Our blog is here to help homeowners, facility managers, and industry professionals better understand the world of hazardous materials. From navigating WorkSafeBC regulations to preparing for a hazmat survey or understanding the asbestos removal process, we share real-world advice, safety tips, and updates from the field. Whether you're managing a complex remediation project or just starting your research, you'll find useful, plain-language guidance here.
Yes, you can sell a house that contains asbestos-containing materials. Having asbestos in your home does not automatically mean it must be removed before you list the property for sale. However, it is important to understand where asbestos may be present, the condition of the materials, whether they are likely to be disturbed, and what […]
Renovating an older home can be exciting. Whether you're updating a kitchen, removing flooring, opening up a wall, or taking on a larger renovation, older homes can sometimes come with unexpected surprises. One of the most important things to consider before starting work is whether the building contains hazardous materials. Many materials that were commonly […]
If you live in BC and are planning renovations, demolition, or asbestos abatement, you may have heard the term “NOP” before. What does NOP mean? NOP stands for “Notice of Project”. It is a formal notification submitted to WorkSafeBC before certain types of hazardous work begin so that they are aware of it and can […]
If you've discovered any asbestos containing materials during a renovation or demolition project, one of the first questions you have is: Do I need a permit before beginning any asbestos abatement work? The answer depends on two things: the type of work being completed and the municipality where the property is located. In many cases, […]
Why Choose a COR-Certified Abatement Company? When hiring an abatement contractor for asbestos, lead, or mould remediation, safety should always be a top priority for both yourself and the contractor you select. One of the best ways to identify a company committed to maintaining high safety standards is by choosing one that is COR (Certificate […]
Removing mice or rats is only the first step. Rodent droppings, urine, nesting materials, and contaminated building materials can continue to affect your home’s air quality, cleanliness, and safety. Proper rodent cleanup helps reduce health risks, eliminate odours, and prevent further damage to your property.
If your home was built before 1990, it may contain lead-based paint. Learn where lead paint is commonly found, why it can become hazardous, and when to consider professional testing or lead abatement before starting renovations.
Discovering asbestos in your home can be concerning and frightening especially if you have heard of the health risks associated with asbestos. One of the first things you might want to do is get rid of it from your house as soon as you can, so you might even be tempted to do it yourself. […]
More and more homeowners in BC are changing their heating and cooling systems to stay comfortable during the hot summers and cold winters we experience within our beautiful province. However, before any home projects begin, there should be a plan to get asbestos testing done to ensure that everyone remains safe and healthy and that […]
If you've recently had asbestos removed from your home, you may have heard the term “Clearance Letter.” The first time you hear this term, it might sound like just another piece of paperwork that you can forget about or toss once the abatement is done, however, a clearance letter is actually one of the most […]
If you've found asbestos in your home and had it tested, you may have received a report that mentions “High Risk” or “Moderate Risk” asbestos work. But what does that actually mean? These terms can be confusing to people and they can cause panic when they are not understood correctly. These terms refer to the […]
One of the most common questions homeowners have when scheduling their asbestos abatement is: "Do I need to leave my home while an asbestos abatement is being conducted?” The answer to this question is not the same for everyone. The truth is that whether you need to leave your home or not depends on the […]
Mould is a common problem in any kind of building but especially in homes, specifically in areas that are affected by excess moisture, water damage, or poor ventilation. While it may start as a small patch or some dots on a wall or ceiling, mould can spread quickly, affecting both your home and health. Why […]
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral made up of long, thin fibrous crystals. It has a strong resistance to heat and fire and has been used by people for approximately 4,500 years. Asbestos used to be considered a “miracle mineral” because of its physical properties, including: Because of its properties, asbestos was widely used in […]
Not all Vancouver Island landfills accept asbestos or drywall. This article explains where these materials can go in DCRD, RDN, and CVRD, plus the packaging rules and fees that affect building owners.
Quick answer: Yes, friable asbestos can be safely demolished in freezing, damp conditions on Vancouver Island, but only when moisture control, heat management, and negative pressure are engineered together. Cold air increases fibre mobility and system failure risk. Owners should require cold-weather-specific controls, not summer specs reused in winter. What actually changes in cold weather: […]
March 31 is a financial deadline, not a technical one. This guide explains how experienced B.C. public owners stage asbestos abatement across fiscal year-end without triggering change orders, delays, or audit risk.
January is when most facilities look forward, not backward. Budgets reset. Maintenance plans get approved. Capital work moves from idea to tender.
Paint disposal seems simple, but on Vancouver Island it often delays renovation and abatement projects. This guide explains what the BC Paint Recycling Program accepts, what becomes hazardous waste, and why early paint removal is critical before containment goes up. Perfect for building owners managing schools, healthcare facilities, or residential properties between Victoria and Nanaimo.
