Update: Jail Time for Kingston Area Asbestos Removal Contractor

In an update to a court case story, an asbestos removal contractor from Bolton, north of the GTA, received a 30 day jail sentence along with a $45,000 fine.

The Case
The case involves an asbestos removal job that took place in Gananoque, near Kingston in Eastern Ontario in August of 2014. The contractor was hired to remove insulation that contained asbestos from the attic of a residence.

The asbestos removal contractor was convicted of nine counts under the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the province’s asbestos regulations. Among the specific  – and very serious – issues:

• He failed to seal off the affected area (attic) from the rest of the home;
• He and his employees wore no protective clothing;
• Their respirators were untested;
• The homeowner an others were present while work was being done (with asbestos in the air since the attic was not sealed off);
• He dumped 13 bags that were not labelled or properly sealed full of contaminated material – hundreds of pounds of asbestos laced insulation – on private property.

The judge who sentenced he man said he had “shown a total disregard not only for the health and safety of his workers but also for the public,” according to a Ministry of Labour release.

Safety is No Joke
If an asbestos removal contractor does not wear protective equipment and dumps unmarked bags of asbestos debris on the land, he is either very reckless or very uninformed on the dangers of asbestos. Either way – he is a danger to himself, his employees, customers and the public at large.

At GreenStream Environmental, we know just how important safety is in our business. Asbestos exposure is a proven health hazard. If your home was built before the mid-1980’s, it almost certainly contains asbestos in one form or another. Our experienced and certified asbestos removal technicians are available to help you with your asbestos issues. You’ll have peace of mind knowing the job got done the right way.

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.