See the full asbestos abatement contractor checklist from WorkSafeBC

Asbestos is a group of naturally occurring minerals that was used in many building products. It is commonly found in sheet vinyl flooring, vinyl floor tile, cement siding (transite board), perimeter drain, drywall joint compound, textured walls and ceilings, plaster, roof shingles, pipe insulation, etc. Serious chronic health problems or even death to an asbestos-related disease may occur to those exposed to asbestos

What is Asbestos?

If homeowners and their families do not take proper precautions for work around asbestos, workers may develop serious chronic health problems or even die of an asbestos related disease. These same health affects apply to everyone.

When and where was it used?

In 1984 asbestos was banned from products in Canada such as building materials for residential and commercial structures. It was expected that asbestos products ran out by the late-1980s and so the cut-off was set at December 31st, 1990 to account for unused stockpiles. Unused asbestos-containing products are still found, for example, in old storage rooms, such as boxes of unused floor tiles or unmixed drywall mud.

Asbestos was used in more than 3000 building products in Canada alone, such as:

• transite board around furnace ductwork
• joint mortar
• sealant around fireplace and roof protrusions
• roof shingles
• felt paper
• tar paper under flooring
• window mastic or putty
• insulation around sinks
• heat shields inside ceiling light fixtures
• and many more products

It is also found naturally in vermiculite insulation situated between attic joists, inside wall cavities and cinder block in both residential and commercial properties.

What is the risk of asbestos?

Asbestos minerals tend to separate into microscopic particles that become airborne and are easily inhaled. People exposed to asbestos in the workplace have developed several types of life-threatening diseases, including lung cancer.

Like any hazard, length, intensity and frequency of exposure are major factors in the risk of asbestos-related respiratory illness. WorkSafeBC has set out very specific regulations regarding exposure potential for workers who may be exposed to asbestos.

For a property owner, it is best not to disturb materials that may release asbestos fibers into the air, such as cutting into drywall, scraping popcorn ceilings, removing sheet vinyl or vinyl floor tile, removing ductwork, chimneys, tile, etc. If the attic or walls of a structure contain vermiculite insulation, leave it alone. Avoid disturbing the material. Do not sweep it or vacuum it up. Do not store belongings, or allow anyone to perform work in the attic, such as installing pot lights.

How can the risk of asbestos be minimized?

Hire a professional to assess the presence of asbestos in a building, and do not attempt to remove it without the assistance of a professional.

To prevent health problems, WorkSafeBC has developed requirements detailed in the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations that Hazardous Material Abatement Contractors must adhere to when conducting removal and disposal of Asbestos Containing Materials.

Check out the WorkSafeBC site for more information!

Contact us today for a Full Asbestos Abatement. 

Click here for your HazMat checklist.

Biohazard refers to any biological materials that pose a threat to the health of living organisms. HazForce is qualified to carefully remove potentially infectious materials from your site and dispose of the waste to a licensed hazardous location. Common types of biohazards are:

• human blood
• animal waste
• human bodily fluids

What are biohazards?

Animal waste from rodents, bats, birds, and otters are the most found pests in attics, crawlspaces, and out-buildings. These animals urinate, defecate, and lay after-birth inside buildings.

Hantavirus is found in some field rodents. In BC, it is typically deer mice. Exposure to hantavirus can happen if you breathe in the virus from an infected rodent’s urine, saliva, or droppings. Hantavirus is more common in rural or semi-rural areas, but any area with a pest problem is a potential hazard.

Histoplasmosis are infections caused by inhaling fungus found in bird and bat droppings. It mainly affects the lungs. Most people show no effects or only minor flu-like symptoms. Yet it can be fatal if it spreads to other parts of the body. If you work or live around birds or bats, you may be at risk.

As mould grows, it releases airborne spores and fragments of hyphae (filaments) that can affect a person’s health. Workers or occupants could inhale the airborne spores and hyphae (filaments). People with allergies, asthma or a weak immune system are most at risk. Mould grows quickly on almost any damp material.

Blood and certain body fluids can be infected with tiny organisms that can cause disease. Blood-Borne diseases such as HIV, and Hepatitis A, B, and C can be contracted when mishandling used needles, condoms, bodily fluids, and feces.

Marijuana grow operations and clandestine synthetic drug labs pose great dangers to people who live near them, first responders, and operators of the labs.

