G-100 Hazardous Material Abatement

As we move forward with planning for the renovation of the G-wing into a vibrant hub of student-based campus services and activity, hazardous material abatement involving asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) will be taking place in G-100 (the former library space) from June through November.

The health and safety of our campus community is our top priority. As such:

• This planned removal and disposal of ACMs will be done according to all Alberta provincial legislation required to abate and dispose of hazardous materials. 
• The abatement will take place in specially created sealed and contained areas.
• ACMs will be treated by qualified technicians in accordance with the applicable regulations throughout the project for the safety of workers and building occupants.
• All abatement work will be completed under the direction of EHS^P, a third-party environmental consultant. EHS^P will conduct inspections before, during and after the work, including air monitoring (background sampling, daily air monitoring during abatement, occupational sampling and final air clearance sampling). Daily reports will document the inspections and the air monitoring results.
• The abatement contractor, Clean Air Services Inc., specializes in the removal of ACMs. They have experience working in post-secondary institutions, schools and commercial settings.Clean Air Services’s employees are trained and certified to complete abatement work in Alberta.
• Mount Royal’s Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) will also monitor the project, ensure the University’s Asbestos Management Program is followed and act as a safety liaison with the campus community.

A significant portion of the ACMs to be removed are in a texture coat on the underside of the roof and walls. This work is scheduled to take six months and there will be noise associated with the abatement. Blackout dates for this work include the final exam period in the summer semester. Signage will indicate where this work is taking place and that the space is restricted. Please respect these signs for your safety and that of others.

 

Frequently asked questions

What is happening in G-100 (the former library space)? 
The vacant space is being transformed into a vibrant hub of student-based campus services and activity. During the planning stage of the project, an extensive investigation was undertaken to determine the presence and extent of possible hazardous materials. During the investigation, asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) were identified. 

From June through November, there will be hazardous material abatement in G-100 to remove these ACMs before the renovations begin. The ACMs — located in the texture coat on the underside of the roof and walls — will be treated by qualified technicians in accordance with the applicable regulations throughout the project for the safety of workers and building occupants. The abatement will take place in specially created areas that are sealed and contained.

What are asbestos and asbestos-containing materials (ACMs)?
Asbestos is a group of naturally occurring minerals that was mined and, prior to 1990, used or added to building materials because of its useful properties. An ACM is a product or building material that contains asbestos in any quantity or percentage. Examples include:

• flooring materials (floor tile, linoleum, etc.)
• mechanical insulation
• fire proofing
• texture coat
• caulkings and putties

If ACMs are disturbed, small fibres and clumps of fibres containing asbestos may be released into the air as dust. These fibres may cause health issues if inhaled. 

What legislation and guidelines must be followed in the abatement work? 
Alberta provincial legislation dictates the abatement and disposal of hazardous materials. This provincial legislation includes Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Act, Regulations and Code; the Alberta Building Code; and the Alberta Asbestos Abatement Manual. MRU’s Asbestos Management Program is developed around the Alberta regulations and guidelines. 

Who is doing the abatement? 
As this is specialized work that requires specialized knowledge, training and equipment, Clean Air Services Inc. has been contracted to remove ACMs in G-100. Clean Air Services’s employees are experienced and certified to do this type of work, have completed Alberta’s health and safety asbestos worker course, and hold up-to-date certifications.

EHS^P, a third-party environmental consultant, will guide and support the abatement. EHS^P will conduct background air sampling, daily air sampling, occupational air sampling and air clearance sampling. They will also perform visual inspections and submit daily site inspection reports, in addition to reviewing worker certification and completing a final report, among other responsibilities. 

What is the role of Mount Royal’s EH&S department? 
The role of EH&S in the abatement is to review documentation, generally oversee the work and work with the prime contractor, Stuart Olson. EH&S is also the safety liaison between Stuart Olson and the campus community. Mount Royal’s Asbestos Management Program, created by EH&S, establishes a comprehensive system to actively manage and control all asbestos-containing materials (ACM) in the University, and all activities which may disturb the materials, including maintenance, alteration and repair operations. EH&S has conducted a hazardous materials audit of campus and possesses an in-depth knowledge of areas on campus that may contain asbestos.

Is it safe to be doing asbestos abatement in an occupied building? 
Yes. All abatement work must follow strict regulations (summarized  above) to ensure that asbestos fibres are not escaping the work area. You can read more below about how the work is performed and the safety procedures that will be followed.

