SASKATOON – The city has filed a dangerous occurrence report with the province after trace amounts of asbestos were found on the mechanical room floor of the Cosmo Civic Centre. Remnants of chrysotile, an asbestos containing material, were found on Dec. 18, 2014.
City officials say at no time was the public in danger.
“We take the health and wellness of our employees, contractors and the public seriously,” said Kerry Tarasoff, the city’s general manager for asset & financial management. “Once it was detected at the worksite, we took immediate steps to protect workers and patrons from any further potential exposure risk.”
The heating and cooling systems in the mechanical room at the facility have been under renovation since May 2014. Officials say the room was immediately sealed off and labelled to prevent entry.
READ MORE: Asbestos registry now law in Saskatchewan
An investigation has been launched.
“It is the expectation that if asbestos is present at a worksite, that it should be reported and removed or shielded appropriately as the work proceeds,” said Tarasoff.
“It appears this didn’t happen at Cosmo Civic Centre.”
Employees and contractors were notified and independent air quality testing was conducted, which came back negative. Tests found 0.0002 fibres/cubic centimetre of asbestos; the safety standard for exposure is 0.01 fibres/cubic centimetre.
A certified asbestos contractor was brought in to dispose of the material and clean the room.
City officials say they have met with employees who may have accessed the mechanical room during the renovation and are assisting with the filing of any workers compensation claims. A dangerous occurrence report has also been filed with the Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety.
The city says it is also accelerating its asbestos management program, which reviews civic facilities that may contain asbestos. So far 49 of 55 buildings have been reviewed and of the remaining six buildings, hazard signs will be installed in service areas until formal inspections take place.
A list of Saskatoon civic facilities with asbestos containing materials files with Saskatchewan’s asbestos registry:
| Building Name | Address | Year Built | Asbestos Present |
| A. Holmes Park Rec Unit | 915 Avenue D North | 1972 | Encapsulated |
| A.C.T. Arena | 107 – 105th Street East | 1978 | Encapsulated |
| Adelaide Park | 10 MacKenzie Crescent | 1965 | Encapsulated |
| Albert Community Centre | 610 Clarence Avenue South | 1912 | Encapsulated |
| Albert School Rec Unit | 502 Clarence Avenue South | 1966 | Encapsulated |
| Archibald McDonald Park | 3110 Massey Drive | 1972 | Encapsulated |
| Auditorium (FFP&Z) | 1903 Forest Drive | 1947 | Encapsulated |
| Blacksmith Shop (FFP&Z) Storage shed west of Lunch Room | 1903 Forest Drive | Circa 1940 | Encapsulated |
| Bowerman House | 1328 Avenue K South | 1908 | Encapsulated |
| Brevoort Park | 2625 Early Drive / Webb Crescent | 1968 | Encapsulated |
| Buena Vista Park Rec Unit | 310 – 7th Street East | 1937 | Encapsulated |
| City Hall South | 222 3rd Avenue North | 1956 | Encapsulated |
| College Park/Dr. G. Herzberg Park/Rec Unit | 133 Champion Crescent | 1972 | Encapsulated |
| Cosmo Civic Centre | 3130 Laurier Drive | 1978 | Encapsulated |
| Cosmopolitan Seniors Centre | 614 – 11th Street East | 1960 | Encapsulated |
| Dr. Seager Wheeler Park | 2230 Richardson Road | 1972 | Encapsulated |
| Eastview/James Anderson Park Rec Unit | 1140 East Centre | 1971 | Encapsulated |
| Fire Hall #1 | 125 Idylwyld Drive South | 1967 | Encapsulated |
| Fire Hall #5 | 421 Central Avenue | 1967 | Encapsulated |
| Fire Maintenance Building | 125 Idylwyld Drive South | 1963 | Encapsulated |
| Frances Morrison Library | 311 – 23rd Street East | 1965 | Encapsulated |
| G.D. Archibald Memorial Park | 1810 Prince of Whales | 1968 | Encapsulated |
| George Ward Pool Bldg. | 1915 – 5th Street East | 1965 | Encapsulated |
| Gordie Howe Chnge Rm HP | 1525 Avenue P South | 1963 | Encapsulated |
| Greystone Heights Park | 2711 Main Street | 1962 | Encapsulated |
| Harold Tatler Park Rec Unit | 2520 Jarvis Drive | 1960 | Encapsulated |
| Harry Bailey Aquatic Centre | 1110 Idylywld Drive North | 1975 | Encapsulated |
| Henry Kelsey Park | 24 Valens Drive | 1976 | Encapsulated |
| Holiday Park Golf Clubhouse | 163 Avenue U South | 1962 | Encapsulated |
| Holliston Park Rec Unit | 1321 3rd Street | 1960 | Encapsulated |
| John Deere Bldg | 450 Ontario Avenue | 1960 | Encapsulated |
| John Lake Park / Avalon Rec Unit | 2620 Broadway Avenue | 1962 | Encapsulated |
| JS Wood Branch Library | 1801 Landsdowne Avenue | 1960 | Encapsulated |
| Kilburn WR/Stor. Bldg | 1510 Kilburn Avenue | 1969 | Encapsulated |
| Mendel Art Gallery | 950 Spadina Crescent East | 1964 | Encapsulated |
| Mount Royal Park | 433 Ave T N / Rusholme Rd | 1960 | Encapsulated |
| Office Building (FFP&Z) Old Main Office | 1903 Forest Drive | 1916 | Encapsulated |
| Optimist Park | 1110 – 19th Street West | 1959 | Encapsulated |
| Pleasant Hill Park | 210 Avenue U South | 1967 | Encapsulated |
| Police Station | 130 – 4th Avenue North | 1976 | Encapsulated |
| Saskatoon Field House | 2020 College Drive | 1979 | Encapsulated |
| Sifton Park – CLOSED | 415 Whitney Avenue North | 1964 | Encapsulated |
| St. Andrews Park | 801 Avenue M South | 1965 | Encapsulated |
| St.John/ Boughton Park Rec Unit | 1320 Avenue P South | 1966 | Encapsulated |
| Supervisor’s Office/Lunch Room (FFP&Z) | 1903 Forest Drive | Circa 1940 | Encapsulated |
| Surveyor Bldg. (City Yd) | 333 Ontario Avenue | 1955 | Encapsulated |
| Sutherland Hall | 1112 Central Avenue | 1957 | Encapsulated |
| TCU Place | 35 – 22nd Street East | 1968 | Encapsulated |
| Trades Offices & Greenhouse (Ave P) | 1101 Avenue P North | 1931 | Encapsulated |
| Transit Admin & Maint. Bldg. South | 301 – 24th Street West | 1948 | Encapsulated |
| Transit Repair Terminal North | 315 – Avenue C North | 1948 | Encapsulated |
| W W Ashley Park | 814 2nd St E / Albert Ave | 1958 | Encapsulated |
| Weaver Park | 515 Adelaide Street | 1962 | Encapsulated |
| Wolf Shelter (FFP&Z) | 1903 Forest Drive | 1971 | Encapsulated |
| Workshop/Change (Nutana Kiwanis) | 3003 Porter Street | 1970 | Encapsulated |
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