Asbestos Removal On The Sly

Normally, a company that is responsibly dealing with asbestos removal issues would be something to applaud. But, when the existence of that asbestos has been shrouded in secrecy, you can see where problems come into the picture.

Asbestos removal kept quiet
Just last month, the news broke about yet another situation developing from the fallout from the former GE plant in Peterborough, Ontario. For about 125 years, the site handled a variety of toxic substances, including more than 3,000 toxic chemicals that were in use at the plant between 1945 and 2000. One of them was asbestos.

Recently, a Toronto Star/CBC report exposed the fact that, at one time, the company sold excess asbestos to its workers, to use in insulating their homes. The program was not made public for years, but it turns out that GE had been paying for asbestos removal in many cases that came forward for over 15 years.

• The company said it had performed 54 asbestos inspections, and 24 asbestos removals since 2003.

The plan, however, has been criticized for its secrecy. Despite company claims that they had made public statements about the program, the media investigation found no record of any public outreach. In fact, as late as 2004, GE denied that the practice of selling its excess asbestos to workers had ever been in place.

The risk
In a news story, some homeowners said they had opted to leave the asbestos in place, even after testing confirmed its presence. What’s the risk?

• Asbestos is considered safe as long as it is intact and undisturbed;
• If any renovations are planned, there is a risk of creating dangerous and inhalable asbestos dust;
• The materials that asbestos was often mixed with deteriorate over time, even if the asbestos fibres per se do not, which eventually causes a crumbling material, and exposed asbestos dust.

Reports indicate there has been a significant uptick in requests for asbestos testing and asbestos removal since the story first broke.

Asbestos in your home?
If you have asbestos anywhere in your home, let us help with the next step: asbestos removal. Our experienced and certified asbestos removal and asbestos remediation technicians can help keep you and your family safe. In the Toronto area call Environmental 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.