates exceed the public dose limits of 2 milli-Roentgen in any one hour, and the University Natural Resources Management Department is not at risk of radiation exposure from natural radiation present in the rocks. All measurements found are well below the public dose limits. The Geology lab radiation survey did identify radiation in many of the rocks collected, but all levels of radiation are below public dose limits. There are no special safety requirements for the amounts of radiation present in the rocks. Nonetheless, we have collected all of these samples and have scheduled them for disposal.
We received a complaint from New Mexico OSHA last Wednesday, September 25, about refrigerators removed from the Ivan Hilton Science building on August 28. It was reported to me that those refrigerators were removed at the request of Chemical Storeroom Manager Derek Rodriguez. Rodriguez cleaned these refrigerators on August 26 before they were removed from the building’s loading dock and sent to the NMHU recycling center. This action predates the closure of the building on September 3.
Under the recommendation of NM OSHA inspectors, guidance of the New Mexico Environment Department, and the supervision of NMHU’s Campus Safety Officer Lee Martinez and City of Las Vegas Fire Captian Daniel Atencio, hazmat contractors inspected, tested for chemical residue, and sanitized these refrigerators Thursday morning. The contractors found the refrigerators to contain zero contaminants and no chemicals. These findings were reported to the New Mexico Environment Department immediately after this inspection.
Moving forward, we plan to conduct air quality testing in the Ivan Hilton Science building this week. The building will not reopen until testing is completed and it is proven safe. Once that is in place, we will seek approval from state and local safety agencies before deciding on a date to reopen this facility.
As always, I thank our students, staff, faculty, and our campus union representation for their patience and assistance during this process. I also thank the many contributions from New Mexico OSHA, The New Mexico Environment Department, City of Las Vegas Fire Department, and the Hazmat contractors who have performed their duties with the utmost professionalism.
Sincerely,
Dr. Neil Woolf
President
New Mexico Highlands University
Previous Messages
Tuesday, September 24, 2024 5:43 PM)
(Published Sept. 24, 2024 5:43PM)
GLOBAL: Message from President Woolf: Ivan Hilton Science Building Update
Greetings New Mexico Highlands Community,
As we continue the work of preparing the Ivan Hilton Science building for reopening, I want to provide an update as to where we are in this process, how we got to where we are, and what steps we are taking to resolve this situation.
Where we are
The Ivan Hilton Science building was closed on September 3 as a result of issues with the storage and maintenance of chemicals in the building, and it currently remains closed until further notice. NMHU has been working closely with the City of Las Vegas, Las Vegas Fire Department, the NM Environment Department, NM OSHA, and other agencies and contractors to remediate the issues in the labs and storage areas in the building and ensure all chemicals are properly stored and labeled. As of Tuesday, September 24, all of the chemicals have been moved to central storage areas in the building to be labeled and removed so that the building can reopen. NMHU is now awaiting air quality testing and approval from state and local authorities before we reopen the building.
Since closing the Ivan Hilton Science building, classes scheduled there have been moved and continue to take place both online via Zoom and at alternate sites on campus. I know it hasn’t been easy, but this move was absolutely necessary to ensure the safety of our community while continuing to provide instruction.
How we got there
The issue began when the NMHU Facilities Department received a complaint of a strong chemical smell in the Ivan Hilton Science Building on July 16, 2024. The smell was coming from biology specimens and Carosafe (used to preserve the specimens) in a walk-in cooler. A Biology faculty member removed the material with help from Facilities. Following the removal, two custodians were assigned to mop the inside of the cooler to complete the cleaning. They began the work, but stopped shortly thereafter due to the strength of the smell. NMHU then contracted an abatement company from Albuquerque to clean the walk-in cooler, and the cooler was taped off and access was prohibited. Although the space was clean, due to residual odors, New Mexico OSHA and the New Mexico Environment Department were contacted on August 27 to report the incident and to seek guidance.
On September 3, another chemical smell was reported, and the NMHU Police Chief called the Las Vegas Fire Department (LVFD) to inspect the complaint. Upon inspecting the building, a leak was discovered, and the LVFD instructed NMHU to evacuate and close the building. A Hazmat contractor was called to clean up a dimethylamine hydrochloride leak inside a chemical storage room and then inventory and label all remaining chemicals in the room.
