Asbestos Awareness +1, Big Business -1: Concordia prof under pressure to denounce colleague's pro-asbestos paper

Maintaining our country's identity as a leader in health-awareness and healthcare -we are glad that more Canadians are educating themselves on asbestos and speaking up on issues like this in the link below. Lets not downplay the health concerns asbestos can cause, shame on you big business!. Click here for full article written in the Montreal Gazette.

"Make sure the home inspector you hire has the knowledge needed to do the job right"

Please, when hiring a home inspector, make sure he/she has experience. Anyone can go write the test and claim to be a professional. Too many times have we seen awful home inspectors missing key concerns, and costly ones such as vermiculite asbestos. Again, if you hire someone make sure he/she is credible with plenty of experience. Here is a quick run down with Mike Holmes. Click here for full article.

Winter is coming.... Protect your home.

Here is a good write up on how to prepare your home for winter, by Garth Haslem an experienced home inspector. Click here for full article.

Asbestos toys and crayons imported to the U.S. from China

This is awful! Seeing as our company is based in a border town, we know how easy this merchandise could make it into Canada.

"A consumer group has triggered an alert after asbestos was found in children's crayons and a toy lab kit. The products were imported into the U.S. from China and not checked by a range of major retail outlets."

"Crayons: Amscan Crayons, Disney Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Nickelodeon Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Crayons, Power Rangers Super Megaforce."

The toy science kits were: Edu Science Deluxe Forensics Lab Kit, Inside Intelligence Secret Spy kit."

Click here for the full story

ACM Shingles... All gone!

It took some elbow grease and sunny skies, but we wrapped this one up in a hurry.

Vermiculite, Home Inspection, Analysis

Here is a small informational and link below about vermiculite. We run into this stuff on occasion when people are either trying to sell or buy a home. Furthermore, when your/their home inspector says "you have asbestos vermiculite in your attic", don't let him or her assume that for you. You could save thousands of dollars by getting it tested before you proceed to remove it. We have seen this 4 times in 2015 throughout Niagara.

http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/diseases/vermiculite.html

Please call us today for accredited sample analysis. We have the quickest turnaround in the Niagara Region.

Abatement Nostalgia

Here is an oldie but goodie. In this picture we were summoned to tidy up the Telesis, a Drill Ship docked in Port Colborne, Ontario. April, 1993.

"Danger to city dogs after asbestos kills labrador despite treatment costing £20,000"

Very sad, let's not only keep our friends and family protected -but our fur-balls as well.

http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/581397/Danger-city-dogs-asbestos-kills-labrador-despite-treatment-costing-20-000

Really???: Public Works held back documents on asbestos in tax centre building

Ooops?

"The federal Public Works department kept documents secret about an Ottawa building where concerns have been raised about employees being exposed to asbestos, newly released documents show."

http://ottawacitizen.com/news/politics/public-works-held-back-documents-on-asbestos-in-tax-centre-building

Asbestos exporting, emission denying, Canada.

Here is an interesting blog post about Canada's world role on the exportation of asbestos, our emission status, and the Harper government. Written by Dr. Trevor Hancock; a professor and senior scholar at the University of Victoria’s school of public health and social policy.

http://www.timescolonist.com/opinion/columnists/trevor-hancock-note-for-politicians-first-do-no-harm-1.1940508/

SK Public Asbestos Registry is Live!

This is great news. Saskatchewan has finally rolled out their Public Asbestos Registry. Found in the link below is the Saskatchewan government's website to "report asbestos" anywhere within the province. Of course this doesn't help the rest of us directly, but hopefully some of the powers that be will start to make similar changes to the rest of Canada. We need to minimize the potential risks there are with living and working around these carcinogenic materials -It's 2015!

https://asbestosregistry.saskatchewan.ca/

New Demo Regulations For Control of Chemical and Biological Exposure

"Currently construction is the only sector exempt from Regulation 833 – Control of Exposure to Biological or Chemical Agents."

Big news and opportunities for people in the environmental, as well as the health and safety world if this regulation is successful.

Let's put a stop to workplace hazards and occupational disease.

Click here for the full story.

Saskatchewan: Leader of Asbestos Registration

Saskatchewan is leading Canada in developing an official asbestos registry. It's about time all provinces follow suit! Let's protect our loved ones from harm that can be avoided.

Click here for the full story.

According to this news article, Canada shows no signs of slowing down the import of Asbestos products... IT'S 2015!!!

A snippet of the article... ""Brake mechanics, along with construction workers and shipyard workers, are among those most at risk of exposure to asbestos at work, according to the Ontario Workplace Safety and Insurance Board. A tally by Carex Canada, a research project funded by the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer, showed 4,300 people in auto repair and maintenance are exposed to asbestos in the workplace." -The Globe and Mail

Click here for the full story

"Asbestos registry demanded for federal public buildings"

Eventually N.E.D. would like to see ALL buildings on a registered list should they contain asbestos building materials. But with that said, here could be some important first steps towards achieving that goal.

