| Employees suspended in asbestos incident |
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| Local Content - Local News |
| Written by publisher |
| Thursday, 04 March 2010 15:59 |
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By Allison Werbowetsky After exposed asbestos was found in the Maple Creek Hospital on Feb. 25, the Cypress Health Region questioned how something like that went undetected and unreported. Beginning last weekend, Jeff Schwan, director of occupational health and safety (OH&S) with Cypress Health Region, and members of the local OH&S committee began a routine investigation to find out what happened and who’s to blame, if anyone. Utilizing the guidelines set out by OH&S Act and Regulations, the OH&S committee will be taking a closer look at the internal processes that were used at the time the asbestos was first discovered, the documentation and timelines. Their findings and recommendations will then be presented to Schwan, the health region and the provincial OH&S branch. Initial questions raised included, “Did we do what we’re supposed to do — whether it be maintenance staff, facility staff, OH&S committee members — in regards to how we approach asbestos situations like this?” said Bryce Martin, director of communications with the health region. Back in early 2009, the health region asked members of the maintenance staff and operations staff at the hospital to identify and mark all asbestos in the building. Most can be found by a glimpse from a trained eye. “Any asbestos that’s in a building needs to be marked,” said Beth Vachon, executive director of community health services, and that’s one of the concerns the committee is looking in to. “Where there was asbestos ... was not clearly marked and identified as it was supposed to have been done,” Martin added. Maintenance and operations staff are responsible for locating, marking and reporting all potentially harmful materials or substances. This is mainly because they are the people most familiar with the air-handling and boiler rooms, and also hold a fireman’s certificate which provides them with training on how to properly maintain and operate boilers. Part of that training includes knowledge of the piping and insulation that feed into the boilers. They are trained to recognize asbestos and how to deal with it safely. Although neither Vachon nor Martin would specify how many employees are suspended, Martin did say “employees,” indicating that more than one person is in the hot seat. |
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