Asbestos

About asbestos

Asbestos is a strong, fibrous and fire-resistant mineral. In the past, asbestos was used as insulation against heat or noise and for fire protection.

Risks

Asbestos fibres are extremely fine and, once disturbed, can stay in the air for hours. Breathing asbestos fibres may cause serious diseases, including pneumonia, heart disease and mesothelioma.

Risks presented by asbestos in the workplace are directly related to the hazards associated with the substance, how it is used in the workplace and a worker’s susceptibility to exposure.

Asbestos-related diseases usually develop many years after a person has been exposed to the fibres. The risk of developing these diseases increases with the amount of asbestos you inhale and the length of time you are exposed. Smokers are at an increased risk of developing asbestos-related diseases compared to non-smokers.

Control measures

Control measures must keep worker exposure levels to asbestos below the occupational exposure limit. Control measures generally follow a hierarchy – elimination (eliminate or remove the hazard from the workplace – this is the most effective control measure), substitution (replace with a less hazardous condition, practice or process), administrative (improvements in the way work is done), engineering (physical changes that reduce exposure, and isolate the worker from the hazard) and personal protective equipment (protect the worker with personal protective equipment).

Asbestos Containing Material (ACM)

Asbestos Containing Material (“ACM”) can be found in many different products such as gaskets, flooring material and insulation, among others. ACMs are divided into two general categories, friable and non-friable. Friability is defined as a material that can be crushed or using hand pressure. When doing renovations or demolition work to an existing structure, an asbestos inventory must be conducted by someone with an asbestos inventory certification. The inventory will indicate where existing ACMs are located and if they need to be abated prior to construction occurring. Should abatement be required, only workers who have been certified to perform asbestos abatement can perform the task by an employer that is registered with the Province of Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health branch.

Legislation changes

New changes to the asbestos legislation under Part 37 – Asbestos in the Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health Regulation, have recently occurred. Some of the highlights can be found below:

Effective December 05, 2025, the definition of ACM has been revised to introduce a single concentration threshold of 0.1% for identifying ACM, rather than having different concentrations based on whether the material is friable (crumbly) or non-friable.
Effective December 05, 2025, an employer or an owner must ensure that, before proceeding with work to alter, renovate or demolish a building or structure that contains asbestos-containing material that may release asbestos-containing material into the atmosphere, the director is notified no less than five days and no more than ten days prior to the start of work. Notices will need to include the estimated duration of work and require updates if the information changes.
Effective June 1, 2027, mandatory certification will be required for all workers engaged in asbestos abatement or inventory development work. Workers will be required to either complete standardized training by an approved training provider and pass a certification exam or demonstrate equivalent competency through a challenge exam. Workers will be required to carry proof of their certification with them when doing work. SAFE Work Manitoba will proctor the certification exams. On successfully passing the exam, Safe Work Manitoba will provide a certificate to the worker. Workers will be required to be recertified every three years to ensure ongoing competency.

To become an endorsed trainer, employers and service providers can submit their curriculum to SAFE Work Manitoba, who will endorse a service provider if their material meets the applicable training standard. Once endorsed, Safe Work Manitoba will post the employer/service provider’s name on their website and training portal.
Effective June 01, 2027, any employer or service provider involved in asbestos abatement work must be registered. This includes activities such as renovation or demolition involving asbestos-containing materials (ACM), as well as conducting assessments or inventories to determine the presence of asbestos.

An employer must maintain a monitoring record for a 30-year period after the monitoring was conducted. Employers should keep their Safety Data Sheet for all chemicals and monitoring records.

The Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health Act and associated regulations are in place to protect the safety and health of workers in Manitoba. Find the regulation part associated with this safety topic linked below.

Part 37 Asbestos Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health Act and Regulation