Let's protect our friends, families, and co-workers.  Here is a CBC News article detailing a few whistle blowers attempts at achieving an asbestos registry required in federal public buildings.

Link is here to CBC's news article: Asbestos Registry Demanded for Federal Public Buildings

Nostalgic?

Here are some photos I dug up at our HQ of some work we completed for former Vincor Canada (circa 1991), now referred to as Constellation Brands.

We do not support Harper's double standard on asbestos in the international market!

Here at Niagara Environmental Dynamics, we do not support Harper's double standard on asbestos in the international market.

"Chrysotile asbestos is a hazardous substance under Canadian law. But the Canadian government won’t support its listing as a hazardous substance under international law. Chrysotile asbestos, apparently, is hazardous to Canadians but not to folk overseas."

This does not represent our kind, do-gooder national identity. The Harper government should be ashamed of themselves. Full link to Toronto Star's article can be found here http://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2015/02/27/canada-is-on-the-sidelines-when-it-comes-to-banning-the-asbestos-trade.html

This story about an on going asbestos investigation blows my mind.

I just cannot believe this goes on in today's age. So apparently the management team at a Sudbury hospital thought it would be a good idea to hire their laundry and dishwashing service suppliers to remove asbestos from a boiler. It blows our mind over here. NO TRAINING, NO PPE, NO CLUE. Please find yourselves a professional service, or contact Niagara Environmental Dynamics Ltd. to take care of your abatement issues. Article link below.

http://www.thesudburystar.com/2015/01/30/ministry-investigates-asbestos-complaint-in-sudbury

"Asbestos is Canada's top source of workplace death"

Asbestos is not completely banned, and it seems to be a common misconception that it has been. Let's get rid of this stuff.

Here is the opening paragraph to The Globe and Mail's article "Asbestos revealed as Canada’s top cause of workplace death".  Link to the full article below.

"Asbestos exposure is the single largest on-the-job killer in Canada, accounting for more than a third of total workplace death claims approved last year and nearly a third since 1996, new national data obtained by The Globe and Mail show. The 368 death claims last year alone represent a higher number than fatalities from highway accidents, fires and chemical exposures combined."
-The Globe and Mail

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/asbestos-is-canadas-top-source-of-workplace-death/article22081291/ 

Glovebagging on Frozen Sulfuric Acid Lines

This is what we were up to before the long weekend -glovebag removals on frozen sulfuric acid lines that needed a new heat trace.  A bit chilly, but we pressed on to complete the job safely.

Please visit www.niagara-environmental.com/services to find out more about what we offer.

Info-graphic displaying common and not so common places where you may find asbestos hiding in your home

Here is an info-graphic displaying common and not so common places where you may find asbestos hiding in your home. If you have identified one area of concern, there is probably a good chance of others existing. Give us a call today (905-871-8553), or visit our website to find out more information about asbestos and how we can help you!

Asbestos Removal: CALL A PROFESSIONAL!!!

I am in no way endorsing DIY abatement, but for the nay-sayer here is a news article about the 8710 3M dust mask, and how it does not effectively filter ACM. We have all used these types of masks for projects around the house; from drywall to woodworking, and unfortunately for some DIYers, Asbestos PPE. Protect yourself and the people around areas of concern, call a professional.

News link:
Controversy surrounds respirator used for protection against asbestos

CHSC 1220 AM Radio final day...

Well, it was fun while it lasted.  CHSC 1220 AM radio has been put to rest, a job that went pretty well for the most part.  A special thank you from Niagara Environmental Dynamics Ltd. to Dixon Contracting for the cooperation in making this project run without a bump.  We would also like to wish Niacon Construction good luck in bringing the new property to life. 

With this clean slate, the future is bright for Brock University Art students.  Here's to hoping this development will attract fresh young faces to the area, help revitalize, and add positivity amongst the old Queenston St., St. Catharines.

-Matt

CHSC 1220 & Appartment Demolition, Queenston St., St. Catharines, Ontario.

Here is our current project.  The demolition of former CHSC 1220 radio station, you can learn more about it's history and present by visiting the St. Catharines Standard.  Please visit our website to find out more information about us and the services we offer by clicking here.   

Here is a quick rundown from the Ontario Ministry of Labour's website on asbestos handling, worker rights and responsibilities http://www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/hs/faqs/asbestos.php.  You can also find even more information on our website (Niagara Environmental Dynamics Ltd.) found here http://niagara-environmental.com/asbestos-education/