How common is biohazard in your building?

Moulds are everywhere. All they need to grow is water and a source of food, such as cardboard or wood. As mould (mold) grows it releases spores. Mould thrives where there is prolonged dampness. Bathrooms, basements, ceilings, and water-damaged walls are all potential hosts for mould.

Used needles and condoms have increasingly been found in public areas, streets, alleys, empty lots, front yards, parks & beaches, public washrooms, and abandoned buildings. Drug users habitually place used needles in hidden locations inside buildings, such as down heat registers, inside covers for ventilation fans and wall cavities.

Marijuana grow operations and clandestine synthetic drug labs are everywhere and both pose different and significant risks. Most Marijuana grow operations and clandestine synthetic drug Labs are set up in residential or commercial rental properties. Often the buildings are altered to accommodate equipment required to grow marijuana.

Marijuana grow operations can be a danger to public health and safety.

• Fire: The use of enormous amounts of electricity combined with illegal tampering with electrical systems can lead to fires. The hazard often extends to neighbouring buildings.
• Health: The high humidity and temperatures necessary for a grow room lead to the formation of damaging mould and fungus. This situation poses serious health risks to the residents.
• Electrocution: Electrical bypasses and rewiring performed by unqualified individuals results in dangerous electrical hazards.
• Poisonous gas and chemicals: The chemicals used in the production of marijuana are left to circulate inside the residence. These sometimes mix with air that has been re-vented from the furnace and/or water heater.
• Violence: The occupants of a Marijuana grow operation are more susceptible to extortion and home invasion. These operations are targeted by criminals who commit home invasions to steal the crop (“grow rips”). The presence of a grow operation increases the threat of violence to the neighborhood.
• Booby traps: Since Marijuana grow operations are targets for “grow rips”, booby traps are sometimes used to injure or kill unsuspecting visitors and inadvertently first responders.
• Children at risk: Children who live in or visit a Marihuana grow operation home are subject to physical dangers and the many health and safety hazards listed above. Common signs

Common signs of a Marijuana grow operation

• Rental buildings (residential and commercial) are often used so criminals avoid damage to their own property.
• Residents may only be in the home occasionally for short periods of time.
• People access the residence only through the garage.
• Unusual visitor behaviour ranging from no visitors to frequent visitors for short periods of time.
• Windows covered with dark plastic or newspaper.
• Condensation forms on windows due to high humidity levels inside. This may also result in lack of snow on the roof in winter.
• The skunk-like odour of growing marihuana can occasionally be detected outside.
• Unusual garbage: little or no garbage or unusual items (e.g. pots and soil, fertilizer containers, wiring, PVC piping).
• Electrical equipment inside creates humming sounds.
• Hydro meter is often tampered with or bypassed.
• Grow operations may use other “props” to deflect suspicion. Some of these include outdoor and/or indoor lights, radio and/or TV on for 24 hours, flyers left in a mailbox or on the front steps, children’s toys & bikes outside without children living at the residence, Realty signs posted.
• A “Beware of Dog/Guard Dog” sign may be used to deter trespassing, protect against theft and avoid detection by police.

Clandestine synthetic drug lab risks include:

The hazards often extend to neighbouring occupants & buildings.

• Fires and explosions: The use of solvents or a high concentration of gases can lead to fires and explosions. Chemicals used can ignite when exposed to air or water. Leaking and/or damaged compressed gas cylinders, damaged and leaking chemical containers all add to the risk.
• Health: The chemicals used in the production of synthetic drugs when improperly handled lead to poorly vented and poisoned air, oxygen deficient or toxic atmospheres, contaminated walls, contaminated well water due to toxic chemicals.
• Electrocution: Electrical bypasses and rewiring performed by unqualified individuals results in dangerous electrical hazards.
  Exposure to very strong drugs
• Booby traps: Stores of drugs and money on hand are incentives for criminals to steal from each other and booby traps are sometimes used to injure or kill unsuspecting visitors and inadvertently first responders.

