Environmental Awareness for the Construction Manager

The potential of encountering hazardous materials is almost a certainty in many renovation or demolition projects involving older buildings. In many instances these matters have not been considered in the planning or design stages – which result in an unexpected exposure to hazardous materials such as asbestos, mould and polychlorinated biphenyl’s.

In addition to the health and safety concerns, poorly planned work may result in possible contamination of surrounding areas, large clean-up costs and project delays.

With the implementation of Bill 27 – The Safer Workplaces Act in Manitoba,; many new and revised responsibilities are placed on building owners, employers and contractors alike. The overall goal is to reduce workplace accidents and increase worker safety at each workplace. The new act requires additional training and awareness and places more responsibilities to supervisors, and management. The act also requires the implementation of a safety program and safety committee for all workplaces where more than 20 workers are employed.

Furthermore, greater fines can be assessed to employers, supervisors and managers for non-compliance. The requirements of the act include all workers that may be exposed to a potential hazardous agent such as asbestos, mould and PCB’s. As these agents may be encountered during any renovation or demolition project in older buildings, a sound understanding and awareness by management and supervisors is necessary in order to comply with the new legislation.

To assist construction managers and supervisors in this role, Pinchin Environmental has developed an awareness session targeting typical environmental conditions that the construction manager should be aware of. The identification, health risks and management of asbestos, mould and PCB’s are the primary focus. Special precautions regarding work in health care facilities will also be discussed. This “to the point” session is a must for anyone working in older buildings.