Hazardous Materials Assessments in Kamloops and Surrounding Areas

A Hazardous Material Assessment provides a current inventory of hazardous substances in a building, machinery, or structure. In British Columbia all workplaces must comply with the British Columbia Occupational Health and Safety Regulations (BC OH&S) also known as BC Reg 296/97, with amendments up to January 2024.

 

Within these Regulations Part 20, "Construction, Excavation and Demolition"  Section 20.112, "Hazardous Materials" ​ which is defined as:  

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https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/296_97_16#section20.112

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(a) asbestos-containing material,

(b) lead or any other heavy metal or

(c) toxic, flammable or explosive material,

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that may be handled, disturbed or removed in the course of the demolition or salvage of machinery, equipment, a building or a structure, or the renovation of a building or structure. Also, within this regulation, it states that before work begins on the demolition or salvage of machinery, equipment, a building or a structure, or the renovation of a building or structure, all employers responsible for that work, and the owner, must ensure that a qualified person inspects the machinery, equipment, building or structure and the worksite to identify the hazardous materials.

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Asbestos is currently the substance that has the most attention associated with buildings and structures. Asbestos is a substance that must have an inventory conducted even if not associated with a renovation or demolition as prescribed in BC OH&S Regulations Part 6, "Asbestos" , Section 6.4, "Inventory,"  which states:  

 

https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/296_97_04#section6.4

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          (1) The employer and the owner must ensure that a qualified person

 

(a) collects representative samples of the materials in the workplace that the qualified person suspects contain 

      asbestos,

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(b) determines whether each of the samples is asbestos-containing material in accordance with,

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(I) in the case of a sample that is not vermiculite insulation, one of the methods set out in paragraph (a) (i) to (iii) of the definition of "asbestos-containing material" in section 6.1, and

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(ii) in the case of a sample that is vermiculite insulation, the method set out in paragraph (b) of the definition of "asbestos-containing material" in section 6.1, and

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(c) prepares an inventory of all asbestos-containing materials in the workplace that includes the following information:

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(i)with respect to each representative sample collected under paragraph (a),

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(A)the specific location of the sample,

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(B)a description of the sample,

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(C)whether the sample is asbestos-containing material as determined under paragraph (b),

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(D)the method, set out in paragraphs (a) (i) to (iii) or (b) of the definition of "asbestos-containing material" in section 6.1, used to determine if the sample is asbestos-containing material, and

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(E)if the sample is determined to be asbestos-containing material, the type of asbestos, as determined under paragraph (b), and the percentage of the sample that is comprised of that asbestos;

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(ii)with respect to each material that, under subsection (2), is treated under this Part as asbestos-containing material because it is inaccessible or not practicable to sample,

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(A)the specific location of the material or, if the specific location is not known, the presumed location of the material,

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(B)a description of the material, and

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(C)how it is determined that the material is inaccessible or not practicable to sample;

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(iii)the location of each of the asbestos-containing materials, including by using drawings, plans or specifications.

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(2) If a qualified person suspects that material in the workplace contains asbestos but determines that the material is inaccessible or not practicable to sample, the material must be treated under this Part as asbestos-containing material unless a qualified person, in accordance with subsection (1), determines that the material is not asbestos-containing material.

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(3)The employer or the owner satisfies the employer's or owner's obligations under subsection (1) if the employer or the owner ensures that an existing inventory of all asbestos­containing materials in the workplace meets the requirements of subsection (1).

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(4)The employer and the owner must:

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(a) keep the inventory current and

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(b) make a record of any changes made to the inventory.

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(5) The employer and the owner must provide each other with a copy of the inventory and record referred to in subsection        (4) if the other does not already have a copy.

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(6) The employer must ensure that a copy of the current inventory is readily available at the workplace.

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(7) The employer and the owner must retain

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(a) the current version of the inventory until all the asbestos-containing materials are removed from the workplace and

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(b) the record referred to in subsection (4) (b).

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Asbestos was widely used in construction materials in residential, commercial and industrial buildings prior to 1990. However, new information has been brought forward from research conducted by the Canadian Standard Association ((CSA), now part of the CSA global group). provided in their publication, "Asbestos Management in Canada: Assessing the Need for a National Standard", June 2021. Suggesting that asbestos can be in newer products.

 

Additionally, Canadian legislation did not implement an importation ban for asbestos products until 2018, which suggests further that asbestos products, such as automobile brakes, clutch and transmission parts, heat-resistant fabrics, packaging, gaskets and coatings and manufactured building materials such as roof shingles, ceiling and floor tiles, paper and cement products could have been used in post-1990 applications.

 

Asbestos exposure poses serious health risks when the materials containing it are damaged. When damaged, toxic fibres are released. These fibres can easily be ingested or inhaled when airborne, leading to serious health problems such as developing lung diseases (asbestosis or mesothelioma).

 

WP Consulting, now licenced and certified for asbestos inspection through the new legislation implemented in BC, recommends asbestos testing for buildings up to 2018 before commencing repairs, renovations or demolitions.