As the HAZMAT contractor neared completion of the work, an inspector from the NM Environment Department Hazardous Waste Bureau performed a courtesy inspection of the building along with LVFD Captain Daniel Atencio. During the courtesy inspection, unlabeled and expired chemicals were discovered in other areas of the building. As a result, the scope of work for the HAZMAT contractor was expanded to include any additional chemicals in the building.
The HAZMAT contractor removed all chemicals from the labs to a central storage area on Friday, September 20, and another contractor completed a removal project for the remaining biowaste in the building on the same day.
NMHU is in the process of reopening the building. The final step in the reopening process is an air quality test, and the university is in the process of scheduling that test now. We continue to cooperate with all state and local agencies throughout this process.
On Wednesday, September 18, NM OSHA informed NMHU that they had received a complaint about the death of a custodian who worked in the Ivan Hilton Science Building and that it had started a fatality investigation triggered by the complaint. To be clear–the custodian did work in the Ivan Hilton Science Building; however, it has yet to be determined if that played any role in the cause of death.
I have spoken with the custodian’s family, who granted me permission to announce the passing to the NMHU community, as well as the details of his services. Please see that message below, sent this Monday:
New Mexico Highlands University Community,
I have been in conversation with the family of Martin Lujan, who has authorized me to announce Martin’s death on September 14, 2024. Martin worked as a member of our facilities management team for many years. Though I did not know him, I have heard many endearing stories about him from both his family and his co-workers. And I know that he will be dearly missed.
A candlelight vigil for Martin is taking place this afternoon at the intersection of National Avenue and University Avenue. Services will be held on Thursday, October 3, 2024, with a Rosary beginning at 8:30 a.m. to be followed immediately by a Mass of Christian burial. All services will be held at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church in Las Vegas, NM, with Fr. Rob Yaksich officiating. Interment will follow at San Jose Cemetery in Las Vegas, NM. There will also be a mass intention held on Thursday, October 17, 2024, at 7:00 a.m. at Our Lady of Sorrows Church.
Please join me in keeping Martin’s family in your thoughts during this difficult time.
Sincerely,
Dr. Neil Woolf
President
New Mexico Highlands University
What we’re doing about it
Moving forward, NMHU is working to strengthen our campus HazMat policy. We’ve restructured the organization of the Environmental Health and Safety Office and have established a committee of staff and faculty members to review and strengthen all current protocols as needed. We’ve received offers of assistance with this effort from the New Mexico Environmental Department, specialists from the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, and specialists from Los Alamos National Labs.
While we want to reopen the Ivan Hilton Science building as quickly as possible, we will not do so until the safety of our campus community is assured. I thank our students, staff, faculty, and our campus union representation for their patience and assistance during this process. I also thank the many contributions from New Mexico OSHA, The New Mexico Environment Department, City of Las Vegas Fire Department, and the HazMat contractors who have performed their duties with the utmost professionalism.
Sincerely,
Dr. Neil Woolf
President
New Mexico Highlands University
Tuesday, September 17, 2024 12:27PM
(Published Sept. 17, 2024, 12:27 pm)
GLOBAL: Ivan Hilton Building Update
Greetings NMHU Community,
The progress at the Ivan Hilton building is going well. The original issue with the chemicals in our storeroom has been mitigated by Advanced Environmental Solutions, New Mexico Environment Department, and the Las Vegas Fire Department. Those chemicals are now contained and in the process of being disposed of properly.
The current process involves a review and mitigation of all labs, classrooms, and offices in the building. We want to ensure that all chemicals and biological materials are correctly labeled and stored in appropriate containers. We are also working with NM OSHA to make sure that we comply with state OSHA standards of safety. Furthermore, the building’s HVAC and extractor systems are online and operating properly.
The bottom line is that we are working to reopen the building very soon. I am very grateful to the many faculty and staff who are working to mitigate the remaining steps for reopening. I’m also very grateful for the many external partners and experts who are providing guidance ensuring that we exceed safety standards when we reopen.
Respectfully,
Neil
Neil Woolf, Ed.D.