Holiday shutdown work looks simple on paper, but winter conditions make school abatement one of the highest-risk schedules of the year. Cold rooms, HVAC setbacks, moisture, and tight trade stacking mean the real working window is closer to eight days—not ten. This playbook explains how building owners can stabilize heat, maintain pressure, structure containment, and stage cleaning so January reopen dates stay protected.
Winter demolition inside a live building isn’t dangerous because of the materials—it’s dangerous because the environment works against containment. Cold air, warm interiors, humidity spikes, and aging HVAC systems all make negative pressure harder to maintain, increasing the risk of fibre migration into occupied areas. This article explains why winter is the most failure-prone season for abatement on Vancouver Island and what owners should expect from any contractor working between Victoria and Nanaimo.
For building owners and facility managers in healthcare, education and residential sectors on Vancouver Island Why this matters You oversee a school, healthcare facility or multi-unit residential property on Vancouver Island. Chances are you’re managing some renovation, maintenance or demolition project in a building constructed before the 1990s. That means asbestos could be lurking. As […]
When “clean” drywall isn’t enough—how to document, test, and dispose of drywall safely and legally at Hartland and across Vancouver Island.
A practical, no-hype guide for Vancouver Island building owners detailing every asbestos step—from survey to clearance—with checklists, local differences, and compliance insights.
Some of the most promising developments include: 1. Enzyme-Based or Chemical Neutralization Biological or chemical treatments are being researched to neutralize asbestos fibers, making them non-toxic before removal. Example: Magnesium chloride or other chemical agents that bond with asbestos to suppress fiber release. 2. Encapsulation Nanotechnology Use of nano-coatings or smart polymers to seal asbestos […]
We wanted to post a few example client updates. These client updates have a Zen like flow and Josh (the supervisor) seems to have a gift for words, his updates seem oddly calming. It's as though Morgan Freeman was watching over and narrating our job sites 🙂 Starting our day in unit 107 after […]
With the very real threat of Covid-19 rearing its head in the Capital Regional District and the outskirts of the Island, having capable people to look after your cleaning needs will start to take priority if not a necessity. Have a look at our infection control services page. Canadian Haz-Mat Environmental Ltd is capable of cleaning to […]
"Imagine someone cutting up some flooring, throwing it in the back of their station wagon and driving it up to the landfill, flipping the tailgate open and having a big cloud of dust come out, in the face of our workers and themselves, and potentially their children," CBC article
The B.C. government is reviewing what can be done to better protect people and the environment from asbestos in efforts to prevent more asbestos-related deaths from occurring in the future. As part of this work, the Ministry of Labour is leading a provincial working group to examine what additional actions can be taken to ensure […]
The B.C. government is currently reviewing what can be done to better protect people and the environment from asbestos in efforts to prevent more asbestos-related deaths. As part of this work, the Ministry of Labour is leading a provincial working group to examine what additional actions can be taken to ensure that both British Columbians […]
The recent discovery of asbestos is forcing a school board in the Lower St. Lawrence to relocate the majority of its students. It was detected above the library at Polyvalente Armand-St-Onge in September, following the cleaning of the school's air vents. The school board says it immediately shut down the library, and ordered a thorough […]
Georgia-Pacific’s Bestwall business manufactured the joint compound, commonly known as “mud,” with chrysotile asbestos fibers until 1977. https://www.forbes.com/sites/legalnewsline/2017/11/03/koch-industries-puts-bestwall-unit-a-small-player-in-asbestos-in-bankruptcy/#743529eac87e
"Retains Effectiveness Forever" Mr Fluffy refers to a widespread asbestos contamination incident that occurred in the suburbs of Canberra, the capital city of Australia. Two companies, referred to collectively as Mr Fluffy (a nickname coined in the 1990s for Asbestosfluf Insulations, and its successor J&H Insulation, the former run by Canberra businessman Dirk Jansen, the […]
“Today, the most common way to be exposed to asbestos is by unsafe practices during demolition and renovation of homes and buildings.” People still aren’t getting the hint about asbestos, apparently. So, in yet another push to build awareness around the deadly substance, WorkSafeBC is again urging owners of pre-1990s homes to talk to […]
WORKSAFEBC is urging owners of pre-1990s homes to talk to their contractor about asbestos before starting home renovations or a demolition. “Asbestos is safe if left alone, but if disturbed it can cause serious health problems WorkSafeBC warning homeowners about the dangers of asbestos
The robotic microscope system takes several hundred photographs across an entire air filter sample in under a minute with images uploaded to cloud software and analysed for signs of asbestos. “For labs there are significant benefits, as Marvin eliminates the manual processing of dangerous minerals and screens air samples for asbestos fibres in a fraction […]
It is widely known throughout the international asbestos abatement industry that New York State is a leader. They are at the forefront of what many deem as strict regulations to protect the health and safety of workers and the general public. This article will highlight some of the differences between WorkSafe BC asbestos regulations and […]
We encounter this situation often where people are not aware requirements and have not planned(or budgeted) for the cost of asbestos removal in their renovation or demolition plans. This can make an already stressful project more so. If your building or structure was built before 1990 it may contain asbestos - and needs to be tested […]
The province recently authorized the Comox Strathcona Waste Management Service to move forward with plans to store and dispose of waste asbestos at the Campbell River Waste Management Centre on Argonaut Road.