What safety procedures will the abatement work follow? 
The ACM abatement will follow procedures outlined in the Alberta Asbestos Abatement Manual. All work will be completed following the “four simple principles.” The four simple principles include:

• Isolate the work area, including: 
  • constructing a containment around the work area with polyethylene sheeting on walls and floors.
  • constructing a three-stage decontamination unit (DCU) onto the containment for work access. The DCU includes a clean room, shower and dirty room, each separated using interlocking polyethylene flaps for each stage of the waste transfer station (WTS).
  • constructing a three-stage waste transfer station (WTS) onto the containment for equipment/waste transfer in and out of the containment. The WTS includes a clean room, cleaning room and dirty room, each separated using interlocking polyethylene flaps for each stage of the WTS.
• Protect the workers: 
  • Workers have been informed of the hazards associated with asbestos exposure.
  • Workers are trained in the use and limitations of the personal protective equipment.
  • Workers are aware of their and their employers’ responsibilities under Alberta OH&S legislation.
• Ensure adequate clean-up and decontamination: 
  • Workers are trained to clean up and bag waste during the abatement.
  • Workers are trained in the use of the DCU and the WTS.
  • At the completion of the work, the area is visually inspected by a third-party environmental consultant to document that all visible dust and debris has been adequately cleaned prior to encapsulation of the space.
• Minimize the release of fibres: 
  • During abatement the work area is misted with water/surfactant mixture to keep dust levels under control.
  • The work area is placed under negative pressure with DOP tested negative air unit. The negative air pressure is kept at 5 pascals throughout the abatement activities. The negative air pressure prevents contaminants from leaving the work area.
  • ACM waste continually bagged into six-mil poly bags to prevent waste accumulation.
  • Workers properly utilizing the decontamination unit when entering or exiting the containment area.

Once abated, how are the ACMs disposed of?
During the abatement, ACMs are continually placed in six-mil polyethylene bags to prevent accumulation. The waste bags are then sealed. Before the bagged waste leaves the containment, asbestos is transferred to the waste transfer unit and placed in a second labelled six-mil polyethylene bag. The bags are then decontaminated and transferred out of the containment. The labelled waste bags are placed in a covered waste bin and transported to the contractors vehicle which is then used to transport the waste to an appropriate waste disposal facility according to legislation. The waste transfer is scheduled at specific times when campus occupancy is low.

How do we know ACMs are not coming out of the abatement area? 
EHS^P, the third-party environmental consultant, will guide and support the abatement. EHS^P will conduct background air sampling, daily air sampling, occupational air sampling and air clearance sampling. They will also perform visual inspections and submit daily site inspection reports, in addition to reviewing worker certification and completing a final report, among other responsibilities. 

Do I need any specialized protection if my work area/classroom is adjacent to G-100? 
Those in areas adjacent to G-100 do not need to wear any personal protective equipment (PPE). The abatement will be taking place in specially constructed containment areas by qualified workers in appropriate PPE. Signage at entry points will indicate where this work is taking place and that the space is restricted. Please respect these signs for your safety and that of others. 

During the abatement, can ACMs travel to other areas through the ventilation system? 
Engineering controls such as the construction of the containment and the use of negative air units prevent dust associated with the work from leaving the project area.

Negative air units are specialized HEPA filtered air units that filter air out of the work area to help create negative air pressure inside of the containment when compared to the adjacent area. The HEPA filters are proficiency tested before the start of work and vented to the exterior of the building as an extra precaution. Negative air units run continuously throughout the project while abatement is being conducted to prevent any dust or particles from leaving the abatement zone.

For additional safety, the HVAC system that serves G-100 — which is outside of the contained work area — will be isolated (capped) to prevent the transport of fibres out of the work area. In addition to G-100, this HVAC system serves the Interior Design Studio and the Transitional Vocational Program areas.


Who should I contact if I have concerns or am being impacted by this work? 

• Contact Environmental Health and Safety at ehs@mtroyal.ca/403.440.6038 with questions or concerns on safety issues.
• Contact Facilities Management’s Justin Trotta, manager, Capital Construction, at jtrotta@mtroyal.ca/403-617-8136 with questions or concerns on noise or disturbances to operations as a result of the work.
• If the issue requires immediate attention, call Security’s 24-hour emergency line, 403.440.5900.