Surrey Now May 14 2013

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TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2013

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Special report

Asbestos: Dying for dollars In the local building-demolition industry, the lives of workers are put at risk by some companies looking to make a profit see video and website with Tom Zytaruk

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I

t’s no secret that asbestos is dangerous. But it might come as a surprise how some businessmen willfully put young labourers – college and high school students among them – in serious harm’s way, and just to save a buck. “I have been to many funerals over the years,” said one Surrey consultant, with 25 years in the asbestos abatement business. “It’s like putting a loaded gun to a worker’s head except the exposure doesn’t show up for 20 to 25 to 30 years.” For many years asbestos was considered to be a miracle building material. It’s heat resistant, fire resistant, absorbs sound, resists electrical and chemical damage, and is relatively cheap. The problem is, it’s also poisonous.

Asbestos represents six types of fibrous silicate minerals. These minerals had been used since the late 1800s in North America, in building and construction materials, until their dangers were discovered a few decades ago. Any building constructed prior to 1990 is likely to contain some asbestos and those built before 1984 will contain a lot. Once inhaled, fine particles lodge themselves deep inside the lungs, where their presence over time can lead to horrific diseases like lung cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma. Workers in the residential demolition business can be protected from exposure if the material is safely identified and removed. Problem is, doing things the right way is more expensive and takes more time than cutting corners, so some developers and owners seek out labs or consultants who are willing to prepare bogus reports that indicate a building contains no asbestos when it is indeed present. see › page 3

Any building constructed prior to 1990 is likely to contain some asbestos and those built before 1984 will contain a lot. (Photo: KEVIN HILL)

ELECTION DAY: Follow us on Twitter for news and local results tweet with

Today is election day in B.C. Polls are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (on Tuesday, May 14). As polls close, the Now will have all the results and reaction from ridings in Surrey, White Rock and North Delta. Our election-night coverage will involve a team of Tweeting reporters – via their own accounts and also twitter.com/ TheNowNewspaper. Smartphone users can scan this page with the Layar app to immediately connect to the Now’s Twitter account. Throughout the evening, stay connected by using the Twitter hashtag #bcelxn. Also look for the latest election news and results at www.thenownewspaper.com. This is the 40th provincial election in B.C. To find the general voting location nearest to you, as well as more information on acceptable forms of identification, see elections. bc.ca or call toll-free at 1-800661-8683. Elections BC also has district riding maps, the full list of candidates in each riding, and other electionrelated material.

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