Exposing Workers to Asbestos Nets Vancouver Man Jail Time

Arthur Moore, a Vancouver area demolition contractor, was recently sentenced to a 60-day jail term for exposing his employees to the hazards of asbestos.

The case is a rare example of a jail term handed down to an employer who exposes his employees to preventable health risks, but did not go far enough according to some sources. Lawyers working on behalf of the B.C. Workers’ Compensation Board had asked for a term of 6 months to a year, and the president of the province’s Federation of Labour was quoted as saying the sentence wasn’t nearly long enough for “basically giving the death sentence to a whole lot of workers.” He noted that criminal neglect charges should have been filed as well.

Mr. Moore operated his demolition business in the greater Vancouver area under various company names, and the court documents detail a shocking case. Mr. Moore was in the habit of hiring recovering addicts, many of them teenagers and reportedly as young as 14. He then knowingly sent them to demolish buildings that contained asbestos materials without the proper protection. He’s said to have put the lives of some 50 workers at risk over the last few years.

Worker Safety = Client Safety
It’s the responsibility of every employer to ensure a safe work environment, and when it comes to asbestos exposure, the risks are well known. Since the harmful effects come from inhaling asbestos in its friable form, construction and demolition workers are at particular risk, along with those involved in the asbestos abatement and removal industries.

Here at GreenStream Environmental Services, we understand that protecting our workers means we’re protecting our clients too. If your contractor doesn’t care about his own employees, how can he ensure your safety? Our employees are experienced and fully certified to handle asbestos remediation, removal and clean-up, and operate with the highest standards of equipment and safety procedures.

Before any renovation projects, call in the experts from GreenStream Environmental Services for an asbestos inspection. At GreenStream Environmental Services, we offer expert and certified vermiculite and asbestos remediation services to help you contain and then rid yourself of this problem.

In the Toronto area contact GreenStreamEnvironmental.ca at (416) 818-9414.

Featured in Mike Holmes’ magazine, HGTV’s Income Properties, W Network’s Love It Or List It and chosen by Homestars.com as “Best Toronto Asbestos Removal Company” based on customer ratings and reviews, GreenStream Environmental Services are fully-certified, trusted and insured professionals in the removal and disposal of commercial, industrial, institutional and residential asbestos, vermiculite and mould (hazardous and non-hazardous). Providing emergency service 24/7/365 for all of Toronto and the GTA (North York, Mississauga, Markham, Brampton, Scarborough, Ajax, Oshawa, and beyond) GreenStream has over 40 combined years of experience serving clients such as the City of Toronto, the Toronto District School Board and many more. For a free estimate in Toronto, the GTA and Southern Ontario, call today at 416-818-9414.  You’ll be glad you did.