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Asbestos register

Asbestos Safety Management Register

Since June 2013, employers and owners of buildings housing workers have had the following obligations:
  1. Have the building inspected for flock (if built before February 15, 1990) or lagging (if built before May 15, 1999) .
  2. If such materials are present, draw up a register accessible to workers in the establishment concerned.
  3. Record in this register all materials likely to contain asbestos, whether present or not, after carrying out tests.

These obligations apply to all employers and owners of buildings housing workers, in order to ensure the safety of workplaces with regard to asbestos-related risks. 
The asbestos register makes it possible to identify sections of the building where special precautions need to be taken for workers to limit their exposure to asbestos dust (particularly during construction work, but also for the maintenance and upkeep of existing materials).

Here are the main steps in an inspection to verify the presence of asbestos in a building, in accordance with the requirements of the Regulation respecting occupational health and safety (RROHS)

1. Inspection of potential areas where flock and lagging may be found in the building
2. Collection of a limited number of samples of suspect materials
3. Samples are sent to a laboratory for analysis and identification of the possible presence of asbestos.
4. Receipt of analysis report from laboratory indicating whether or not materials contain asbestos
5. If asbestos is detected, the materials concerned are recorded in a register accessible to workers.
6. Update the register once every two years, indicating in particular the state of degradation of the materials.  
The inspection must be carried out in a safe manner, with samples taken in such a way as not to release asbestos fibres into the air. The aim is to precisely identify and locate materials likely to contain asbestos, in this case flock and lagging.

Flockings 

Flock is a mixture of friable materials applied by spraying to cover a surface, usually for thermal insulation purposes. They are generally more friable than most other asbestos-containing materials, such as those applied by trowel, and are liable to emit asbestos dust as soon as they are damaged or disturbed. Asbestos-containing flock was used as thermal insulation in buildings constructed before February 15, 1990. 

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Insulation 

Insulation refers to the thermal insulation of equipment and installations to prevent heat loss. According to the Regulation respecting occupational health and safety (section 69.1), insulation means "an insulating material that covers an installation or equipment to prevent heat loss".

Heat insulators are generally made from materials such as :

  • Thick cardboard (resembling thick paper towels)

  • Corrugated cardboard

  • Fabric-covered cementitious paste (looks like a plaster cast for a broken arm)


These materials are installed on ducts or equipment for thermal insulation purposes.

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Thermal insulation was used as mechanical insulation in buildings constructed before May 20, 1999. 

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How can we help you

The Air-conseil environnement Inc. team is highly qualified to carry out building inspections to identify materials likely to contain asbestos, such as flock and lagging. Our team has worked on many government buildings across Quebec. IF you have been asked to establish a register for your buildings, please do not hesitate to contact us.     

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