Asbestos Removal Winnipeg
Asbestos Is harmful to your health
We are certified asbestos professionals who have decades of combined experience with the abatement process. We remove and repair hazardous materials while being aware that it is best to not disturb them, but in certain cases we may need to when working on your home or business renovations. You can trust us every step of the way during this difficult time!
Asbestos is mostly harmless when left alone, but becomes dangerous if disturbed during repairs, renovations or restoration.
Mold Removal Winnipeg only employ certified asbestos professionals with decades of combined experience with the abatement process. We remove and repair hazardous materials while being aware that it is best to not disturb them, but in certain cases we may need to when working on your home or business renovations. You can trust us every step of the way during this difficult time!
- Experienced team of IICRC certified asbestos removal technicians
- Adhere to the highest safety standards outlined by Manitoba Health
- Provide professional air quality testing, asbestos testing, asbestos removal, asbestos abatement
- Services available 24/7
- 100% success rate
- Customer satisfaction guaranteed
What is asbestos?
While once considered a valuable resource, asbestos was soon found to be dangerously toxic, and is now banned in most countries.
The mineral that causes so many health problems today - Asbestos has been valued for its strength and insulation properties in residential buildings throughout history. Asbestos can be as little as 1% of construction materials, or at much as 100%.
As people started experiencing health issues with this material, asbestos usage decreased significantly are better alternatives such as fiberglass replaced it, which can do everything from insulate against heat transfer to act like soundproofing or even fire retardant if necessary.
The problem with asbestos became clear when doctors noticed an increase of lung cancer diagnoses among their patients who had worked around.
Why is asbestos so dangerous?
The toxic yet durable nature of asbestos mad it a staple in construction, engineering, and chemistry.
However, when inhaled or ingested by humans, the fibers become permanently lodged into lung tissue causing health problems such as chronic pulmonary diseases like asbestosis or mesothelioma.
Asbestos exposure is most dangerous when one comes across large quantities that are often found during building demolition, and chemical spills.
However exposure to small doses over long periods of time often occurs through skin contact at home improvement stores where they were not properly stored and handled before being distributed to customers.
Contamination is also seen during home renovations or even light maintenance when people inadvertently move or disturb materials containing asbestos and inhale the fibers.
A single asbestos fiber is so small that it can't be seen by the naked eye and they're easily inhaled without even realizing.
If your home was built before 1980, there's a good chance your business or home contains these fibers because of how common their use on construction sites had been prior to this time period.
For more information about the dangers of asbestos, visit Health Canada.
asbestos-related diseases
Exposure to asbestos toxic fibers can have serious long-term health risks if inhaled or ingested and has been linked to several types of cancer.
The most serious is a type known as Mesothelioma which often leads to death within three years, but it's almost exclusively caused by exposure with toxic asbestos-containing materials.
Other cancers related include ovarian cancer, lung cancer, and laryngeal tumors - all dangerous because they're so difficult for doctors to detect early on during the stages that are treatable.
Other Related Diseases
- Asbestosis
- Pleuritis
- Pleural Effusions
- Pleural Plaques
- Various Cancers
- Diffuse Pleural Thickening
- COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
- Atelectasis
Types of asbestos
There are 6 legal types of asbestos which fall into two separate categories: Amphibole and Serpentine.
- Crocidolite
- Amosite
- Anthophyllite
- Tremolite
- Actinolite
- Crysotile
Microscopic asbestos dust particles are nearly invisible and have no smell or taste, but they present a serious health and safety concern because there's only one way to detect them: sending samples of air in the area for analysis.
Where is ASBESTOS found?
Asbestos is an indestructible element that has found its way into several household and commercial construction materials. For example, it can be seen in thermal insulation as well as paints, plaster mixes and other common materials.
Common Places To Find Asbestos
- Ceiling Tiles
- Floor Tiles
- Attic Insulation
- Roof Shingles
- Plaster Mixes
- Textured Paint
- Spray-On Insulation
- Duct Insulation
- Siding
- Vermiculite Insulation
Our asbestos abatement process
Asbestos Assessment & Testing
- Visual inspection of the area
- Air samples, air monitoring, and air quality test
- Testing to confirm the presence of asbestos
- Recommend options for removal
Prepare & Quarantine The Area
- Marking of hazardous material areas
- Section off contaminated areas and minimising risk factors
- Air ducts sealed & HVAC system turned off
Asbestos Removal Or Repair (Encapsulation / Enclosure)
- Use hand tools, wet methods, and other proper equipment to remove or repair the asbestos-containing materials.
- Affected materials are placed in disposable bags and safety sealed and removed.
De-contamination & Cleanup
- Special HEPA filter vacuums minimise the dispersion of hazardous materials
- Clearance air sampling performed
- Post-cleanup, removal of containment barriers
- Receive full completion report
Our Other Services
inspect for asbestos before starting
renovations Or demolition
It’s important to schedule a professional home inspection before beginning any home repairs or renovations.
Our trained and licensed professionals will test for the presence of asbestos and explain the risks, removal process, and treatment options.
