Asbestos labelling
Documents released under a freedom of information request indicate BC Ferries officials raised concerns about accurate labelling on vessels where asbestos is found.
BC Ferries released a number of documents recently in response to a freedom of information request by the BC Coastal Transportation Society. A report done in 2012 summarized asbestos audits that were carried out on 10 vessels, including the Queen of Burnaby and North Island Princess. One official wrote about a concern with decals on the Burnaby not reflecting an inventory report.
The Burnaby was built in 1965, a time when asbestos was commonly used in insulation and building materials because of its fire-resistant properties. Loose asbestos fibres are considered a human health hazard.
In 2010, the cafeteria on the Burnaby was temporarily closed for an asbestos abatement project after a small amount of unknown material was found above the ceiling tiles. A refit on the Burnaby in 2011 included abatement of asbestos.
Darin Guenette, BC Ferries manager of public affairs, said there were never any issues with a risk of asbestos exposure on the Burnaby, the regular vessel on the Powell River-Comox route.
Part of the company’s asbestos management program and asbestos exposure control plan involves labelling, said Guenette. The exposure control plan is a BC Ferries health and safety plan to ensure employees and passengers would never be exposed to asbestos.
Guenette said asbestos is in some vessels from that era. “We do know that there is material that contains asbestos fibres,” he said. “We have identified these places where we know there is asbestos. We have inventories. Then we have regular inspections.”
To ensure that the inspection process is consistent, BC Ferries did its own internal safety audit of sites to see if there was anything inconsistent, Guenette added. “It did reveal there were some inconsistent levels of compliance with our program requirements, being the labelling,” he said. “We continue to have a working group that reviews our training, our inspection and working on ways to improve the consistency.”
Area C OCP public hearing
Property owners and residents in Area C of Powell River Regional District have an opportunity to express their views about their official community plan (OCP).
The regional district has scheduled the public hearing about the plan for 7 pm on Wednesday, January 30 at Lang Bay Hall.
Regional district directors passed the first two readings of the plan in November. The regional district must hold the public hearing before the plan can advance to a third reading.
Area C is in the southern-most portion of the regional district and extends from Whalen Road to Saltery Bay, including Black Point, Kelly Creek, Lang Bay and Stillwater. It was part of the 1989 OCP for the southern region, which included Area B. A review of the southern region OCP was initiated in 2008 and in 2011 the regional district decided to create separate OCPs for Areas B and C.
A copy of the Area C OCP may be viewed at the regional district office, 5776 Marine Avenue. It is also available on the regional district’s website.
Anyone who wishes to comment on the OCP or who has concerns may speak at the public hearing or submit their comments in writing. Written submissions must be received by 4 pm on Wednesday, January 30.
