Subject: Asbestos – potential health risk due to asbestos in loose fill vermiculite insulation
 Legislation/Regulation Release 04-03
 Operational
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The Social Housing Branch advises service managers of information recently provided by Health Canada, which has been reported in the media and also by letter from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation to our Deputy Minister.
The Health Canada notice is self-explanatory and is available on the Internet at: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca or at: http://www.cmhc.ca . Follow the links for asbestos. This is a newly discovered issue, which concerns loose fill vermiculite insulation used in attics. Until now, this type of insulation was considered to be safe and non-toxic. Health Canada now warns that asbestos is present in certain brands of vermiculite used in houses.
Action required
Service managers are responsible for ensuring all housing providers operate their portfolios in accordance with all applicable statutes and regulations, including those regarding asbestos. In brief, building owners must have an asbestos management plan, which meets the Occupational Health and Safety Act:
- Designated Substance – Asbestos, R.R.O. 1990, Regulation 837, and
- Designated Substance – Asbestos on Construction Projects and in Buildings and Repair Operations, R.R.O. 1990, Regulation 838
Briefly, these regulations require landlords to: inventory asbestos containing materials in their portfolio, train all staff who are likely to contact asbestos, notify contractors if they may contact asbestos during their work, and abate certain asbestos containing materials.
Regarding public housing, the former Ontario Housing Corporation properties were transferred to local housing corporations complete with functioning asbestos management programs. Asbestos is not an environmental hazard under the Environmental Protection Act. Ontario Housing Corporation does not retain liability for asbestos, under the Social Housing Reform Act, 2000.
The asbestos regulations have been in force for fourteen years, therefore all housing providers ought to have long-standing asbestos management programs. This notice serves as a reminder that these programs must be active and must now include vermiculite.
Contact
Service managers may direct questions about the contents of this notification to Francis Chang, P. Eng. (Building Science Advisor) at 416-585-4039 or email to: francis.chang@mah.gov.on.ca . Suggestions from service managers on improvements to the guide are always welcome.
Toni Farley,
Director
Social Housing Branch
August 3, 2004