Re: “Hazardous materials found in arena will not immediately effect renovations,” Jan. 21
Dear editor,
As a safety professional, I have taken part in a two-day asbestos course to become an Alberta Certified Asbestos Worker. The Province has very strict procedures on how to remove asbestos safely and effectively without putting anyone in harms way.
Asbestos has the potential of chronic health effects only if it is made airborne. For example; if you drilled through an asbestos coating, the dust would float in the air and you would have the potential of breathing that dust into your body. You can actually eat it (not recommended, of course) and it will not harm you.
While I was working in the safety department of the University of Calgary there was concern when it was discovered that there was asbestos removal taking place in one of the high-pedestrian traffic areas. The email that was circulated from one university worker said “everyone was going to die.” That is just not true. The contractor had erected double-walled plastic barriers around the affected area and the workers were wearing their required personal protective equipment. The contractor provided a shower station at the exit from the restricted area where the workers washed the fallen dust off their bodies before leaving the area.
It is not a big surprise that asbestos is being found in some of the older structures in Airdrie. It was part of a lot of products, which include floor tiles, ceiling tiles, and joint compound, just to name a few. It may exist in homes, churches, and shopping malls.
Canada stopped using asbestos after professionals found that exposed workers were getting cancers that were related to exposures (putting in place or removing) 20 or more years after that exposure. A little known fact is that there is still an active open pit mine in Quebec producing asbestos from its natural form, which is in rocks. Canada is the second largest exporter of asbestos mineral after Russia.
Asbestos is something not to be played with by the untrained or the weekend fixer-upper. Asbestos removal by trained, certified people should not cause the public to be concerned. Alberta Occupational Health and Safety are watching the contractors and you can be assured it will be done safely with the least amount of risk.
Darrell Belyk, Airdrie
