Vernon school district fined $75K for failed asbestos management

The Vernon's School District has been fined $75,000 for exposing workers to asbestos without training and without their knowledge.

An investigation launched by WorkSafeBCfound School District 22 failed to effectively identify asbestos-containing material in the workplaceandallowed work to be performedin contaminatedareas withoutproviding the necessary training.

Following the year-long investigation, WorkSafeBClevied fines after citing several incidents related to poor asbestos management.

"There werea number of deficiencies in our asbestos control management plan," secretary treasurerSterling Olsen told host Chris Walker on CBC's Daybreak South.

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Olsen says prior to the investigation, the district didn't have a health and safety issueand there wasn't enough focus and priority on itsasbestos management.

"We just weren't taking care of business the way that we should have," he said, adding he's unsureat this pointwhether there were any long-termhealth effects endured by either students or staff.

According to the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, long-term exposure to the hazardousfibre can increase risks of lung cancerand lead to the development of asbestosis a chronic lung disease.

Unbudgeted loss

Olsen says the district has responded by hiring a health and safety specialistand will continue to work with WorkSafeBC to develop adequate asbestos training for employees.

The fine will come out of the school's yearly operating budget.

"It's an expense that will need to be covered," said Olsen. "That meanswe don't have that money to spend on something else."

School District 22 is thethird school district since 2011 to be fined for its asbestos management program.

WorkSafeBC says the $75,000 fine will be directed tothe province's Workers Compensation Fund.

To learn more about the health risks associated withasbestos exposure, visit the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety's guide on asbestos

With files from CBC'sDaybreak South

To listen to the full interview, click on the audio labelled:Vernon school district fined $75,000 for failed asbestos management