Asbestos is the name for a group of silica-based minerals whose crystals form in the shape of small fibres. These fibres can be inhaled by workers and remain in the body for life, causing damage to the organs they stick to. Even small exposures to asbestos fibres can eventually lead to serious diseases such as asbestosis, mesothelioma, and cancer decades later.

Despite a comprehensive 2018 ban on the importing, selling, manufacturing, and use of asbestos, it remains a hazard in many CUPE workplaces. Buildings constructed before 1990 still contain asbestos in various materials, such as insulation, roof shingles, and floor tiles.

Unfortunately, the CUPE Health and Safety branch continues to receive reports about workers being exposed to legacy asbestos. These exposures are completely preventable.

One of the best tools for informing workers about potential asbestos exposure is a comprehensive inventory created by the employer of all asbestos-containing materials (ACM) that are in the workplace. Asbestos inventories are required by law in all Canadian jurisdictions except Alberta. The inventory should list:

  • the location of the asbestos
  • the type of asbestos
  • the friability and condition of the ACM
  • the date the material was last inspected

Any material that is suspected to contain asbestos must be sampled and tested at a certified laboratory to confirm if and how much asbestos is present. In general, materials containing over 1% asbestos are considered ACMs. Asbestos inventories must be available for workers to review as needed so that they can be aware of what materials in their workplace require additional controls.

Any worker who may be required to work with asbestos must also be fully trained in safe work procedures and follow strict controls to prevent the release and spread of asbestos fibres.

Your right to refuse unsafe work can be a useful tool to help prevent exposure to asbestos. Before beginning any work on materials that may contain asbestos, you should verify that it has been sampled as a part of the employer’s asbestos inventory. If the material has not been sampled before, or the test is not from a certified laboratory, it should be treated as an ACM until it has been tested. Refusing to work with untested materials without the same level of protective controls as a known ACM is a valid use of your right to refuse.

If you believe that you have been exposed to asbestos in your workplace, you should report it to your supervisor using your workplace’s injury/exposure form. Asbestos exposures require a follow-up with a physician and continuous medical monitoring. It is also important that the exposure is correctly recorded as a workplace exposure so that the employer can be held accountable.

For additional information on asbestos in the workplace see CUPE’s asbestos fact sheet.