Transcript School Renovations and Public Health: ST. MARIE OF THE

SCHOOL RENOVATIONS AND
PUBLIC HEALTH:
St. Marie of the Incarnation Catholic
School
Bradford, Ontario
Dr. C. Gardner
Medical Officer of Health
PUBLIC HEALTH MANDATE
Health Protection and Promotion Act
• To provide for the organization and delivery of public
health programs and services, the prevention of the
spread of disease and the promotion and protection
of the health of the people of Ontario.
Health Hazards Prevention and Management
Program
• Goal
 To prevent or reduce the burden of illness from
health hazards in the physical environment.
ACTIONS TO DATE
Since being notified of the issue on February 6th:
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Responded to calls from parents of students
Reviewed with SMCDSB the Designated
Substance Survey, air asbestos testing,
communications, renovation and asbestos
abatement plans
Reviewed published research on asbestos
Consulted with Public Health Ontario
BACKGROUND ON ASBESTOS
History of use:
• Asbestos very commonly used in building
materials until late1970’s
• Restricted use since, with the evidence of
health impacts emerging since 1955
• Older buildings commonly retain asbestos still
 Covered, contained, bound, horded – not
airborne
ASBESTOS AND HEALTH
• Health impacts only if airborne exposure –
safe to leave in place if contained
• Need safeguards to prevent airborne exposure
with building renovations
• With airborne exposure, can cause:
 Asbestosis – scarred / stiffened lungs
 Lung cancer – greatly increased with smoking
 Mesothelioma (cancer of lung lining or abdominal
lining)
 Cancer of the digestive tract, ovaries
 More than 15 years delay in onset (40 years + for
Mesotheliomas)
HEALTH RISK DEPENDS ON:
With asbestos exposure, risk dependent upon:
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the amount of asbestos fibres in the air
how long your exposure lasts
how often you were exposed
the size of the asbestos fibres inhaled
the amount of time since your first exposure
the type of asbestos fibre (Amphibole higher risk
than Chrysotile asbestos)
SITUATIONAL ASSESSMENT:
ST. MARIE OF THE INCARNATION
• Designated Substance Survey, Jan 2015
findings:
 Asbestos vinyl floor tile, drywall joint compound &
concrete block mortar.
• Air asbestos test findings, Feb 2015
 No asbestos fibres found in 9 locations tested in
the school – Transmission Electron Microscopy
HEALTH PROTECTION PRECAUTIONS
• Occupational Health and Safety Act
 Asbestos abatement requirements – precautions
to prevent airborne release of fibres
 Removal methods
 Hording
 Worker protection
 Cleansing
 Monitoring – air testing
CONTACT US
• Health Connection by calling 1-705-721-7520 or 1877-721-7520 Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30
p.m.
• http://www.simcoemuskokahealth.org
• By email from our website or on Facebook or
Twitter