Clandestine synthetic drug labs are often found in:

• Upscale single-family and multiple-family dwellings
• Farms
• Rural properties
• Automotive shops
• Warehouses
• Car trunks
• Truck boxes

Common signs of the manufacture of synthetic drugs include:

• Pungent smells, such as black licorice and ammonia or vinegar acetic taste/odor.
• Windows are covered, blacked out, or with the curtains always drawn.
• Staining around vents, extreme corrosion, and/or unusual coloured vapor emitting from vents.
• Extensive security measures or attempts to ensure privacy including cameras set-up, several locks on exterior doors, and “beware of dog” signs.
• Large quantities of chemical containers, bottles, metal drums, fiber (cardboard) barrels.
• Labels from containers have been removed or spray-painted over.
• Landscaping may have burn pits, stained soil, or dead vegetation indicating dumped chemicals or waste.
• Large amount of empty cold medication containers containing ephedrine and pseudoephedrine.
• Red stains on countertops, bathtubs or sinks/toilets.
• Laboratory glassware and equipment including cookware (Pyrex) or frying pans with powdery residue and bottles with rubber tubing attached to other chemicals.
• Coffee filters with white pasty substances or shiny white crystals (or reddish-brown substance).
• Excessive amounts of kitty litter used to soak up chemical spills.
• Residents are either only home occasionally and for short periods of time or seem to always be home and never leave the house.
• They avoid contact with neighbors and only access the residence through the garage to load and unload material.
• Appear secretive about their activities and display paranoid or odd behavior.
• Garbage is rarely put out or put out in another neighbor’s collection.
• Residents may also wait for the arrival of the garbage truck to bring their garbage to the curb.
• Visitors arrive during odd hours and for short periods of time.
• Foundation walls may be drilled to facilitate illegal wiring, other electrical rewiring/tampering in the home.
• Tenants may be reluctant to allow landlords to inspect the property and may insist on paying rent in cash.

Tips for Landlords

Most Marijuana Grow Operations & Clandestine Synthetic Drug Labs are set up in residential or commercial rental properties. Often the buildings are altered to accommodate equipment required to grow marijuana and manufacture synthetic drugs.

How to protect your property:

• Obtain a credit history.
• References should be mandatory and followed up.
• Check the property regularly. Check your property regularly:
• A marijuana crop may take two to three months so signs of an operation may not be evident right away. Checking your property every four to five weeks is recommended.
• Look out for all the common signs of a Clandestine Synthetic Drug lab. A lab can be set up and running quickly.
• Let common sense be a guide and you will easily develop a feeling that something is not quite right. If you suspect drug activity in your neighborhood or on your property, do not investigate. Contact your local police.

Check out what demolition contractors need to know by WorkSafeBC.

Pre-Demolition surveys are more destructive than a typical HazMat survey allowing for a more comprehensive report of all hazardous materials for any given structure and site.

What is commonly found when a demolition occurs?

Each demolition project comes inherent with its own risks and challenges. A large factor when determining how to demolish or deconstruct a building is obviously how many hazardous materials are identified in the Hazardous Building Material Assessment)HazMat) Survey.

Given all the testing that can be done during the HazMat Survey, almost always the hazardous material demolition crew find other building materials buried or covered over by countless renovations.

WorkSafeBC requires that we immediately stop work in this area and test any new building material that is suspect to contain hazardous materials. If this new material is proven positive as a hazardous material this may present a unique challenge as the work procedures required by the regulations and methods of abatement may change, and the plan of attack by us changes dramatically.

How can HazForce assist in a demolition?

HazForce will help any property owner, contractor or developer understand the entire process of demolishing a building in BC. We can take care of everything from the initial Hazardous Material Survey report, acquiring a demolition permit, BC Hydro disconnect, hazardous material abatement, hazardous waste transport & disposal, demolition of the structure, filing of all paperwork with WorkSafeBC, Regional Landfills and with the Ministry of Environment.

Where does hazardous materials from a demolition go?

Depending on the type of hazardous material, waste is transported by a Ministry of Transportation licensed hauler to an approved landfill for disposal. The disposal facility may be at one of Vancouver Islands many regional landfills or shipped & disposed of as far as Alberta.

What can the risks be during a demolition?

Risks for demolition can be established on many factors:

• The complexity of the structure itself and type of building materials and methods in its construction.
• If the structure has been fire-damaged or in such dis-repair as to be un-safe for occupants or workers to enter this may add to the complications of both abatement and demolition.
• Vermiculite contained within cinder block walls that comprise the structural integrity of the building need to be abated without compromising the structure’s safety.

How to minimize risk during a demolition?