President
New Mexico Highlands University
Wednesday, September 11, 2024 5:29 PM
GLOBAL: UPDATE: Ivan Hilton Science Building
Greetings NMHU Community,
The latest information we have regarding the Ivan Hilton building closure is that all chemicals are now securely stored in appropriate containers.
The Ivan Hilton Science Building remains closed until further notice. However, all other buildings are now open and accessible, and normal activities can resume in those buildings immediately.
I would like to thank the Las Vegas Fire Department and other agencies who contributed to today’s effort.
Dr. Neil Woolf
President
New Mexico Highlands University
Wednesday, September 11, 2024 1:12 PM
Subject: GLOBAL: UPDATE: Ivan Hilton Science Building
Dear Campus Community,
The work of removing the chemicals from the Ivan Hilton Science Building is beginning this afternoon. We are working closely with Captain Atencio from the Las Vegas Fire Department HazMat team to ensure the safety of everyone in our campus community and the surrounding area.
Out of an abundance of caution, a safety perimeter has been established around the Ivan Hilton Science building while safety teams continue their work. It’s important that all staff, students, and faculty respect this perimeter for their personal safety. Campus police will be enforcing the perimeter and making certain that no one enters the area.
The following buildings and areas are closed for the remainder of the day:
- ARMAS/Engineering Building
- The Foundry
- Sininger Hall
- Lora Shields
- All parking lots across the street from the Ivan Hilton Science, Foundry, and Engineering buildings
- Central Park
Access to these buildings or surrounding areas is prohibited.
Classes scheduled in these buildings will not take place in-person today. The administration recommends that these classes be moved synchronously to Zoom. Faculty remains responsible for ensuring contact hours are met. Should faculty members scheduled to teach these courses have any concerns, they are to contact their dean.
Students should check their email for updates from their instructors with regards to their afternoon classes. For those who have been temporarily displaced, please remember that there are a multitude of services available to our students via the HU CARES at https://www.nmhu.edu/campus-life-2/hu-cares/.
Staff working in these buildings should contact their supervisor for alternative work solutions if needed.
I would like everyone to know that as we are working through this project, the top priority is the safety of everyone on campus and our surrounding community.
Dr. Neil Woolf
President
New Mexico Highlands University
Tuesday, September 10, 2024 5:26 PM
Subject: GLOBAL: National Ave. CLOSED Wednesday Morning
Dear Campus Community,
The Las Vegas Fire Department and HazMat team will be on campus tomorrow morning, Wednesday, September 11, to review the Ivan Hilton Science building before approving a formal reopening. This visit requires that National Avenue be closed during the review so the hazmat team can do its work.
We understand this closure will inconvenience the community. We’ll reopen National as soon as possible. We appreciate your continued patience and understanding.
Sincerely,
Facilities Management
New Mexico Highlands University
Monday, September 9, 2024 3:42 PM
Subject: GLOBAL: UPDATE: Ivan Hilton Science Building
Dear Campus Community,
The Ivan Hilton Science Building will remain closed under expert guidance until the entire facility, including all laboratories, is deemed safe. New Mexico Highlands University is actively collaborating with the Las Vegas Fire Department and Advanced Environmental Solutions to ensure that all hazardous chemicals are properly contained and disposed of safely.
Students, please continue consulting with your professors for information about classes or rescheduling due to the building closure. We understand this closure is disrupting the semester for faculty and students, and we appreciate your continued patience and understanding.
Faculty and staff who need materials from an office in the Ivan Hilton Science Building should contact the NMHU Safety office.
Sincerely,
Facilities Management
New Mexico Highlands University
Friday, September 6, 2024 11:52 AM
Subject: GLOBAL: UPDATE: Ivan Hilton Science Building
Dear Campus Community:
NMHU is working with authorities to properly dispose of the chemicals in the Ivan Hilton Science building’s chemical storage room. We are also working with campus partners and external experts to improve and strengthen safety protocols.
Out of an abundance of caution, the building will remain closed as we perform these actions. We will make sure to provide updates during the process as we work to reopen the building as quickly as possible. We understand that this is disrupting the semester for both faculty and students, and we appreciate your patience and understanding.
Sincerely,
Facilities Management
New Mexico Highlands University