Today’s workers still at risk from yesterday’s asbestos

BY MIKE MCKENNA, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, B.C. CONSTRUCTION SAFETY ALLIANCE

If your workers are on the job at an older building, help make sure they're being properly protected against the deadly mineral known as asbestos. When its invisible fibres are released into the air, asbestos can be inhaled by unsuspecting workers and cause serious health problems – or death – years after exposure. Workers, many of them in the construction industry but also those in related industries, have died from asbestosrelated diseases like mesothelioma and asbestosis.

For decades, asbestos was used everywhere in construction because of its strength, heat-resistance, and soundproofing properties. Asbestos was so integral to the building process that it was added to many common materials, including: flooring, cement, ceilings, plaster, vermiculite, caulking, roofing felt and sheets as well as pipe and electrical insulation.

Though it is no longer used in construction, asbestos continues to cast its deadly shadow well into the present. In the last decade, asbestos has killed more workers in B.C. than any other type of workplace injury or disease. Because asbestos attacks slowly, many who have died were older or retired workers. It's expected that asbestos will remain a top killer for the next several years as more workers get sick and die from decadesold exposures.

Asbestos only becomes dangerous when disturbed, like when handled, drilled, or sanded during renovations. Once released, asbestos’ microscopic fibres can stay suspended in the air for hours, ready to be breathed in by the unaware and unprotected. Once inhaled, the fibres then lodge themselves into the respiratory system, causing irreversible damage to lung tissue with symptoms of asbestos-related diseases not appearing until years later.

Today's workers are still at risk of being exposed to asbestos during demolition, salvage or renovation projects. As part of the construction industry, sheet metal and HVAC workers are at a higher risk of exposure as they are more likely to come into contact with asbestos while on the job.

Because structures built before 1990 are likely to contain asbestos, know beforehand if the jobsite has undergone a site survey specifically for hazardous materials like asbestos. Make sure that the hazard assessment is done by a qualified professional, as only proper laboratory results will determine if workers are at risk of exposure.

If asbestos is present, it must be properly removed before any other work can begin. Because asbestos removal is a complex and hazardous process, leave it to the professionals who have the proper training, experience, and equipment to do the job well and safely.

Respirators and secured work zones are not the only elements required to do the job right; without proper work procedures and tools like special protective garments or a decontamination room, asbestos removal could hurt more than just those who are doing the work. Not only can asbestos fibres move into another work area if not properly contained, but they can also be transported to other locations by attaching onto people’s clothing. Later, the fibres detach and re-circulate in the air of the new environment – like the office or at home.

Before any work starts, written confirmation that the asbestos has been properly removed and disposed of should be received and available on the jobsite.

If any asbestos is found while a job is taking place – even after the removal process – stop work immediately to avoid risking further exposure.

Helping to ensure workers don't suffer from the devastating effects of an asbestos-related occupational disease is worth the extra time required for proper assessment or asbestos removal. Unlike most on-the-job accidents, asbestos is an invisible danger whose effects don't become apparent until much later –sometimes long after workers have retired from their careers.

For more information, additional resources, or asbestos-specific requirements found in the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation, please visit www.WorkSafeBC.com.