Once the hazardous materials are safely removed from your residential or commercial property, we’ll provide a certificate confirming the job was successfully completed and all occupational health risks have been eliminated.
What to do if you find asbestos?
What to do
What not to do
Contact us for expert asbestos removal & abatement in Winnipeg
We're here for you 24/7
Asbestos Removal FAQ's
What is asbestos?
Asbestos is a term used to describe minerals that are fire retardant in nature and contain natural fibers. They do not burn readily and retain heat well. Many different types of these minerals have been mined throughout history, although not all varieties are equally harmful or pose the same health hazards.
Simply defined, asbestos is a term used to describe six naturally occurring minerals that contain long, durable fibers that are resistant to heat and fire. Serpentine asbestos is often known as “Mermiculite,” while chrysotile asbestos is the most widely utilized in the world.
Why was it so widely used around the world?
Because of its resistance to fire, heat, and electrical current, asbestos was utilized. It was also useful for a variety of applications due to its insulating qualities. Asbestos may be found in insulation materials, stucco, concrete blocks, drywall joint compound, and other construction materials.
Because asbestos fibers are so tiny, breathable, and durable, they have been utilized for a long time. There’s also speculation that smoking may be to blame for an increase in asbestos exposure. The very fibers that make it such a good fire retardant can become hazardous when breathed or consumed.
How does asbestos affect human health?
When these inborn minerals are disrupted into tiny fibers and released into the air, they can be breathed or consumed and cause a variety of cancers. These fine asbestos fibers adhere to the respiratory lining and irritate the tissues.
Due to the fact that asbestos is a known carcinogen, long-term usage can cause irritation and inflammation, both of which can lead to cancerous tumors such as mesothelioma. Asbestos exposure as a youngster is more likely to result in cancer than it is as an adult.
What does asbestos do to the human body?
Asbestos fibers can remain in any area of the lungs for many years and embed themselves there. These fibers induce scarring within the tissues, which over time lead to tumors that spread to other tissues and organs.
Asbestosis can develop from chronic exposure to asbestos, either directly or indirectly. When the disease advances, these tumors may spread to vital organs such as the lungs and heart. As a result, asbestos inhalation is connected to malignancies including mesothelioma and lung cancer, among other things.
Is there a difference between white and brown asbestos?
Yes, because of their crystalline structure, amphibole fibers are straight and needle-like while chrysotile asbestos fibers are soft and curly. Amphibole fibers are more flexible and longer than chrysotile asbestos fibers, which are stiffer and shorter.
Is it better to be exposed to white or brown asbestos?
The jury is still out on whether chrysotile asbestos is less harmful than amphibole types of asbestos, according to experts. While there is no definitive answer yet, some claim that amphibole asbestos fibers are more damaging since they stay in the lungs longer and cause greater damage over time.
How can you be exposed to asbestos?
Asbestos fibers can be breathed in for a short period of time while installing or repairing products that contain asbestos. They may also be exposed by working with it on a daily basis for lengthy periods of time without the appropriate safety measures, such as gloves and masks.
Finally, residents of houses constructed prior to 1970 may be exposed to asbestos fibers that have entered the soil and air owing to deteriorating insulation or siding containing asbestos.
Is there a safe level of asbestos exposure?
There is no known safe level of asbestos exposure since even low levels may result in cancer years later.
What countries is chrysotile asbestos found in?
Chrysotile asbestos has been mined or processed in many areas of the world since the late 1800s, including Canada, parts of Europe and Asia, and other places. Russia, China, and Brazil continue to mine or manufacture asbestos today.
What types of cancers does asbestos exposure lead to?
Asbestos inhalation raises the risk of developing a variety of malignancies, including mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is cancer that develops in the protective lining of various organs. It can affect individuals who have been in contact with asbestos fibers for an extended period.
Shortness of breath, chest discomfort, persistent coughing, and tiredness are some of the symptoms of mesothelioma. Doctors treat mesothelioma by removing the tumor or shrinking or killing tumors with radiation or chemotherapy.
What is mesothelioma?
Anatomically, this cancer occurs in the protective covering surrounding major organs such as the heart and lungs. Because people who are exposed to asbestos fibers for a long period of time have an increased risk of developing mesothelioma, it is known as an asbestos-related malignancy.
What are the symptoms of mesothelioma?
Shortness of breath, a persistent dry cough, and chest discomfort or tightness are all signs of mesothelioma. Fluid accumulation in the chest cavity around the lungs can cause swelling in the neck, arms, or legs in people with advanced stages of this disease.
What are the treatments for mesothelioma?
Most patients with mesothelioma receive surgery to remove fluid buildup or tumors in the lungs, heart, or abdomen. Doctors may use radiation therapy and chemotherapy to kill cancer cells or prevent them from spreading throughout the body.
How is asbestos exposure treated?
Mesothelioma is deadly cancer caused by prolonged, everyday asbestos exposure. Once it has happened, there is no cure for asbestos poisoning; however, the symptoms associated with mesothelioma are treatable with surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy depending on the place and amount of tumors in the body.