GreenStream’s co-owner Manny Oliveira was recently quoted in the Globe and Mail, Canada’s national newspaper, in the first of a series of pieces that take a hard hitting look at the federal government’s legacy of promoting the asbestos industry.
The articles points out that, in contrast with 52 other countries across the globe, the Canadian federal government has yet to enact a ban on asbestos. And, even though it’s been virtually taken out of use in the construction industry, asbestos exposure continues to be a concern today even as rates of mesothelioma climb.
The federal government’s stance continues to be that asbestos is safe as long as it’s intact and undisturbed, but given its prevalence in the architecture of previous decades – how realistic is that assumption? It’s actually quite easy to disturb asbestos or asbestos containing materials when they are found in so many areas of buildings constructed prior to the 1980’s.
Asbestos can become airborne in many ways, including:
- cutting pipes
- renovations
- installing insulation
- duct work
- installing electrical systems like security, PA, stereo or home entertainment systems
Manny lent his expertise to that discussion. From the Globe and Mail:
Manny Oliveira, co-owner of Toronto-based asbestos-removal firm Greenstream Environmental Inc., estimates that “less than 10 per cent” of the thousands of home renos under way in Toronto have had testing for asbestos and then followed proper procedures for safe removal.
He has watched contractors haul out bags of asbestos to the dump and then reuse the bags. He has been called into homes after other firms have botched a job, stirring up asbestos in an attic and spreading it throughout the premises. “There tends to be a lot of cowboys out there who aren’t following the rules,” Mr. Oliveira says. “A lot of times they leave the place in a worse state than if they’d never showed up.”
As a point of fact, between 2000 and 2011, more than 4,000 people died of mesothelioma and the number of new cases has almost doubled to about 500 people per year since 1992.
The first part of the story focuses on the stark and sad story of a man who contracted deadly mesothelioma while working for a convention centre that underwent renovations. The workers had protective gear, but he and other office workers simply carried on as usual next door while the ventilation system dispersed the asbestos fibres everywhere in the building.
Don’t Take Chances
The threat to human health of asbestos is real. If your home was built before the 1980’s, it may contain asbestos in many places from floor to ceiling tiles. Let us help!.
Our experienced asbestos removal technicians can tackles any asbestos removal or remediation job, big or small. In the Toronto area contact GreenStreamEnvironmental.ca at (416) 818-9414. Contact us for a quote today.
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.
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