In Alberta, Canada, an investigation into an asbestos incident at the Suncor Energy facility will be conducted by the government’s Occupational Health and Safety division. The asbestos was discovered during maintenance on a furnace. According to Suncor spokesman Dany Laferriere, the asbestos was present within insulation materials.

"When we uncovered what was confirmed to be asbestos insulation, first of all, we stopped work," he said. ”Certainly we have no evidence at this time that there was an actual exposure to ambient asbestos, but we do take the health and safety very seriously so we requested at that time that the workers who were working in the area go for a health check."

All workers who came into contact with the material were wearing protective gear. Exposure to even a small amount of asbestos when not wearing protective gear can lead to the development of mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer which may affect the heart, lungs, abdominal cavity and other nearby tissues. Most mesothelioma patients pass away from the disease within two years of diagnosis Mesothelioma is considered to be quite rare, affecting perhaps two to three thousand people each year, but it is still extremely aggressive.

According to Chris Chodan, an OH&S spokesman, one inspector has visited the site, and deeper investigation into the matter will continue. Chodan said the investigation will determine if the asbestos at the site was disturbed or friable, as well as how many people were exposed.

Legal Disclaimer:

EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.