Good planning and better execution! As with all best-laid plans.

Why do I need a Hazmat Survey before starting any work?

• Are you doing any renovations?
• Is your building built before 1990?
• Are you removing & disposing of building materials from walls, floors, insulation, sinks, heating systems, roofs, painted surfaces, roofs, etc.?
• Are you the building owner or Prime Contractor?

A HazMat Survey is required prior to starting any construction work on your property. The requirement to have a Hazmat Survey is found in section 20.112 under Part 20 Construction, Excavation and Demolition of the Occupational Health & Safety Regulation.

What to do with the Hazmat Survey report?

• The HazMat report must be available at the worksite whenever workers are present.
• Any disposal facility will require proof that certain building materials do not contain hazardous materials.

When hiring a Consultant, ensure the following:

• The person conducting the Survey who has AHERA Building Inspector Certification is a qualified person or Environmental Consultant.
• They have Errors & Omissions Insurance.
• Sample analysis is done by an Accredited Lab.
• The report provided covers the Scope of Work satisfying WorkSafeBC and Municipal Requirements.
• Note that due to new WorksafeBC regulations in Feb 2015, zeolite vermiculite insulation is assumed to be asbestos-containing material (ACM) without being analyzed by a lab.

When hiring a General Contractor or Tradesperson:

• A Hazardous Material (HazMat) Survey is required prior to starting any construction work on your property. The requirement to have a Hazmat Survey is found in section 20.112 under Part 20 Construction, Excavation and Demolition of the Occupational Health & Safety Regulation.
• Owners and Contractors have the responsibility or “due diligence” to provide and maintain a safe working environment for all workers because they are responsible for any hazards that may exist.

When hiring an abatement Contractor:

• Ensure any quote or estimate you receive, except for the removal of vermiculite insulation in an attic, is based on a Hazardous Material Survey conducted by a qualified person or Environmental Consultant.
• The contractor you hire is qualified to do abatement work. Proof of qualifications includes Commercial General Liability Coverage Insurance with added Special Risk Insurance for Asbestos, Mould, etc.
• Is Active and in Good Standing with WorkSafeBC. A clearance letter may be obtained by anyone online at WorkSafeBC website.
• Follows the regulations set out in the Occupational Health & Safety (OH&S) Regulations of the Workers Compensation Act of British Columbia.

Provides the following documentation:

• Files on behalf of the registered property owner, a British Columbia Generator (BCG) number, with the Ministry of Environment for disposal of hazardous material exceeding 1000 kg.
• Supplies and completes Waste Manifests as per Ministry of Environment Regulations for each bin leaving your property.
• Conducts a Hazard Risk Assessment (HRA), prepares a Site-Specific Safe Work Procedure (SSWP) and submits a Notice of Project (NOP) to WorkSafeBC 48 hours prior to project start date.

Additional Resources

WorkSafeBC Asbestos Awareness for Homeowners

Attention Demolition Contractors: What you need to know

How does hoarding create a hazardous environment?

Hoarding is the persistent difficulty discarding or parting with possessions, regardless of their actual value. The behavior usually has deleterious effects emotional, physical, social, financial, and even legal for a hoarder and family members. In many instances the behaviours associated with hoarding may lead to unhealthy and potentially dangerous living conditions.

How does hoarding create a hazardous environment?

For those who hoard, the quantity of their collected items sets them apart from other people. Commonly hoarded items may be newspapers, magazines, paper and plastic bags, cardboard boxes, photographs, household supplies, food, and clothing.

In many situations, items are stacked and packed inside the living space of a home with nothing more than a small pathway to move from room to room. Regular cleaning becomes difficult, and, in some cases, domestic hygiene takes a terrible turn. Biohazards begin to develop with unsanitary conditions and mould growth often begins to develop throughout the residence. In many instances, spontaneous combustion has caused fires inside the home.

What is hoarding?

Hoarding can be related to compulsive buying (such as never passing up a bargain), the compulsive acquisition of free items (such as collecting flyers), or the compulsive search for perfect or unique items (which may not appear to others as unique, such as an old container).

People hoard because they believe that an item will be useful or valuable in the future. Or they feel it has sentimental value, is unique and irreplaceable, or too big a bargain to throw away. They may also consider an item a reminder that will jog their memory, thinking that without it they won t remember an important person or event. Or because they can t decide where something belongs, it s better just to keep it.

Hoarding is a disorder that may be present on its own or as a symptom of another disorder. Those most often associated with hoarding are obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and depression.

Although less often, hoarding may be associated with an eating disorder, pica (eating non-food materials), Prader-Willi syndrome (a genetic disorder), psychosis, or dementia.

Why can hoarding cause a hazardous situation?

A lack of functional living space is common among hoarders, who may also live in unhealthy or dangerous conditions. Hoarders often live with broken appliances and without heat or other necessary comforts. They cope with malfunctioning systems rather than allow a qualified person into their home to fix a problem. Living in non-ideal conditions often leads to health problems, exasperated by poor hygiene and mouldy conditions.

First responders find it difficult to provide emergency care for people in a hoarder home due to limited accessibility throughout the living spaces.

Hoarding also causes anger, resentment, and depression among family members, and it can affect the social development of children. Unlivable conditions may lead to separation or divorce, eviction, and even loss of child custody. Hoarding may lead to serious financial problems, as well.

How does HazForce manage delicate family dynamics in a hoarding situation?

HazForce has dealt with many hoarding conditions and long-term, poor domestic hygiene homes. Our management and crew are respectful to the sensitive nature considered for all involved and treat each situation with professionalism, dignity, and care.

Learn where to find lead in your building.

Lead is a naturally occurring, greyish hazardous metal that was used in consumer and industrial products. It can be found in buildings constructed prior to 1980. It was used in the paints, decorative glass, roof sheeting, and plumbing fixtures. Listed as a carcinogen, it is known to cause cancer and if proper precautions are not taken around lead those exposed may develop serious health issues.

What is lead?

Lead is a naturally occurring, greyish metal that is used in a wide variety of consumer and industrial products and is a hazardous material. It is listed as a carcinogen (probably and possibly able to cause cancer in humans) by the International Agency for research on cancer. Lead also has a WorkSafeBC designation stating that the substance has an adverse reproductive effect.

If employers and workers do not take proper precautions for work around lead, workers may develop serious health problems. These same health problems apply to homeowners and families.

Where to find lead in your building?

Many older buildings in Canada may have lead-based paint on the walls, ceilings, doors, trim and exterior siding and trim. A structure most likely contains lead-based paint if it was built before 1980. If built between 1960 and 1990, the exterior may contain lead-based paint. The paint on interior surfaces may only contain lead in smaller amounts but could still be harmful. Structures built after 1990 should not contain lead because all consumer paints produced in Canada were virtually lead-free by this time.

Lead may also be found in ceramic tile glazing, decorative glass, roof sheeting and plumbing fixtures.

What is the risk of lead?

Removing, repairing or disturbing lead-based paint or ceramic tile containing lead, can expose workers, occupants and the public to serious health risks.

Lead poisoning can cause:

• anaemia
• brain development deficiencies
• central nervous system damage
• cancer

The risk is greatest for children because they are growing and absorb lead easily. Even small amounts of dust with lead are dangerous to infants and children. Unborn children are also at risk if the mother-to-be consumes lead. Currently, there is no known safe level of lead exposure.

How to minimize the risk of lead in your environment?

To prevent health problems, WorkSafeBC has developed requirements detailed in the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations that Hazardous Material Abatement Contractors must adhere to when conducting work around, removing and disposing of lead.

Learn the truths about mould in your home.

Mould (mold) is everywhere. It only needs water and a food source such as cardboard or wood to grow. As it develops it releases spores harmful to your health. It can be found in:

• Under sinks & around plumbing fixtures.
• surfaces exposed to water damage
• porous materials: wood, drywall and even concrete

Prevention is the key to avoiding mould exposure. Always make sure that water leaks are fixed, and standing water is mopped up. Air flow is the natural enemy to mould therefore any area where moisture may accumulate should be well ventilated, and exhaust fans should be utilized wherever possible.

What is mould (mold)?

Moulds are everywhere. All they need to grow is water and a source of food, such as cardboard or wood. As mould grows it releases spores.

Mould thrives where there is prolonged dampness: bathrooms, basements, ceilings, and water-damaged walls are all potential hosts for mould. Mould’s hyphae grow into wood and drywall like roots.

Where is mould (mold) likely to be found?

We see or smell mould. The obvious mould we see is on windowsills, on surfaces like drywall in closets or exterior walls where furniture is place too close to allow air movement behind. Many inadequately heated rooms that are stuffed full of boxes or containers develop mould due to lack of air movement and insufficient heat. In older homes it is best to keep items an inch or two from exterior walls, especially in closets, to allow for slight air flow.

The mould we can t see may be behind walls, under counter tops or inside cabinets due to a slow plumbing leak, water infiltration from the outside due to poor foundation damage, roof, exterior wall cladding or window / door issues.

That musty smell in the basement could be from blocked or inadequate exterior drainage at the foundation wall where moisture seeps thru porous concrete and creates mildew behind your finished basement walls. Applying sealed finishes or vinyl sheet flooring over concrete slabs in your basement can also trap moisture and cause mildew smells. Lastly, finished walls that are framed and improperly insulated, as to not provide a thermal break, to an exterior foundation wall that only extends partially to the ceiling can be the cause of mildew from condensation that occurs at the top of the foundation wall inside the wall cavity during colder winter months.

What is hypha?

Hypha is the branching filaments that make up the mycelium of a fungus like mold.

How can hyphae be killed?

Bleach will not kill hyphae because ion structure of bleach prevents chlorine from penetrating into porous materials such as drywall and wood. It stays on the outside surface, whereas mould has protected enzyme roots growing inside the porous construction materials. When you spray porous surface moulds with bleach, the water part of the solution soaks into the wood while the bleach chemical sits atop the surface, gasses off, and thus only partially kills the surface layer of mould while the water penetration of the building materials foster further mildew and mould growth.

Surfactants serve the purpose of significantly lowering the surface tension of water to allow a cleaning solution to penetrate porous surfaces.

How does HazForce remove mould?

HazForce utilizes a proprietary set of products to abate mould. An anti-microbial is first applied that kills all mould by penetrating deep into wood fibers and removes most stains on surfaces. A mould inhibitor is then applied to all surfaces to help prevent the existence and future regrowth of mould.

Although these products work well on surfaces such as wood and concrete, any drywall with mould growth is removed and disposed of.

What is the correct spelling of mold or mould?

Is it mold or mould? Mold and mould are alternative spellings of the same word, which can refer to fungus as a noun, or the act of shaping something as a verb.

Americans use mold, but the British use mould. In Canada we use both!

What is the risk of mould?

Those with a compromised immune system can experience severe health effects if exposed to mould. For most people, exposure to mould doesn’t cause any significant health effects. Mould can cause allergic reactions, asthma, pneumonitis, infections of the upper airway, sinusitis, or other lung infections. Workers and occupants of buildings subjected to long-term exposure are more likely to develop these health problems.

How to minimize the effects of mould?

Prevention is the key to avoiding mould exposure. Always make sure that water leaks are fixed, and standing water is mopped up. Air flow is the natural enemy to mould therefore an area where moisture may accumulate should be well ventilated, and exhaust fans should be utilized wherever possible.

To prevent health problems, WorkSafeBC has developed requirements detailed in the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations that Hazardous Material Abatement Contractors must adhere to when conducting work around mould.

Click here for your HazMat checklist.

Demolition maintenance is more destructive than a typical HazMat removal allowing for a more comprehensive report of all hazardous materials for any given structure and site.

What to consider before and after demolition maintenance?

Pre-demolition hazmat surveys are more destructive than a typical HazMat survey allowing for a more comprehensive report of all hazardous materials for any given structure and site.

A consultant should be thorough, and sample all suspect materials so that your abatement contractor is able to provide an accurate estimation for the removal of hazardous materials. In many cases, a poorly conducted hazmat survey may lead to unexpected costs when the demolition crew finds other materials containing asbestos.

What is commonly found when demolition occurs?

For the most part demolition projects go as expected. Building materials used in construction are consistent from building era and type of structure, but consultants and hazmat contractors do not have x-ray vision and some surprises do occur.

Older properties with countless unknown renovations, like those without permits, by a do-it-yourself or unqualified contractor, has resulted in some head-scratchers on past projects. It is truly amazing some of the unexplainable things that people have done.

How can HazForce assist in a demolition?

