While asbestos-related diseases are preventable, asbestos exposure remains the leading cause of work-related deaths in B.C. That’s why WorkSafeBC is reminding homeowners of their responsibility to keep workers safe during demolition and renovation projects.
“Homeowners must get their homes tested for asbestos before renovation or demolition work begins,” says Suzana Prpic, Senior Prevention Manager at WorkSafeBC. “While there are monetary costs associated with asbestos surveying and safe abatement, the human cost of not doing this is far greater.”
Breathing in asbestos fibres can cause serious health problems including permanent lung damage, lung diseases, and terminal cancer. Most asbestos-related diseases have a 20–50-year latency period before they become fatal. In the last decade, WorkSafeBC accepted over 1,100 claims for workers who were killed by occupational disease related to asbestos exposure.
Homeowner responsibilities
Prior to beginning a demolition or renovation, homeowners must hire a qualified testing company or asbestos surveyor to identify if asbestos containing materials (ACMs) will be disturbed during the work. If ACMs are found, homeowners must then hire a qualified asbestos abatement contractor to remove and dispose of the materials.
“Asbestos is only harmful when materials containing asbestos are disturbed,” says Prpic. “Often however, ACMs are hiding in plain sight—in materials like flooring, tiles, shingles, and light fixtures. That is why it is critical homeowners hire the right experts who know where to look for it, and how to safely remove it.”
If a homeowner or renter is hiring worker(s) to work at their personal residence, they may also be required to register with WorkSafeBC, depending on the nature of work and the length of time a project will take. Information on registration requirements can be found on worksafebc.com.
How common is asbestos in BC homes?
ACMs can be found in more than 3,000 pre-1990s building materials, such as vinyl and linoleum flooring, stucco, insulation, shingles, gypsum board filling compound, incandescent light fixture backings, and deck under-sheeting.
“There are over 700,000 homes in B.C. built before 1990, meaning that it’s highly likely that some parts of these homes will contain materials made with asbestos,” says Prpic.
