Egis - Hazardous materials – environmental health & safety services

When it comes to managing hazardous materials in the built environment, no other firm provides the level of service you get from Egis:

Testing results you can trust: because we use independent laboratory testing for samples, there’s no conflict of interest with results.
Worry-free, time saving compliance: advance notifications for reassessments and alerts when legislated requirements change ensure you’re always in compliance. This saves hours of research and removes the risk of being out of step with legislation.
Records that don’t disappear: With HazMat360, our secure online database, provides room-by-room details and centralizes record keeping, making it easy for our clients to look up building information.
We can help you understand applicable legislation: depending on your sector and location, you’ll be subject to different federal and provincial laws. Our team can help you understand the regulations, and deliverables that apply to you.
Cost-saving strategies to manage in place without compromising safety: some designated substances, like asbestos, can be managed in place as long as they’re contained and in good condition. We can walk you through all the available options and outline short and long term costs.
Cross-Canada multi-disciplinary team: with a wide range of qualified engineers, occupational hygienists, technologists, technicians and project managers in our offices across the country, we have the planning and technical expertise you need in-house.
Removal options available. We can manage the removal process for you, and can work with your preferred contractor or recommend trustworthy contractors.
Reliability now and for the future: We’re a large, prosperous company and a platinum winner of the Canada’s Best Managed Companies award. We’ll be here for you if you need us in the years to come.

Whether you’re concerned about buildings you manage, or are carrying out due diligence on a property acquisition, we can give you the information and strategy you need.

Our clients rely on us for a variety of hazardous materials-related services for their buildings.

Designated substances surveys (DSS)

Also referred to as hazardous building materials assessments or hazmat surveys, they are required for the 11 designated substances that can impact the health of anyone living or working in a building.

The definitions and regulation of designated substances differ from province to province, but Egis can guide you through the requirements applicable to your property no matter where it is located.

In most provinces, regulations (like Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act) require that you have a designated substances surveys (DSS) performed before any demolition, renovation, or construction work can take place.

If a DSS has not been performed and a plan based on its findings has not been put in place, the Ministry of Labour, or other legislative authority, has the power to intervene and issue a work order if needed. These can result in schedule delays, work stoppage, and even fines.

Asbestos surveys

Asbestos is one of the most common designated substances that we test for, and it has specific rules governing its management.

Our team has the experience to recognize materials that may contain asbestos, even when hidden in materials like plaster, plumbing insulation, or vinyl floor tiles. It’s vital that inspectors are true experts, as asbestos is not always easy to identify.

Samples collected during field inspections, once tested in an independent accredited lab, don’t necessarily mean a removal project has to be the next step. Asbestos is categorized into friable and non-friable, and depending on age, condition, and the type of work the building requires, there are different management programs.

Your report will contain everything you need to know about our findings and applicable regulations. A very detailed log shows exactly where asbestos is located, how much of it is in the building material, and its condition. Clear recommendations help guide your team and your contractors on any needed safety protocols. We can also provide consultation sessions to review the findings with your team and answer any questions.

Occupational hygiene/industrial hygiene services

Occupational hygiene is the science and art devoted to the anticipation, recognition, evaluation and control those environmental factors or stresses arising from the workplace which may cause sickness, impaired health and well-being or discomfort among workers or among the community.

Our occupational hygiene and industrial hygiene services include:

Indoor air quality assessment (Odour, vapour intrusion, LEED)
Noise assessment
Radon assessment
Electromagnetic field survey
Heat Stress
Water damage/mold assessment

Indoor air quality assessments

Workers and building occupants often encounter health-related issues linked to air quality within their work space.

Common concerns associated with air quality include:

Increased building occupancy
Poor maintenance of air handling units serving the space
Contamination by construction materials: particle board, gypsum, paints, chemicals etc.

Air quality service offered:

Monitoring of air quality comfort and general air quality parameters such as temperature, relative humidity, carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), total volatile organic compound (TVOC) and particulate matter (PM10)
Evaluate the building ventilation system
Investigating for odours
Sampling for all common indoor pollutants
Mould and bacteria testing
Development of Indoor air quality management plans
Post-fire air quality testing

Noise

Noise is unwanted sound and it is one of the most common physical occupational hazards. In a typical industrial setting like heavy manufacturing, permanent hearing loss is one of the main health concerns. Sound is measured based on amplitude and frequency. Noise exposure limits is dependent on the criterion level and exchange rate. The allowable acceptable maximum level for an 8hr period is frequently set at 85dB (A), but varies depending on each province.

Egis conducts comprehensive noise surveys in all types of settings including manufacturing plants, offices, schools etc. We conduct assessments for occupational noise exposures in manufacturing workplaces and in office settings. Our assessments include personal noise exposure, noise mapping and octave band analysis. We provide recommendation on controlling noise hazard at source through engineering controls, hearing protection devices and conservation programs for your plant/facility.

Electromagnetic field (EMFs) survey

An electromagnetic field is a physical force produced by an electrically charged object. Electric and magnetic fields (EMF) are produced by power lines, electrical wiring and electrical equipment. Our team of experts conduct assessments for static magnetic fields associated with permanent magnets and sub-radio frequency magnetic fields including extremely low frequency, voice frequency, electrical wiring, appliances, induction heaters, cathode ray tubes and video display terminals.

Heat stress

Workers who are exposed to extreme amounts of heat or work in a hot environment may be at risk of heat stress.

Employers have a duty under Section 25(2)(h) of the qccupational health and safety act to take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances for the protection of a worker. This includes developing policies and procedures to protect workers in hot environments due to hot processes or hot weather.

The Ministry of Labour (MOL) recommends the current threshold limit value (TLV) for heat stress and heat strain published by the american conference of governmental industrial hygienists (ACGIH). These values are based on preventing unacclimatized workers’ core temperatures from rising above 38^oC.

Egis has highly qualified experts to conduct heat stress assessments and recommend solutions to alleviate heat stress issues.

Radon

Radon is a radioactive gas produced by the natural breakdown (radioactive decay) of uranium. Uranium is present to some extent in all rocks and soils. Radon works its way to the surface through porous soil or cracks in rocks.

Outdoors, air radon is diluted to very low concentrations so it is generally not a health hazard. However, within a building, radon can accumulate to high concentrations and pose a serious risk to the health of occupants. The predominant health effect associated with exposure to elevated levels of radon is lung cancer.

Indoor levels depend on the building’s construction, the rate of radon seepage and ventilation conditions. The amount of radon gas concentration in the air is measured in picocuries per litre (pCi/l) or becquerel per cubic meter (Bq/m³). The average concentration found in outdoor air is typically less than 1 pCi/l. While no amount of radon gas is considered “safe,” guidelines for indoor radon concentrations are recommended by some institutions.

Health Canada recommends remedial measures should be undertaken in a dwelling whenever the average annual radon gas concentration exceeds 200 Bq/m³ in the normal occupancy area. The higher the radon gas concentration, the sooner remedial measures should be undertaken.

Egis has highly trained Canadian National Radon Proficiency Program (C-NRPP) certified staff to perform radon assessment tailored to your needs.

Hazardous materials – environmental health & safety services

How we deliver better outcomes in hazardous materials detection and management.

Our hazardous materials services.