MWI Consultants

Consultation to identify asbestos-containing materials and to determine remedial measures necessary to remove, minimize or control the hazards associated with asbestos.

Asbestos is a naturally occurring silicate mineral with long, thin fibrous crystals. The mineral was widely used in a large number of applications, particularly as a flame retardant or insulating material. Asbestos has also been found in many products around the home or office, including clapboard, roofing shingles, attic insulation (vermiculite), exterior siding, pipe and boiler covering, cement, caulking, roof patching material, furnace cement, driveway coatings, wallboard, textured and latex paints, acoustical ceiling tiles, wall plaster, vinyl floor tiles, appliance wiring, hair dryers, irons and ironing board pads.

MWI Consultants

In general, the use of asbestos has been discontinued due to the adverse health effects from inhalation of asbestos fibers. Asbestos is considered a designated material under the Controlled Products Regulations and is a known carcinogen. Chronic exposure to asbestos can lead to asbestosis and mesothelioma (a type of lung cancer), amongst others.

According to Part 36, section 36.5(1) (b) of the Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health Regulation 217/2006, the occupational exposure limit of a designated material must be as close to zero as is reasonably practicable, but shall not exceed the Threshold Limit Value (TLV) established by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH). The Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health Division recognizes the level as close to zero as is reasonably practicable for all forms of asbestos as 0.1 fibres per cubic centimeter of air (f/cc or f/cm3), which matches the TLV established by ACGIH.

Creation of an inventory of asbestos-containing materials

If you are unsure which materials in a property contain asbestos, then one of the first tasks would be to prepare an asbestos inventory. According to law, employers are responsible for ensuring that asbestos-containing materials (ACM) are identified. Part 37.1 of the Workplace Safety and Health Regulation states that any material suspected of containing asbestos is considered to contain asbestos until it is proven to be asbestos-free. This involves a thorough inspection of the entire building (commercial/industrial) for any items which could potentially contain asbestos. Bulk samples of suspected materials are taken and analyzed for asbestos type and content. Asbestos-Containing Materials are identified and their current condition is evaluated. If the materials are in good condition, a control program can be implemented. If materials are heavily damaged or in poor condition, or if asbestos fibers are detected in the air, then an abatement project may be necessary.

Bulk samples to identify asbestos-containing materials

Workplaces are required to know all asbestos-containing materials in the workplace. If it is suspected that asbestos-containing materials (ACM) may be present, then bulk sampling to determine asbestos content would be warranted, especially prior to any type of significant construction work or renovations that may disturb the material.

Asbestos Abatement Projects

The specific approach will vary with each project, and our services are always tailored to suit your specific needs, however where removal of asbestos-containing materials is necessary, our services can include any or all of the following:

Determination of the scope of work, including the appropriate requirements outlined by regulations.

Selecting contractors for the abatement. Removal of asbestos should only be done by trained professionals. Depending on the level of contamination, the amount of asbestos-containing material, the location, and the type of material, special precautions need to be taken.

Set-up and consultation for the project.

Oversight, inspections and monitoring based on Manitoba Department of Labour guidelines.

Set-up of a negative pressure enclosure monitor/logger (OmniGuard IV) to continuously monitor the negative pressure differential and to log alarm conditions, based on requirements in Workplace Safety and Health Guidelines for working with asbestos.

Perimeter monitoring and inspections to ensure the integrity of the enclosure has not been compromised and to ensure asbestos fibres are contained within the abatement enclosure and that background levels of asbestos are not affected.

Post-Abatement clearance sampling within the enclosure according to requirements in Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health guidelines. Analysis is performed using phase-contrast microscopy following NIOSH 7400 (A Rules) methodologies. All laboratory analyses are performed by accredited laboratories.

Full, comprehensive report providing interpretation of laboratory results and project overview

If you require an abatement to remove hazards associated with asbestos-containing materials, or are unsure whether or not materials contain asbestos, please fill out the "request a quote" form and we will contact you to determine an appropriate course of action or call 1 (204) 981-7690 to discuss your requirements.

Workplace exposure assessments involve determining which chemical or biological hazards exist within the workplace and then sampling to determine if levels are within tolerances established by ACGIH, as required by the Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health Act (Part 36). Consulting services would include an evaluation of the workplace, determination of applicable chemical substances to be analyzed, collection of the samples and interpretation of the results.

Samples are collected according to NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) or other applicable standards and are analyzed by laboratories accredited by AIHA (American Industrial Hygiene Association), CALA (Canadian Association for Laboratory Accreditation) or other applicable agency.

MWI Consultants

We offer a wide variety of services related to workplace exposure assessments, including the following services:

• Welding exposure assessments, including metals analysis according NIOSH Method 7303 and NIOSH 0500/0600 md-Gravimetric Hygiene Methods. This could include situations where it had been found by Manitoba Labour and Immigration Workplace Safety and Health Division that the assessments of chemical and biological substances in the workplace were absent or not adequate.
• Workplace exposure to specific chemicals present in the workplace. Examples would include exposures to chemicals used in printing applications, paint spray booths (isocyanates), industrial solvents (xylene, toluene and more), resin coating, industrial strippers, paints and glues. Testing can be performed for short-term exposures, longer-term exposures, single day testing, or testing can be repeated over a certain period.
• Noise Level Assessments. Noise levels can be a significant health and safety issue in some workplaces. A noise assessment survey can be done to determine noise levels either at different times of the day, or with different types of equipment in operation. As these types of surveys are highly customized, we would recommend contacting us with the details of your particular situation in order to proceed.

A comprehensive final report will be prepared, including an interpretation of the results against current and proposed occupational exposure limits published by ACGIH (American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists), as well as any recommendations regarding general ventilation rates or the level of respiratory protection or other personal protective equipment that would be appropriate.

If you are interested in sampling for occupational exposures but are unsure as to how to proceed, please fill out the “request a quote” form and we will contact you to determine an appropriate course of action.

Noise can be a great source of stress for people of all ages, and more so for the elderly and those who have a low tolerance to noise due to physiological or psychological reasons. In general, however, noise at a certain level provides an unhealthful environmental for normal and healthful living. The extreme conditions that drive people beyond the limits of sanity is a common situation: a neighbor who, after ten years, finally breaks down and kills a neighbor who cannot bring down his music volume. In many cases, just the humdrum of the vehicles in a city over a long period can cause some people to develop hypertension or insomnia and the corresponding more serious illnesses that develop from either condition.

In the workplace, conditions are maintained to provide a desirable occupational atmosphere. In offices, noise cannot be allowed to go beyond a low decibel allowable for quiet thinking and conversation. In factories, the noise of equipment and other noise sources (outdoor traffic, ambient noise from commercial establishments, etc.) should be regulated through the use of noise-reduction techniques: double-walled partitions, ear plugs, curtains, etc.

In our modern scientific era, it is no longer enough to depend on arbitrary means to determine what is healthful and what unhealthful noise-level is. Neither can people merely tolerate noise levels beyond the normal threshold. Technology allows us to measure and control noise levels in order to ascertain that the health of workers and other people concerned is safeguarded and maintained. For those who may not be aware, there are professional consultants, such as MWI Consultants, that provide exactly this kind of service.

Noise level determination will no longer be done through guesswork or merely using arbitrary standards which will vary according to environment or people. Environmental standards set by public ordinances or regulations provide a benchmark (the “no-complaint” zone) upon which anyone can set comfortable levels of ambient noise in any situation.