Hazardous Materials Assessments

A hazardous material assessment is usually required before beginning a project that requires demolition or renovation. This assessment will identify any hazardous materials within a building that need to be removed and require specific safe disposal procedures.

Sample Testing

We can analyze your samples to determine the presence of hazardous material such as: Asbestos Lead Mold Silica and Radon.

Services available anywhere in Alberta or BC. Local to Hinton, Edson and Jasper

Providing Asbestos Consulting & Collections

We specialize in:

- Risk Assessment

- Abatement

- Identification

- Management

- Work Procedures

- Air Monitoring

- Visual Inspections

- The Collection of of bulk samples and verification through laboratory analysis.

Our employees are trained in proper sampling techniques to identify asbestos within building materials. If asbestos is identified, a proper scope of work can be developed to ensure proper removal and air monitoring of the asbestos materials.

WHY IS ASBESTOS ABATEMENT IMPORTANT?

If damaged asbestos-containing materials are not properly removed by an asbestos abatement company, they can endanger your life and the lives of others who come into contact with asbestos dust, fibers or raw asbestos materials.

ASBESTOS FACT

INHALING OR INGESTING ASBESTOS CAN LEAD TO SERIOUS HEALTH ISSUES SUCH AS MESOTHELIOMA CANCER, ASBESTOSIS, PLEURAL PLAQUES, AND ASBESTOS LUNG CANCER.

Radon

What Is Radon?

Radon is a radioactive gas that comes from the breakdown of uranium in soil and rock. It is invisible, odourless, and tasteless. When radon is released from the ground into the outdoor air, it is diluted and is not a concern. However, in enclosed spaces, like homes, it can accumulate to high levels and become a serious health risk.

Uranium is a common element found everywhere in the earth's crust, as a result radon gas can be found in almost all homes. Concentrations differ greatly across the country but are usually higher in areas where there is a higher amount of uranium in underlying rock and soil.

Radon concentration levels will vary from one house to another, even if they are similar designs and next door to each other. The only way to be sure of the radon level in your home is to test.

MOULD

Do you require mould testing?

There are three ways to test for mould:

1. Air Testing

2. Surface Testing

3. Bulk Testing

Barrow Safety Services can test your home if you see, smell, or detect mould issues, or if someone in your home has allergies or asthma and you want to be sure to keep the mould to a minimum. Hiring a professional mould tester who is experienced at collecting and analyzing mould samples will always lead to the most accurate results.

If you see any of the following signs below, contact Barrow Safety Services for a complete mould evaluation:

Mould Smell

What does mould smell like? Mould on the outside of your house often smells stale, but mold on the inside smells musty and damp. A mold smell is not something to ignore.

Visible Growth

Seeing mould is confirmation that it exists, but it is the mould that is not visible that can be the scariest.

Water Leaks

Current or previous leaks are often an indicator that mould is present. Whether it was a leaky pipe or a leak in the roof, these often produce moisture in overlooked places.

Water Intrusion

Water intrusion can take on many forms. Whether a sewer line is backed up or a pipe breaks or flooding occurs from an outside building, each problem can lead to mold if not cleaned carefully and completely. Often these problems cannot be spotted immediately, which leads to the probability of mold.

Past Flooding

If your house has been in a flood, there is a good chance you will end up with a mould problem. After a flood, the best thing you can do is contact a mould remediation company or water damage specialist who performs clean ups of flooded homes. This way you can be sure that all mould problems will be properly taken care of. You will also have the peace of mind of knowing that your home will be completely safe to continue living in after it has been professionally remediated.

Health Symptoms

Black mould is known for causing the most damage to our bodies because it contains mycotoxins that affect our skin, respiratory functions, and more. If you or someone you love is experiencing a combination of any of the following symptoms, I recommend an inspection of your home:

Respiratory problems

Skin inflammation

Hemorrhage

Irritation of the mucous membranes

Damage to internal organs

Mental impairment

Tiredness

Nausea

Immune system suppression

There is no cure or antidote which can be taken for toxic black mould. Removing the toxic black mould will help your body start to recover and most of your symptoms should go away over time. However, some of the damage from toxic black mold can be permanent.

Silica

What is Silica?

Silica is one of the most common hazards on a worksite, particularly in the construction, oil and gas, manufacturing, and agriculture industries. Cutting, breaking, crushing, drilling, grinding, or blasting concrete or stone releases the dust. As workers breathe in the dust the silica settles in their lungs. Sampling the air for respirable silica when a dust-producing task is being performed is the best way to determine if and how much silica dust is in the air the worker is breathing.

What Happens If You Breathe Silica Dust?

Breathing crystalline silica dust can cause silicosis, which in severe cases can be disabling, or even fatal. The respirable silica dust enters the lungs and causes the formation of scar tissue, thus reducing the lungs' ability to take in oxygen. There is no cure for silicosis.

It is essential that the right type of filter for the work task is used otherwise the wearer may be unprotected. The minimum RPE required is a (negative-pressure) half face respirator with a particulate filter (P1 or P2), preferably a tight-fitting re-usable respirator. Barrow Safety offers quantitative fit testing to provide proper fit test results and protection.

Lead

How Does Lead Enter the Human Body?

Lead enters the body by ingestion (eating paint chips, lead dust off of building surfaces, or drinking water with high lead levels), or by breathing lead contaminated dust such as during building renovations and paint stripping.

Anytime there is an "impact" or renovation on older finishes a lead assessment is used to evaluate the risk of poisoning or worker/occupant exposure.

Lead assessments may use any of the following methods:

- Referencing existing building surveys, construction notes or as-built drawings may be used where the surfaces involved are referenced. Renovation file notes and updated drawings may be used to identify surface replacements.

- A lead swab, or by collecting a sample of the intact paint and submitting it to an accredited laboratory for lead analysis.

- Dust wipe tests.

- Lead testing on the windows and floors on surfaces in question.

- Visual inspection of condition of paint.

- Soil tests for lead contamination.

Does Your home Have Lead Paint?

Lead paint is serious business. Lead inspection and lead risk assessment are useful first steps which can lead to more thoughtful decisions on managing lead paint and lead hazards.