Manitoba has announced updates to its asbestos handling regulations in a move to safeguard workers from the material, which is identified as the leading cause of workplace-related fatalities in the province. Labour and Immigration Minister Malaya Marcelino emphasized the necessity for stronger regulations to ensure worker safety and prevent work-related health risks during a press briefing on Thursday.
The new regulations mandate that individuals handling asbestos must undergo training and certification. Employers utilizing asbestos are required to register with the province, while building owners are entrusted with increased accountability to mitigate risks to workers. Workers have until June 2027 to either pass an examination administered by the Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba on safe asbestos handling or complete the necessary training and certification, as per Marcelino.
The estimated training costs range from $150 to $950 per worker, modeled after British Columbia’s requirements for specialized training prior to asbestos abatement activities in buildings. Companies engaging employees in asbestos-related work must also register with the province by June 2027; failure to do so will prohibit them from working with asbestos material.
Asbestos, once commonly utilized in various building products like roofing materials and insulation, was not entirely banned in Canada until 2018, despite a substantial decline in its usage starting around 1990. The release of microscopic asbestos fibers during construction and demolition projects poses health risks, including the development of cancer and other serious conditions.
Kevin Rebeck, President of the Manitoba Federation of Labour (MFL), highlighted the importance of the updated regulations, citing an average of about six annual deaths in Manitoba due to diseases linked to asbestos exposure. Rebeck criticized the previous inadequate regulations in Manitoba, emphasizing the need for standardized mandatory training protocols to safeguard workers effectively.
As Manitoba faces a surge in asbestos exposure due to aging building structures requiring maintenance, the MFL has advocated for stringent regulations to avert potential asbestos-related fatalities. The new rules are perceived as a significant step towards saving lives by ensuring worker protection and preventing asbestos exposure to building occupants.
Jeremy Carslon, President and Training Coordinator of Insulators Local 99, expressed satisfaction with the impending stricter regulations, emphasizing the risks associated with improper asbestos handling that could endanger building occupants. The updated regulations aim to enhance oversight and compliance within the industry to prevent unauthorized asbestos handling activities and ensure worker safety.
The implementation of these regulations is anticipated to improve monitoring and enforcement, providing health and safety officers with the necessary tools to ensure compliance and issue penalties for non-adherence. The move towards stricter asbestos handling standards is viewed as a crucial measure to enhance workplace safety in Manitoba.