How can I create a record of possible exposure to asbestos?
Employees and students can create a record of having worked/studied in a building where they were potentially exposed to asbestos by submitting a ticket, (link is available on our main page). The information will be kept on file by the University.
How can I know whether there is asbestos in the building where I work or study?
The University has an asbestos web database used to collect and maintain information about asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) in its buildings. The database is not complete; adding to and updating the database is an ongoing process.
What does McGill do to protect its community against asbestos exposure?
McGill has processes and procedures in place aimed at ensuring that asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) in all buildings and infrastructure owned by the University are managed in a way that safeguards the health and safety of the University community in conformity with all applicable laws, including the Act respecting occupational health and safety, Safety Code for the construction industry, the Regulation respecting occupational health and safety (ROHS), the Regulation respecting the landfill and incineration of residual materials (RLIRM), and general standards of practice. Following recent legislative changes, McGill has been updating its processes and procedures related to asbestos management.
What should I do if I notice damaged building materials or debris and I’m concerned about asbestos exposure
Facilities Management and Ancillary Services encourages members of the McGill community to report degrading building materials, fallen ceiling tiles or the presence of debris. Should you come across any of these situations, you should:
Protect yourself first, for example by leaving the immediate area and going to a safe location.
If possible, keep others out of the area as well.
Contain the issue if you can (e.g., close the door).
Report the situation to the Facilities Call Centre by calling 514-398-4555.
Examples of incidents involving asbestos include:
Water infiltration, damage, floods
Issues with ceiling tiles (collapsed, damaged, cracked, wet, missing)
Visible damages or openings within ceilings and walls not present before
Presence of debris or degraded construction materials (incl. abnormal presence of dust)
Discovery or disturbance of suspected asbestos-containing materials - Any construction or maintenance activity that may not be following asbestos-related procedures:
Worker without proper personal protective equipment in asbestos zone
Individual with personal protective equipment works or circulates outside the asbestos zone
Asbestos enclosure compromised (polyethylene plastic detached or torn)
Package labeled "asbestos" or yellow waste bag is found
I saw some workers in my building wearing protective gear. Should I be worried?
From building repairs or renovation to installation or removal of telecommunications equipment, staff from or hired by Facilities Management and Ancillary Services and IT Services are often required to perform work in ceilings or other spaces where asbestos-containing materials may be present. Depending on the nature of the work, they may need to manipulate or move these materials and could potentially be exposed to asbestos fibres (from detached pieces of materials or dust).
Standard safety protocols – which vary depending on the level of risk – are put in place when such work is planned. The protocols may require that the workers wear personal protective equipment*, or that temporary enclosures or mobile tents be put in place where the work is happening. They may also involve the use of specialized vacuuming equipment (such as a high-efficiency particulate absorbing – or HEPA – filter) so that uncontained asbestos fibres – if there are any – are captured. These measures are used to protect both the workers and the occupants of the building.
*Personal protective equipment for this type of work may include a Tyvek suit, work gloves, full- or half-face reusable respirators fitted with high-efficiency particulate absorbing (HEPA) cartridges, hard hats, gloves and steel-toe work shoes or boots.
There are many construction projects at McGill. How are building users protected against asbestos exposure during construction/renovation work at McGill?
McGill’s construction projects are planned and carried out in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. All necessary measures are put in place to ensure the safety of both the workers and the building users. For example:
At the start of a project, the project team consults McGill’s asbestos web database to check whether there are asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) in the spaces where work is planned. If more information is needed, additional materials testing is performed.
If the presence of ACMs is confirmed, it is included in the project team’s risk assessment so that the appropriate protective measures can be identified and deployed.
Protective measures during the work may include (but are not limited to):
Complete isolation of the work site from the rest of the building, under negative pressure (i.e., lower pressure inside the workspace to prevent any contaminant from being released outside the workspace)
Dust containment and dust collection procedures and equipment (such as high-efficiency particulate absorbing – or HEPA – filter)
Air tests, including outside the construction zone, where stipulated by regulation
The project team includes an internal Health and Safety Manager assigned strictly to construction projects. When required, an external industrial hygiene consultant is hired to verify that the contractor uses the proper work methods and to ensure that no activity compromises worker or occupant safety.
Shortly before the start of a construction/renovation project, the project managers share with the building director a “Construction Start” notice that gives an overview of the project. The notice will usually mention whether a project includes work under asbestos conditions. The building directors are asked to share the construction start notice with their building users. The notice is also published on the FMAS website.
What standard does McGill use for air testing
McGill’s self-imposed threshold is a maximum of 0.01 fiber per cubic centimeter of air. This is the threshold used in Quebec to ensure safe occupancy after work done in high-risk conditions due to the presence of asbestos. Outside of this kind of work, the regulatory threshold used in Quebec is 0.1 fiber per cubic centimeter of air. McGill prefers to always use the more stringent threshold of 0.01 fiber given the high volume of construction/renovation projects and repairs in our buildings.
Where is the asbestos management directive located?
The asbestos management directive is located on the secretariat website under McGill University policies and regulations