We provide services from the initial pre-demolition hazmat survey to abatement and demolition. The benefit of dealing with us from the get-go is we can help navigate you through the many pitfalls and confusion regarding hazardous material abatement and the Acts and Regulations governing the removal, transport, and disposal of hazardous waste.

Our goal is to provide economical solutions and no-nonsense education for you to make informed decisions about your project no matter how unique.

Where do hazardous materials from a demolition go?

The transport and disposal of hazardous waste is governed regionally, provincially and federally.

The Environmental Management Act (EMA) prohibits the introduction of waste into the environment in a way that will cause pollution, except in accordance with regulation, permits, approval or code of practice issued under the Act. The Hazardous Waste Regulation (HWR) addresses the proper handling and disposal of hazardous wastes, under the EMA.

Waste that is classified/defined as hazardous waste must be managed according to the rules and standards set out by the EMA and the HWR. All hazardous waste must be transported by a licensed hauler and disposed of at an approved secure landfill.

A secure landfill is often the final disposal option for any wastes that cannot be further reduced or made less hazardous. It is a facility designed, constructed, and operated to keep wastes confined for an indefinite period with little likelihood of future removal. For this reason, secure landfills have some of the strictest requirements under the HWR.

What can the risks be during a demolition?

Safety is a priority for any construction/ demolition project and hazardous material abatement adds another level of risk to public and worker safety.

Getting the job done right from the on-set by qualified, experienced abatement contractors is key to avoiding a complete disaster. An example of such would be the exposure of asbestos fibre and/or vermiculite insulation throughout an entire neighbourhood as the excavator is tearing the structure down.

How to minimize risk during a demolition?

Hire a professional. Hire HazForce.

“Maintaining your property requires frequent check-ups, regular maintenance to your walls, roofs, floors, but most importantly, patience. “

Where can vermiculite be found?

Vermiculite is a known asbestos-containing and naturally occurring mineral that was used as a building material for its insulative and fire-retardant properties. It was predominantly used from 1950 through to 1970. Exposure to vermiculite can cause several types of life-threatening diseases, including lung cancer.

What is vermiculite?

Vermiculite is a known asbestos containing and naturally occurring mineral that was used as a building material for its insulative and fire-retardant properties.

Where is vermiculite most likely to be found?

Property owners will most likely find vermiculite:

• between ceiling joists in the attic
• in wall cavities
• in cinder block

Vermiculite insulation in the attic space may or may not be covered with layers of cellulose, fiberglass blown-in or fiberglass batt insulation.

When was vermiculite used?

Vermiculite insulation was predominantly used from the 1950-1970s in structures to increase energy efficiency and interior comfort levels. Under a government program in Canada allowing grants to homeowners to increase insulation levels, it was one of the insulating materials approved to reduce energy consumption. As a result of this program, vermiculite was used in homes built prior to the 1950s and after the 1970s.

Commercially, vermiculite has been used in multiple industries since the 1920s in various applications.

What is the risk of vermiculite?

Vermiculite itself does not contain asbestos, however, asbestos formed under the same geological conditions and is considered a contaminant of vermiculite.

Asbestos minerals tend to separate into microscopic particles that become airborne and are easily inhaled. Workers exposed to asbestos in the workplace have developed several types of life-threatening diseases, including lung cancer.

Like any hazard, length, intensity and frequency of exposure are major factors in the risk of asbestos-related respiratory illness. WorkSafeBC has set out very specific regulations regarding exposure potential for workers who may be exposed to asbestos.

For a property owner, it is best not to disturb vermiculite as this may release asbestos fibers into the air, and the risk of exposure increases with the amount of time spent in your attic. If the attic or walls of a house contain vermiculite insulation, leave it alone. Avoid disturbing the material. Do not sweep it or vacuum it up. Do not store belongings, or allow anyone to perform work in your attic, such as installing pot lights in a room below the attic.

How to minimize the risk of exposure to vermiculite?

To prevent health problems, WorkSafeBC has developed requirements detailed in the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations that Hazardous Material Abatement Contractors must adhere to when conducting removal and disposal of Asbestos Containing Materials such as vermiculite.

OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE YOUR HOME SAFE

Learn how you can get help to make your building safe again.

As asbestos removal and abatement experts, we can appreciate how serious this problem can be for our clients. HazForce financing is aligned with FinanceIt to help you when you need it most.

Book now. Pay later. Make your building safe today and don’t pay until 2022.