Context

What prompted the investigation

On January 31, 2023, McGill’s Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) shut down three interconnected buildings (Raymond, Macdonald-Stewart and Barton) on the Macdonald Campus, immediately following the receipt of test results that showed uncontained asbestos in Raymond. As well, building users had reported significant amounts of dust throughout the three buildings. The dust was suspected to have come from construction work in Raymond, a building known to contain asbestos.

Air test results were below the regulatory threshold for asbestos (0.01 fibres per cubic centimetre). However, surface dust in the three buildings was positive for asbestos in 45 of 469 areas tested (i.e., approximately 10% of the areas tested).

The tests conducted on dust do not indicate how much asbestos is contained in a sample testing positive. A positive result indicates that at least one asbestos fibre is present. A negative indicates that no asbestos fibres were present.

Asbestos is present in many buildings in Quebec. Materials containing asbestos that are in good condition do not pose health risks. Materials containing asbestos may be hazardous to health when the asbestos is uncontained, as fibres may be released into the air.

The mandate for the investigation

Internal Audit was mandated to:

• document the chronology of events and decisions that led to the detection and subsequent management of asbestos present in the Raymond, Macdonald-Stewart and Barton Buildings;

• assess McGill’s asbestos management and project management processes and highlight process improvements to strengthen these protocols.

Background

Construction projects

Construction work for two major renovation projects in the Raymond Building began in October 2021. Both involved work in the presence of asbestos.

During the construction, the Raymond Building saw mixed space usage, which included:

• construction sites for two projects, under the control of the General Contractor;
• McGill-occupied spaces; and
• shared spaces used by construction staff as well as the Macdonald Campus community.

Construction management

The General Contractor (GC), external Project Manager, and McGill’s Project Management Office (PMO) all played major roles in overseeing construction.  

• The General Contractor was responsible, among other things, for ensuring that the work defined in the contract was fully executed. Concerning safety, the GC must ensure that safety hazards are identified and addressed, safety plans are developed and followed, and those working on the site fully comply with applicable codes and regulations.
• The external Project Manager was responsible for ensuring the project was managed according to industry best practices.
• McGill’s Project Management Office assigned a senior internal Project Manager to oversee and support the external Project Manager.

As well, McGill hired external industrial hygiene consultants to test and monitor work under asbestos conditions. McGill’s Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) unit does not perform testing in construction project sites.

Summary of events

Faculty members in Agricultural and Environmental Sciences raised concerns about dust in the three interlinked buildings throughout the fall of 2022.

The CNESST, Quebec’s workplace health and safety organization, stopped work on the Raymond construction sites on November 15, 2021, and October 17, 2022, due to concerns about asbestos work. The CNESST provided reports only to the GC; these reports were not shared with McGill. (The CNESST again closed the Raymond construction site on February 14, 2023, after the EOC had shut down the three buildings.)

On November 28, 2022, a student reported concerns about air quality and dust in the Raymond Building. This was escalated to McGill’s EHS unit. An EHS staff member tested air quality (temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide) on December 7. He observed dust but was not qualified to test the dust for asbestos.

The staff member’s inspection report highlighted dust concerns. He submitted it to various members of the Faculty and EHS on December 8.

The only EHS staff member qualified to perform the necessary dust tests for asbestos had an approved leave starting December 9 that extended into the New Year. The EHS Operations Manager was on medical leave, further limiting EHS resources. As a result, asbestos testing was delayed until January 2023

On January 19, 2023, EHS staff performed tests on damaged building materials and on settled dust in the Raymond Building. EHS received positive test results for the damaged building materials on January 25, and for dust on January 31. McGill’s Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) was activated on January 31 and immediately closed the buildings.

Also in January 2023, EHS learned that a biosafety cabinet had been moved from Raymond to the Macdonald-Stewart Building. The move took place in August 2022. EHS had not been notified of the move, nor had the cabinet been decontaminated. EHS sampled construction debris from the top of the cabinet on January 26, and received test results showing the presence of asbestos on February 1. A second test returned negative results on February 7.

During its activation, the EOC:

• Restricted building access to essential research personnel wearing personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Conducted air and dust testing throughout the three buildings, before and after cleaning.
• Ensured that spaces where dust tested positive were cleaned under asbestos safety protocols, and that spaces testing negative underwent regular cleaning. 
• Implemented a range of enhanced safety measures.
• Issued messages via email and the web, developed an FAQ, and held an interim situation update on February 17 and a Town Hall on March 14, 2023.

The Macdonald-Stewart and Barton Buildings re-opened on March 14, 2023; most McGill-occupied areas in the Raymond Building opened on March 31. The EOC was de-activated on March 29.