Failure on asbestos control costs property management company $26k

Cascadia Apartment Rentals was hit with a  $26,602 fine for two high-risk violations related to checking for hazardous materials and asbestos at a King Albert Avenue job site, according to a report from WorkSafeBC.

An inspector arrived at 1010 King Albert Ave. in September to find a renovation in progress.

Asked about a hazardous material report and an asbestos inventory, the workers on the site told the inspector there were unaware of either.

“None of the representatives at the worksite stated that they received training on the hazards of asbestos or how to identify if asbestos is contained in any materials that might be disturbed during a renovation,” stated a report written by WorkSafeBC occupational hygiene officer Cris Barzan.

The employees were wearing: “normal work clothes and not clothing that would be impervious to asbestos,” Barzan noted.

While one employee mentioned wearing a respirator, “that worker was not clean shaven where the respirator seals with the face,” Barzan wrote.

A representative told the inspector a sampling of asbestos had previously been conducted and that there were no materials containing asbestos on the worksite.

However, the 2016 report given to the inspector included a sample of the exterior stucco but no information about any asbestos sampling inside the unit.

A subsequent survey found the drywall disturbed during the renovation contained asbestos.

Before a building can be demolished or renovated, an employee needs to collect samples of potentially hazardous materials and ensure those materials are safely contained or removed, as well as making a written report of the findings.

The inspector issued a stop-work order.

Given that both violations were high-risk and one was a repeated act of non-compliance, WorkSafeBC issued a $26,602 fine.