Teaching in the Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute (TBSI) on Pearse Street was disrupted last week. Prior to the building’s evacuation on the 7th of November, access to the basement levels had been restricted. Students and staff were advised to avoid affected areas, as Xylene vapour, which is used as a solvent in paint, had leaked into the building following nearby paint works by Irish Rail. Inhaling Xylene can lead to irritation of the eyes, nose and throat. As a measure of caution, no classes took place in the building on Monday, the 10th of November.
Lecturers had advised students and staff to avoid entering the building as early as November 5th. Colin Doherty, head of the School of Medicine, had warned students that “given the potential harm to staff and students”, all teaching would be canceled until further notice. This decision was reached following a meeting with the School Executive Committee. Despite this, around 150 affected students have revealed to have been required to take an hour-long test in the basement of the building after others had already been evacuated. Class representatives had reached out to lecturers regarding the evacuation, upon which students were assured that the test would take place regardless. One student claims to have been unaware of any issues until after the test.
A further update was sent to affected students on Friday, the 7th of November, when access to the lower floors of the building was officially restricted to “essential staff only” as a “precautionary measure”. On November 8th, the decision was made to close off the building entirely, pending the results of air quality tests. The building remained closed until 6 pm on Monday, November 10th. Students reported to have had lectures and labs cancelled on Monday and Tuesday. Some professors were unaware of the closure until they arrived at the building, leading to the failure to provide students with links for online classes.
On Monday, air quality tests had indicated lowered levels of fumes in the areas closest to the rails, allowing for the reopening of the building. According to a College spokesperson, the administration will continue to monitor the situation closely. Moreover, “the ventilation regime in TBSI was altered to ensure increased air flow and a greater number of air changes per hour”. Irish Rail have confirmed that no further paint works are planned in the near future.
