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Indoor Environment Concerns: How to Get Assistance

Last Updated: November 4, 2024 2:00:01 PM PST
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Learn how to get assistance with indoor environment concerns.

Indoor environment concerns include problem odors, air temperature and ventilation problems, floods, leaks, sewage backups, mold, and other general safety issues.

Report persistant, alarming, or illness-inducing odors immediately to the appropriate contact below.

  • After business hours, weekends, and holidays, contact UC San Diego Police: (858) 534-4357.

Odors

You may be able to resolve the odor concern yourself. Read What's That Smell? to learn about common odor sources and what you can do about them.

  • Burning smell:
    • Cigarettes and other tobacco products: See PPM 270-7, UC San Diego Smoke-Free Policy.
    • Burning plastic smell confined to a single area: This may be a failing light ballast. Check to make sure nothing else is burning (computer monitors as well as other equipment may fail and smoke). Turn off power to any equipment that is failing.
      • Campus and SIO: Call Facilities Management Service Referral Desk, (858) 534-2930
      • Student housing: Call Housing Maintenance, (858) 534-2600
      • UC San Diego Medical Center:
        • Burning smells: Call the Medical Center Safety Office, (619) 543-7575
        • Electrical problems or ballast evaluation/ replacement:
          • Hillcrest: Call the Facilities Engineering Help Desk, (619) 543-6454
          • Thornton Hospital: Call the Facilities Engineering Help Desk, (858) 657-6400
  • Natural gas or sewage:
    • Campus and SIO: Contact Facilities Management Service Referral Desk, (858) 534-2930
    • Student housing: Call Housing Maintenance, (858) 534-2600
    • UC San Diego Medical Center:
      • Hillcrest: Call the Facilities Engineering Help Desk, (619) 543-6454
      • Thornton Hospital: Call the Facilities Engineering Help Desk, (858) 657-6400
  • Chemicals in research buildings:
    • Call Environment, Health & Safety, (858) 534-3660 weekdays, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
    • Call Campus Police, (858) 534-4357 weekends, holidays, and outside of 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. weekdays
  • Construction work and renovation odors:
    • New building or major renovation: Call Facilities Design & Construction, (858) 534-2177
    • Minor renovation on campus: Call Facilities Management, (858) 534-2930
  • Dead animal:
    • Call EH&S Pest Management, (858) 534-4534 weekdays, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
    • Call Campus Police, (858) 534-4357 weekends, holidays, and outside of 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. weekdays
  • Unidentified odors and odors affecting health:
    • Call Environment, Health & Safety, (858) 534-3660
    • Medical Center Safety Office, (619) 543-7575
    • Call Campus Police, (858) 534-4357 weekends, holidays, and outside of 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. weekdays

Floods and sewage backups

  • For urgent campus matters, contact Facilities Maintenance at (858) 534-2930 during working hours. After hours, contact UC San Diego Police at (858) 534-HELP (534-4357)

If the flood occurs in one of the following areas, call one of the numbers provided below:

  • Hillcrest Medical Center: Facilities Engineering Help Desk, (619) 543-6454
  • Student Housing: Housing Maintenance, (858) 534-2600
  • Thornton Hospital: Facilities Engineering Help Desk, (858) 657-6400

If a flood occurs in a laboratory or raises safety concerns, call 534-HELP (534-4357). Campus Police will dispatch an Environment, Health & Safety (EH&S) professional.

See also:

Building-related concerns

Building-related concerns include air temperature or ventilation problems, mold, and leaks.

  • Air temperature, ventilation, floods, mold, leaks, and sewage backup:
    • Campus and SIO: Contact Facilities Management Service Referral Desk, (858) 534-2930
    • Student housing: Call Housing Maintenance, (858) 534-2600
    • UC San Diego Medical Center:
      • Hillcrest: Call the Facilities Engineering Help Desk, (619) 543-6454
      • Thornton Hospital: Call the Facilities Engineering Help Desk, (858) 657-6400
  • Building-related issues affecting health:
    • Campus and SIO: Call Environment, Health & Safety, (858) 534-3660
    • UC San Diego Medical Center: Safety Office, (619) 543-7575
  • Housekeeping issues:
    • Campus and SIO: Contact Facilities Management Service Referral Desk, (858) 534-2930
    • Student housing: Call Housing Maintenance, (858) 534-2600
    • UC San Diego Medical Center: Housekeeping, (619) 543-2255

General safety

General building-related safety hazards include fire prevention, electrical hazards, trip hazards, and lighting issues.

  • Campus and SIO: Call Environment, Health & Safety, (858) 534-3660
  • Student housing: Call Housing Maintenance, (858) 534-2600
  • UC San Diego Medical Center: Call the Safety Office, (619) 543-7575
  • Read Fire Extinguisher Overview for more information about fire extinguishers at UC San Diego.
Contact Environment, Health & Safety, (858) 534-3660 for safety-related issues. And/or contact Facilities Management Service Referral Desk for all other aforementioned needs and services.
Environment, Health & Safetyhttps://ehs.ucsd.edu