Asbestos Hazard Awareness

Course Overview

The Most Practical Spill Response Training – On‑Site in Ontario

For Responders, Supervisors, and Environmental Leads – Real-World Skills, Real Compliance

Our Asbestos Hazard Awareness for Construction Professionals course combines legally grounded instruction with practical, site-specific scenarios. Developed to meet Ontario Regulation 278/05 (Designated Substance – Asbestos in construction), CSA recommendations, and IHSA/WSIB guidelines, this training empowers workers, supervisors, and safety staff to identify, assess, and control asbestos hazards. It's honed for your project's real-world context—so your team understands risks, prevention, and compliance with confidence.

Key Learning Outcomes

Is This Asbestos?

Define asbestos and asbestos‑containing materials (ACMs)
Recognize ACM in construction and renovation environments
Understand legal duties under OHSA (s. 25) and Reg. 278/05
Perform risk assessments and implement control procedures (Type 1–3 operations)
Use PPE and engineering controls (e.g., glove bags, HEPA vacuums)
Identify when clearance air testing is required
Know proper decontamination and disposal methods
Communicate effectively with crews and supervisors about asbestos risks

Built Before the 1990s? Assume It’s Suspect.

If the building, pipe, ceiling, or insulation was installed before 1990 in Canada or the U.S., there's a strong chance it contains asbestos. It was commonly used in construction materials for its fire resistance and durability—especially in:

• Floor tiles and mastic
• Popcorn ceilings
• Vermiculite insulation (e.g., Zonolite)
• Boiler and pipe wrap

Rule of Thumb: If it's old and grey, step away.

Asbestos Looks Like… Everything.

There’s no one “asbestos look.” It’s not just the fluffy white stuff. Asbestos fibers were mixed into cement, plaster, textiles, tiles—even glues and paints. You won't see the fibers unless the material is friable (easily crumbled) or damaged.

Key Warning Signs:

• Worn or cracked insulation
• Flaking ceiling tiles or spray-on coatings
• Fibrous or chalky pipe wrap

Disturbing It = Dangerous

Asbestos is safest when left undisturbed. Once airborne, microscopic fibers can enter the lungs, causing irreversible diseases like mesothelioma or asbestosis.

Never cut, drill, sand, or disturb suspect materials without a hazard assessment.

There’s No DIY Test—Only a Lab Can Confirm

The only way to be sure is to send a sample to a certified lab. Asbestos cannot be identified visually with 100% certainty.

• In Ontario, O. Reg. 278/05 under the OHSA mandates testing by qualified professionals.
• Federal standards in the U.S. require similar procedures under OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1101.

Legally, Ignorance Isn’t a Defense

Employers, property managers, and contractors must know if materials contain asbestos before work begins. Regulations require identification, risk assessment, and written control plans.

Due diligence means:

• Having a designated substance survey (DSS)
• Maintaining records
• Not relying on “gut feelings” or handyman guesses

Bonus: When in Doubt, Don’t Touch—Get It Tested.

Assume it's asbestos until proven otherwise. Your lungs—and your liability—depend on it.

About Our Instructors

At Safety Sure, our instructors don’t just read from a script—they’ve lived what they teach. Every course is led by professionals who’ve used the tools, worn the gear, and made the calls that keep worksites safe. Whether it's forklifts, fall arrest systems, or confined space entries, our trainers have done the job—not just studied it.

You won’t get “death by PowerPoint” here. Our classroom sessions are interactive, scenario-based, and focused on what matters most: what learners will remember and use when it counts. We use proven coaching methods that emphasize decision-making, risk awareness, and muscle memory—approaches that are used globally in the highest-risk industries because they work.

In fact, research shows that hands-on, problem-solving based instruction leads to a 75% increase in knowledge retention compared to passive learning models.

* That’s why our sessions are built around doing, not just discussing.

We believe safety is learned by experience—not just explained on a screen. And that’s exactly what we deliver.

How We Approach Training at Safety Sure

At Safety Sure, training isn’t just a checkbox—it’s a living system designed to reflect the realities of your worksite. While many providers deliver standard packages, we’ve learned that no two facilities, shifts, or crews are exactly alike. That’s why we prioritize custom-fit training built around your operations, not generic slideshows.

We don’t offer everything. But what we do offer is deeply thought through, integrated across disciplines, and tested in high-risk environments. Whether it’s lift trucks, confined space, spill response, or JHSC effectiveness, we design each program with three questions in mind:

Does this align with the law and best practice?

Does it reflect how the work is actually done?

Does it make things easier or safer for the people doing it?

Some of our programs are always available. Others are offered in partnership with clients, built to meet specific needs, or delivered as part of a broader compliance strategy that includes documentation, scheduling, and even renewal tracking.

We don’t believe in “one and done” training. We believe in building systems that last, systems that teach, protect, and evolve as your workforce does.