Proactively managing hazardous building materials to support safe, compliant operations at federal correctional facilities

Correctional Services Canada Hazardous Building Materials Consulting

Correctional Services Canada (CSC) manages facilities nationwide and sought to update their management policies and practices related to hazardous building materials at federal corrections facilities across British Columbia. They wanted to better understand risks and liabilities associated with asbestos and other hazardous materials and to support informed planning for future operations. On behalf of CSC, Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) retained our team to deliver hazardous materials assessment services and develop a long‑term management framework.

We conducted comprehensive assessments for asbestos‑containing materials (ACMs) and other hazardous building materials, preparing detailed building‑specific reports that documented hazardous material types, locations, and extents. Based on our findings, we developed recommendations for addressing (abating) non‑compliant materials and prepared a hazardous building materials management plan (HBMP) and an inventory database for each facility. The HBMPs met federal and provincial regulatory requirements and included provisions for annual ACM evaluations. Within the inventory database, we provided a structured, searchable system for tracking building‑ and material‑specific information from both existing and future studies, including materials confirmed to be non‑hazardous. Upon finalization of assessment and management plan documentation, we then conducted hazardous materials management and awareness training for facility employees.

Following the initial assessment, we’ve continued to support PSPC and CSC with hazardous materials consulting services for multiple renovation projects. This has included pre‑renovation assessments, development of abatement tender specifications, review of contractor submissions, and monitoring and reporting during onsite abatement activities.

To date, our team has provided hazardous materials assessment and abatement services for 11 correctional facilities, comprising more than 400 buildings. This work has helped PSPC and CSC proactively integrate hazardous materials considerations into ongoing operations, maintenance, and renovation planning.