Managing Asbestos in Buildings : NS Labour and Advanced Education, Health and Safety

Managing Asbestos in Buildings : Code of Practice

Application

This code of practice is binding on any employer required by the Executive Director of the Occupational Health and Safety Division of the Nova Scotia Department of Labour to adopt this code. In addition, it can be used as useful guidance for any for any establishments where it has been shown or there is reason to believe that asbestos containing materials are present in a building.

Definitions

"Asbestos" means any or all types of asbestos.

"Asbestos containing material" means any material containing one percent or more of asbestos by volume.

"Owner" includes a trustee, receiver, mortgagee in possession, tenant, lessee or occupier of lands or premises used as a workplace and a person who acts for, or on behalf of, an owner as an agent or delegate.

Specific Requirements

1 Workplace Assessment

The owner shall assess a building to determine the presence or absence of asbestos containing material. The assessment shall include the collection of a representative number of bulk samples of suspect materials and analysis of the samples by dispersion staining techniques (or method equivalent or better). The analysis report shall include the classification of the type of asbestos determined and the percent composition of asbestos in the sample.

The owner shall maintain an inventory indicating where samples were collected and the result of the analysis. This inventory shall be made available to the Joint Health and Safety Committee or the Health and Safety Representative where such exist.

2 Immediate Action on Identification of Asbestos

Where asbestos is found to be present in a workplace, the owner shall immediately:

a) inform occupants, maintenance staff, and outside contractors of the potential hazards (if any) created by the presence of asbestos containing materials in the workplace and the measures which are to be taken to eliminate or minimize the hazard. The Joint Health and Safety Committee or the Health and Safety Representative shall be informed where they exist.

b) ensure damaged asbestos containing materials which could result in the release of fibres to occupied areas are removed by personnel trained in the proper procedures.

c) at a minimum, take appropriate steps to prevent temporarily the release of asbestos fibres. This action shall be followed by steps planned to eliminate asbestos exposures on a permanent basis.

3 Development of Asbestos Management Plans

Where asbestos containing materials are found in a workplace, an asbestos management plan shall be developed in writing and maintained until the asbestos containing materials are removed from the workplace. As a minimum, the asbestos management plan shall include the development of a plan outlining areas of priority and the intended method of preventing personnel exposures to asbestos. This may include removal, enclosure, or encapsulation of material. The Joint Health and Safety Committee or the Health and Safety Representative shall be consulted regarding the development of such plans where they exist.

Where removal of asbestos containing material is planned, the requirements of the Code of Practice for the Removal of Friable Asbestos Containing Materials shall apply.

Where asbestos containing materials are enclosed or encapsulated, the owner shall develop an on-going asbestos maintenance plan. The asbestos maintenance plan shall include provisions for:

  • a) informing personnel of the potential hazards associated with the presence of asbestos in the workplace.
  • b) training maintenance employees in safe work procedures to be followed during repair and maintenance activities which require contact with asbestos containing materials. The training shall include the proper use and maintenance of required personal protective equipment, the use of isolation techniques as needed, the use of correct equipment, and decontamination techniques for work areas and personal protection.
  • c) regular inspections of asbestos containing materials to check for signs of damage to the material which could result in a release of fibres. Records of these inspections shall be created and maintained.

The asbestos maintenance plan shall be developed in consultation with the Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee or the Health and Safety Representative where such exist.