VICTORIA – New rules to enhance worker safety during asbestos removal came into effect on Jan. 1.
The rules require asbestos-abatement employers to be licensed and ensure workers are certified to perform asbestos removal work. British Columbia is the first jurisdiction to enforce a formal licensing program regarding asbestos-related work.
WorkSafeBC has the authority to oversee both the employer licensing program and worker certification and began accepting license applications in September 2023. Required training for worker certification was launched in June 2023 and an online registry of licensed employers is now available.
To keep workers and the public safe from the dangers of asbestos, changes were made to the Workers Compensation Act in 2022 to strengthen regulatory requirements for asbestos-abatement work, a release said.
Asbestos abatement work includes removing, repairing, transporting and disposing of asbestos or materials that may contain asbestos.
Asbestos-related diseases are the number one cause of workplace-related deaths in B.C., with asbestos exposure a contributing factor in 61 of 181 workplace deaths in 2022.
Over the past decade, WorkSafeBC accepted more than 500 claims for workers who were killed by occupational disease related to asbestos exposure, the release said.
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