In Canada, the exposure to asbestos has become the number one cause of workplace deaths. Asbestos-related diseases have been responsible for around a third of occupational deaths since 1996. Many occupations are at higher risk of asbestos exposure, leading decades later into deadly diseases such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, and other types of cancer. According to the 2014 WorkSafeBC Statistics, between 2005 and 2014 there were 581 deaths by asbestos exposure. Asbestos was very popular in construction until 1990 due to its fireproofing and insulation capabilities.
The mineral was widely used in construction and can be found in building materials such as:
• Textured decorative coatings like popcorn walls and ceilings • Soffit boards • Vinyl floor tiles • Drywall and joint compound • Siding and shingles • Plaster, mud and texture coats • Asbestos cement board siding and under sheeting • Vermiculite insulation and other types of heating and cooling system products • Insulating surrounds of wood stoves and furnaces • Roofing materials • Deck under sheeting • Stucco • Wallboard and sheetrock
Comparing the number of work-related deaths between asbestos exposure and other diseases in the below graph, the constant rise of deaths because of asbestos is quite shocking.
Among the 581 fatalities in British Columbia between 2005 and 2014, the top occupations affected by asbestos exposure were 78% construction, 7% carpenters, 6% electricians, 5% pipe-fitters and 4% plumbers. The main sources of exposure occurred in the manufacturing sector, followed close by the construction sector. Other affected sectors are services, transportation and warehousing, and primary resources. The following graph shows the quantity of deceased by sub-sector:
When is asbestos exposure most dangerous?
The hazard of asbestos is when an asbestos-containing material is deteriorated or disturbed and it becomes airborne, increasing the risk of breathing its microscopic fibers. The fibers can last in the air for a long period of time. The prolonged exposure to asbestos is a hazard for health, but even brief or secondary exposure is capable of causing mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. The asbestos latency period is between 20 to 50 years after the exposure to asbestos. This is the reason why 74% of the fatalities were people among 65 and 84 years old because the symptoms of the asbestos-related conditions are visible decades later. WorkSafeBC is expecting to educate and control the asbestos exposure in young workers to reduce the number of victims.
Protect your health and the health of your family or workers, whether you have the suspicion of having asbestos at your home or business. At A&D Demolition and Asbestos Removal, we are a team of professionals with over 10 years of industry background. If you have a renovation project in mind and are unsure of how to start, you can rely on our experience to handle any situation of demolition and asbestos removal, eliminating any risk of the process. Your safety is our number one responsibility, and we offer a quality job at a reasonable price. We take care of every step from demolition to transport and disposal of all waste and hazardous materials. Our experience enables us to do a hassle free demotion project without any environmental issues. Contact us for a free on-site quote!