While removing an asbestos containing heating system a hazmat worker at Canadian Haz-Mat Environmental discovered a wedding ring that had been lost by a previous caretaker of the cottage 12 - 15 years before. The caretaker cottage is part of a large ocean-side farm/estate near Brentwood Bay BC. The current caretakers had informed Canadian Haz-Mat […]
Many buildings built before 1990 will contain asbestos (and potentially high levels of lead). Some of these materials can be determined through a visual inspection, for example: vermiculite insulation, asbestos board/tape, transite siding. Ultimately a qualified person needs to perform a hazardous materials survey and conduct invasive sampling throughout the structure to know with certainty […]
An asbestos scare is forcing more than 100 people out of their Victoria apartment building. “It’s devastating,” says tenant Shigenori Murata. “We are all very concerned.” The building was tested for asbestos after two tenants reported dust in their suites in mid-January. Those tenants were moved immediately but the entire building is now being evacuated after […]
An asbestos scare is forcing more than 100 people out of their Victoria apartment building. “It’s devastating,” says tenant Shigenori Murata. “We are all very concerned.” The building was tested for asbestos after two tenants reported dust in their suites in mid-January. Those tenants were moved immediately but the entire building is now being evacuated after […]
People who live in a Victoria apartment tower that is undergoing renovations are worried about health risks after WorksafeBC stopped work over concerns that asbestos has been disturbed. A notice posted on the front entrance, in Victoria's James Bay neighbourhood, says work inside the 14-storey building has been halted after a Dec. 14 inspection found a ceiling texture coat in […]
People who live in a Victoria apartment tower that is undergoing renovations are worried about health risks after WorksafeBC stopped work over concerns that asbestos has been disturbed. A notice posted on the front entrance, in Victoria's James Bay neighbourhood, says work inside the 14-storey building has been halted after a Dec. 14 inspection found a ceiling texture coat in […]
In a civil case brought before Britain's High Court of Justice filed in October, Moore and a corporate intelligence firm called K2 Intelligence Limited are accused of spending four years infiltrating a global network of anti-asbestos campaigners on behalf of an unknown client for the purposes of gathering information about their leadership, strategies and funding. […]
石棉清除 幹牆 石棉管膠帶和排氣纖維板 乙烯塑料地板 ， 紋理及天花板塗料 管道絕緣 車床和石膏 屋頂 乙烯基地板 纖維板 側板 天花板瓷磚 乳香 蛭石 （閣樓絕緣）等
"Asbestos, a known carcinogen, has been condemned by the World Health Organization and is banned in some 50 countries around the world. With this announcement, Canada is committing to its own comprehensive ban — which is supposed to be fulfilled by 2018 — of a product that many Canadians believe was outlawed years ago."
"If you know what's there you can protect yourself," Ford said. "You can have it properly removed or you can change your renovation plans and actually not remove it." Full Story: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/home-renovations-trend-raising-risk-of-toxic-asbestos-exposure-1.3861953
We have created a page that outlines some of the costs of asbestos removal in Victoria BC. From small cuts and removals to asbestos removal projects. Note there can be some off-site costs for the creation of necessary documentation (Notice of Project, Risk Assessment, Work Procedures), waste removal, and with high risk projects a third […]
The CLC says more than 2,000 people die every year after exposure to asbestos. "It's still entering the country even though it may not be manufactured here - it's manufactured overseas in places like China and India and then it's re-imported,” says Stephen Conrad of Unifor Marine Workers Federation. "There are so many new technologies […]
There are four homes coming down as part of the next phase of this expanding development of modern homes in the western communities. We have provided hazardous materials surveys and a mixture of high and moderate risk work (as required) on a very tight timeline to get this first house ready for demolition. The entire work area […]
How often have you heard of earthquake preparedness kits on the news as gentle reminders we live in an active area of seismic activity? These reminders often stress the need for extra food, water and basic supplies to help us survive a few days if the big one hits. Given that widespread structural failures may contribute to the disturbance […]
Approximate End Of Use 2006 Heavy Metals Paints may contain heavy metals as pigments and/or preservatives. 1990 Asbestos A home or business built before Dec 31 1990 requires a hazmat survey prior to renovations, demolition, or repairs. Late 1980’s Asbestos Flooring compounds Mastics, coatings and sealants Roofing materials Asbestos-containing vermiculite Mid 1980’s Asbestos Vinyl floor tile […]
"We've actually made the commitment that we are moving forward on a ban … here in Canada," said Trudeau in response to a question from a trade union leader. "We know that its impact on workers far outweighs any benefits that it might provide."
