Alberta Asbestos Abatement Manual

Important to know

Alberta’s Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Code requires:

employers must ensure all workers who work with asbestos receive the training necessary to perform work safely
all workers must get asbestos training from a government-approved agency before they handle asbestos in a restricted area
all employers responsible for removing or abating asbestos, or for demolishing or renovating a building or equipment containing asbestos, must give Alberta OHS 72 hours’ notification prior to starting work that may release asbestos fibres

Definitions: Errors and inconsistencies with OHS legislation corrected and language simplified to improve clarity

Chapter 1: Reorganization of information and rewording to improve clarity

Chapter 2: Minor changes to improve clarity of language

Chapter 3: Significant changes, including updates to information on:

Federal asbestos legislation (Prohibition of Asbestos and Asbestos Products Regulations under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act)
Alberta Building Code (2014)
OHS Act changes, including work site party roles and responsibilities and other key changes, such as joint work site health and safety committees
OHS Code requirements to clarify language, address inconsistencies and expand information provided (recommendations for health assessments, requirements to address violence and harassment, updates to Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System requirements)

Chapter 4: Minor changes to improve clarity of language and elements of a management plan

Chapter 5: Asbestos abatement procedures (sections 5.2, 5.3 and 5.4):

Simplification of language, rewording or addition of information to improve clarity
Reorganization of steps to improve flow and clarity
Updates to recommendations for air monitoring and clearance criteria

Special cases (section 5.5):

Simplification of language or rewording to improve clarity
New section on procedures for “mechanical abatement” (circumstances where a structure has been destroyed)
New section on disposal of asbestos waste which includes recommendations for packaging, transportation and landfilling processes
Removal of content for sampling protocols (moved to Chapter 7)

Chapter 6: Minor changes to improve clarity of language

Chapter 7: Sampling and analysis:

Simplification of language or rewording to improve clarity
Add and update section on bulk sampling formerly in Chapter 5
Addition of recommendations related to the use of composite samples (bulk sampling)
Add and update sections on wipe sampling and vermiculite sampling formerly in Chapter 5
Addition of criteria for when area sampling (air monitoring) may be considered
New section on polarized light microscopy and point counting methods
New content in introduction to section on proficiency testing speaking to responsibilities of laboratories (service providers)
Updates to proficiency testing information

Chapter 8: Other health and safety considerations: