The University Library is probably one of the most quiet places in the campus. However, it was just six years ago that DLSU silently dealt with hazards revealed by results from an in-house research.
In 2005, Dr. Manuel C. Belino of the Mechanical Engineering Department conducted a study titled Assessment of Air Quality in Air-conditioned Buildings and Urban Buses, of which he used the University Library as the subject.
The research resulted in finding an alarmingly high content of benzene inside the Library, especially near photocopying machines. Benzene is an organic chemical compound that is a product of petroleum production. Photocopying machines emit this gas as it copies documents.
Benzene content in the University Library was recorded at around 27 parts of benzene per million parts of air (ppm).
The United States Occupational Safety and Health sets the permissible level of benzene exposure to 1 ppm in an 8-hour exposure time and 5 ppm in a 15-minute exposure time. Benzene is a carcinogenic compound linked to cause leukemia.
“The previous [administration] looked at [the study], but there was a change of administration. I just don’t know what happened after that, “says Belino when asked about the actions taken regarding the results of his study.
The Engineering professor furthers that the most vulnerable to such contamination are the library clerks and photocopy operators. “Unless you stay close to the photocopying machines and stay there for long hours then you will not be affected by it. If you stay away from it and you do not spend much hours, the [exposure] will be diluted… [Medical issues regarding benzene] do not happen overnight, but are accumulated over time.”
Belino says that he has not heard of libraries in other universities having the same case, but such problems usually occur in enclosed, air-conditioned areas where photocopying machines are powder type.
University Library Director Ana Maria Fresnido says that DLSU carried out an action to respond to the results of the study of Belino, and photocopiers were replaced with the liquid type.
However, Belino explains, “I am not sure [if newer photocopying machines would regulate benzene levels]. But I think it has to be checked what newer machines emit. The crucial thing here is, whether [the machine] is new or old, what they emit into the space.”
Belino reiterated that, from the results of his study, he recommends that photocopying machines be isolated, and the workers and photocopying machine operators be provided protective gear. Exhaust should also be installed in the enclosed room.
Another concern is that photocopying machine operators are contractual workers, which means they only serve the University for a given amount of time unless their contracts are renewed; they do not enjoy medical benefits given by the University.
According to Dr. Jesusa Marco, Executive Director of Human Resources Development and Management Office, DLSU does not have direct legal liabilities to contractual workers such as the photocopying machine operators and some of the library clerks. “There is no employee-employer relationship between the University and the contractual workers,” Marco explains. Contractual workers are employed by agencies and the University is just a client of the agency.
Given the said case, it is not DLSU’s duty to grant benefits such as medical compensation to contractual workers. Despite this, Marco furthers that the administration ensures that the agency where the workers come from fulfills their legal duties to contractual workers.
Guaranteed safety
Marco assures that DLSU does its best to keep its workplaces safe, especially in areas where students and employees, regular and contractual alike, dwell together.
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) conducts annual inspections for employers, the University included, regarding employment issues. One of the areas taken into account is the safety of the workplace.
During such inspections, the administration submits a self-assessment, with which the DLSU Employment Association (DLSUEA) is needed before it is forwarded to the DOLE. According to Marco, “Even if sometimes the DLSUEA is not in good terms with the administration, the assessments still gets approved for submission to the DOLE.”
Furthermore, the DOLE conducts on-site inspection where they visit the workplace to countercheck the submitted self-assessment. So far, DLSU has yet to receive visits from the DOLE.
According to Marco, while it could be that the DOLE prioritizes workplace facilities such as fire exits, there is also the possibility that the government branch is satisfied with the self-assessment submitted by the University that they no longer see the need for further inspections of the workplaces.
