Overview

This section includes information about possible ways to achieve compliance for the listed situations. It does not represent the exhaustive measures and procedures required by the Occupational Health and Safety Act and its regulations related to asbestos operations on construction projects.

This resource does not replace the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) and its regulations and should not be used as or considered legal advice. Health and safety inspectors apply and enforce these laws based on the facts they find in the workplace.

Program positions discussed relate to sections 14, 15, 16, 17 and 23 of O. Reg. 278/05: Designated Substance - Asbestos on Construction Projects, in Buildings and Repair Operations.

Type 2 asbestos enclosure when applied to false ceiling work

Issue:

How does using a type 2 asbestos enclosure of polyethylene or other suitable material that is impervious to asbestos when dealing with a likelihood of disturbing friable material (subparagraph 5.i. of section 16) apply to false ceiling work?

Position:

For a Type 2 Asbestos operation, where practicable a Type 2 polyethylene enclosure (or other suitable material that is impervious to asbestos) built from the floor to the false ceiling is needed to comply with the safety requirements of subparagraph 5.i. of section 16 of O. Reg. 278/05 to prevent the spread of dust from the work area. Such enclosure is considered practicable where there is a potential of friable material in a false ceiling and where type 2 asbestos enclosure is needed and the work area is not enclosed by walls. In addition to the polyethylene enclosure, where practicable the mechanical ventilation system serving the work area is to be disabled and the ventilation ducts to and from the work area are to be sealed in order to achieve compliance.

Compressed air use in asbestos abatement operations

Issue:

Can compressed air be used when removing asbestos? Can the equivalency for measures or procedures in section 23 of O. Reg. 278/05 be applied to section 14 paragraph 10 and section 15 paragraph 13 regarding the use of compressed air?

Position:

Compressed air cannot be used during removal or clean up of asbestos containing material.

Use of equivalent measure or procedure (section 23) does not apply to these sections or any other subsection or paragraph in O. Reg. 278/05 that is an outright prohibition.

O. Reg. 278/05 outlines under sections 15, 16 and 17 how asbestos dust and waste is to be cleaned up frequently and at regular intervals during the work and immediately upon completion using several prescribed methods that are allowed.