New Figures show the health costs of treating asbestos related diseases are four times the cost of producing the material. If you spend one dollar to buy asbestos, you are spending four dollars to treat and compensate the condition caused by this. AHMAD QURESIHI In Queensland alone, we know that cases have risen from about […]
To remove asbestos (vermiculite) from this heritage home attic we needed to create a 3 stage decontamination containment. You can see the plastic (2 * 6m poly wall) going right into the attic. This allows us to contain any potential contamination of the home while work is taking place. This the portable shower we use […]
This was in an empty home in Oak Bay that is slated for asbestos abatement. Meanwhile a dear takes advantage of the uninhabited lot.
This vermiculite (insulation) spilled out of the wall in an Oak Bay heritage home (built 1879) when the cable company cut into the wall to move telephone and cable connections. The homeowner called us while he was gathering information on how best to proceed. We sealed the entire area off with 2 layers of poly (as required) and used a large […]
This vermiculite (insulation) spilled out of the wall in an Oak Bay heritage home (built 1879) when the cable company cut into the wall to move telephone and cable connections. The homeowner called us while he was gathering information on how best to proceed. We sealed the entire area off with 2 layers of poly (as required) and used a large […]
Good work CBC, this is useful information to put compile for reference - CBC has produced a national inventory of federal buildings containing asbestos.
Good work CBC, this is useful information to put compile for reference - CBC has produced a national inventory of federal buildings containing asbestos.
There’s no safe form of asbestos, and there is no known ‘safe’ level of exposure to asbestos. We need to work for large-scale bans on the use of asbestos. Asbestos is an anachronistic kind of word – it sounds like a worry of the past. The world itself is practically synonymous with outdated technology that we […]
“We weren’t aware of the toxicity. I’m expecting lung cancer in the coming years, as are most of the men here,” Biremon said. BANABA ISLAND, Kiribati—Asbestos dust covers the floors of Banaba’s crumbling colonial houses, buildings, and schools. It’s in the field where people plant cassava. Broken pieces of asbestos sheeting litter the ground, and […]
Democratic members of the New York State Assembly have introduced a bill that aims to improve the transparency of asbestos trust claims and prevent duplicative recoveries through the tort system. Last month, a group of lawmakers, led by Buffalo-area Democrat Robin Schimminger, introduced an act to amend rules in asbestos-related actions, A5978. The bill’s design is to prevent […]
Canada is still mining asbestos and shipping it overseas where it is being used in the types of construction and processes that we no longer allow domestically. It is disturbing to see workers in contact with high concentrations of asbestos fibers with no protective gear and with limited risk awareness.
Last year, after decades of insisting to the contrary, Ottawa finally admitted that “asbestos, if inhaled, can cause cancer and other diseases.” Just before this long-delayed catharsis, the government ended its perennial opposition to the inclusion of the most common form of asbestos on an international list of hazardous substances. Asbestos is the number-one killer […]
Exposure to asbestos is the single biggest cause of deaths from work-related disease in New Zealand, killing about 170 people in 2010.
Exposure to asbestos is the single biggest cause of deaths from work-related disease in New Zealand, killing about 170 people in 2010.
Wikipedia divides the spelling geographically: mold (US / CA) or mould (UK / NZ / AU / ZA / IN / CA). We are in Victoria, B.C. but most of Canada falls somewhere in the middle. Traditionally Canadian environmental consultants have always used the British spelling (and still do), although mold is becoming much more common in many publications. […]
Mike Bradley has written a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Liberals in hopes the country will join the 50 nation ban of the deadly substance. Sarnia’s mayor is again putting pressure on the federal government to ban the export of asbestos and its use in Canadian workplaces.
Hear Asbestos. Think Prevention. Each year, ADAO dedicates April 1-7 to increasing awareness of asbestos and preventing exposure by bringing together experts and victims from around the world to share, learn, and take action. full story
“It’s time to send a clear message and establish clear policy to end asbestos, end any confusion about its dangers, any confusion about the toll it’s taken, and any debate there is about a mythical ‘safe’ exposure level, and most importantly, [end] the exposure of Canadian workers and families to this potentially deadly substance,” said […]
