Hazardous Material Solutions & Air Quality testing in Toronto & the GTA
Solutions for Unhealthy Materials
Fisher Engineering has been at the forefront in identifying and working with hazardous, toxic and contaminated substances for over three decades. We have the necessary expertise to:
- Evaluate on-site safety.
- Provide management plans and solutions.
- Ensure the health and safety of all parties involved by complying with provincial regulations.
Contractors and developers are keenly aware of health and safety concerns, especially during demolition. They are involved with construction of older structures with varying building materials no longer considered safe.
Property managers and employers alike are always ensuring the long term sustainability of structures for its occupants.
Homeowners and renters also find themselves faced with toxic substances. No matter who you are, health and safety issues can arise. From mould growth after a flood to unexpected materials uncovered during renovation, no one is immune.
Fisher helps ALL potential clients including emergency response.
ARE YOU
RENOVATING?
Health & Safety Issues
Are a Concern
for Everyone
Rapid Response
Getting Materials Analyzed
1. We come to you
Fisher’s Rapid Response team is able to come to your site and sample questionable materials safely and effectively; e.g., mould, asbestos , and lead based paints to name a few.
Our Laboratory is able to provide quick feedback allowing clients the ability to make adjustments in real time.
2. You can come to us
Our CALA-certified Laboratory is also able to accept material samples from third party trained professionals. Simply drop off your samples for lab-analysis only.
Regulations
The Ministry of Labour and the The Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) guide regulations. The Act makes provision for a toxic substance to also be designated, where its use in the workplace is prohibited, regulated, restricted, limited or controlled.
CONTRACTORS
Do you have a STOP ORDER from the Labour Board?
Our RAPID RESPONSE team is ready to help you reduce downtime by solving challenges.
DO NOT COLLECT
TOXIC OR HARMFUL SUBSTANCES unless you are a trained professional.
Our RAPID RESPONSE team is ready to come to you.
AWARENESS TRAINING
We help you with the identification of typical and other suspect materials.
More on setting up a workshop for your team.
FISHER FILE
About Health And Safety: Do You Know Your Role?
Air Quality testing
Air Quality Investigation (AQI)
Our Air Quality Investigation team has extensive experience dealing with large and small scale environmental air quality concerns. Everyone, from homeowners to large multi-unit high-rises, turns to Fisher’s expertise when it comes to protecting their health and well-being.
Our team is comprised of chemists, engineers and technologists who are always ready to help you with:
Investigation and identification
Confirmatory Samples After Completion
Monitoring Contracts
Abatement (Removal) Supervision
Remediation
Our team will provide direct and on-going support as required with:
- Investigation into substance contamination
- Sampling and identification of substance contamination
- Management plans
- Complete remediation
Typical Materials:
Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Carbon Monoxide (CO), Temperature (°C), Relative Humidity (RH), Total Volatile Organic Carbons (TVOCs), Lower Explosive Limit (LEL) for Oxygen (O2), Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S), Methane (CH4), Respirable Particulates (RP), Microbial Contamination (Mould) and Asbestos Fiber concentration in the ambient air.
Hazardous Materials (Hazmat)
Chronic exposure to hazardous or toxic substances, such as PCBs, have been found to be harmful to human health. In some cases, acute exposure to hazardous and toxic substances can be fatal. Their proper management and disposal are covered in both Federal and Provincial legislations under a number of Acts and Regulations.
Fisher has the expertise to work with these hazardous materials and provide a full range of services for assessment, sampling, laboratory analysis, and management.
Typical Materials:
Man-made mineral fibres, ozone-depleting substances (ODS), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and urea formaldehyde foam insulation (UFFI). See list of building materials.
Designated Substances
How to deal with Designated Substances
O. Reg. 490/09 provides a consistent approach to dealing with existing requirements and provisions and outlines steps required to control worker exposure to these substances, including by inhalation, ingestion, skin absorption, or skin contact.
Each designated substance has an allowable level of exposure based on a time-weighted average (TWA) limit, and may also have a short-term exposure limit (STEL) and/or ceiling limit (C) assigned to it.
- TWA refers to the time-weighted average airborne concentration of a biological or chemical agent to which a worker may be exposed in a work day or work week.
- STEL refers to the maximum airborne concentration of a biological or chemical agent to which a worker may be exposed in any 15-minute period
- C refers to the maximum airborne concentration of a biological or chemical agent to which a worker may be exposed at any time.
Designation is reserved for eleven substances that are particularly hazardous, covered under Ontario Regulation 490/09 – Designated Substances, that was implemented on July 1, 2010.
Formerly, regulations for these substances were passed separately and each outlined exposure limits where workers were likely to inhale, ingest. and/or absorb the substance.
Photo: Historic image of asbestos - containing vermiculite used extensively in the building industry prior to the 1980s(source unknown)
FISHER FILE
Asbestos - A Special Case
The Construction Industry
The control of asbestos exposures in the construction industry has evolved into Ontario Regulation 278/05 – Asbestos on Construction Projects and in Buildings and Repair Operations. It is a supplementary regulation.
The regulation includes a definition of asbestos-containing materials (ACM), requirements for additional training, clearance air testing, procedures for determining materials that meet the definition of ACM and for the use of glove bags, and provisions for varying from measure and procedures set out in the regulation.
More Regulations
In addition to the OHSA and regulations regarding designated substances, the following regulations, guidelines and standards are also taken into account and/or referenced:
- Ontario Regulation 213/91 - Construction Projects regulated under the OHSA and last amended by O. Reg. 443/09
- Ontario Regulation 558/00 made under the Ministry of Environment (MOE) Environmental Protection Act, amending Ontario Regulation 347 - General Waste Management
- The Transport of Dangerous Goods Act (TDGA) provides regulations for the transport of asbestos-containing materials and wastes
- MOL Guideline: Lead on Construction Projects, 2011
- MOL Guideline: Silica on Construction Projects, 2011
READ OUR FISHER FILES
MATERIALS
REGULATIONS
EXPLANATIONS
Designated Substance Survey (DSS)
Based on the regulatory requirements, a survey and report of any and all Designated Substances, including asbestos, is required:
- At a workplace where they are present, produced, processed, used, handled, or stored.
- When a building is undergoing renovations or demolition (prior to commencement).
The survey identifies designated substances present, their locations and concentrations. Activities associated with a designated substances building audit include:
- Identification of designated substances used in and on building materials.
- Sampling of designated substances materials, using safe procedures.
- Analysis of bulk samples to determine type and quantity of substance.
- A detailed report of findings and recommendations.
Fisher Engineering has extensive experience conducting building audits for designated substances and other hazardous materials for large municipalities right down to individual homeowners.
TEAM
PROJECTS
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