Feature -- by Mark Sproxton

Looking like Stormtroopers, the group of workers marches carefully to a sealed room in the warehouse. Wearing steel-toed rubber boots, white disposable hooded coveralls, gloves, and a full-face air purifying respirator, the asbestos removers are set for their shift. Using window scrapers to remove the asbestos and spray bottles to minimize the amount of the hazardous mineral floating in the air, the abatement workers have a hard day's work ahead.

Not only do the workers have to protect themselves from the deadly mineral, they must also ensure the hazardous waste is contained, labelled and transported properly for disposal. Like other hazardous waste, asbestos starts out as a hazardous material. Upon removal from the warehouse, and because of its concentration, it becomes a hazardous waste. All hazardous wastes require workers to know a ream of regulations regarding removal, transportation and disposal.

"The money's not bad," said Bob Davies of Environmental Renovations & Abatement Inc. "It ranges from $10 to $17 an hour and there are opportunities to work good hours, or long hours. It's long-term and there's a chance for progression. It's hard to find supervisors. And there's lots of asbestos out there." Most buildings constructed before 1978, or facilities such as gas plants, schools and hospitals often contain asbestos.

Those in asbestos abatement must first take a two-three day certification course offered by provincially approved consulting companies such as the one offered through Environmental Health Professionals Ltd. The course covers subjects such as personal exposure limits, safe removal techniques, personal protective equipment and more. Many workers will also receive some kind of WHMIS and TDG (Transportation of Dangerous Goods) training and some will also have first aid certification. (If the project at hand is a union job, then it's most likely insulators will perform the abatement work.)

Asbestos is only one hazardous waste. Those working for renovation or abatement companies will often handle other hazardous materials including lead, PCBs and the hanta virus, said Davies. And there are work opportunities available. "This is going to be a hectic year," he said. "There's going to be a shortage of workers. Around Christmas time it slows down, but saying that, from last Christmas we haven't stopped."

On a daily basis, Calgarians come in close proximity to numerous hazardous wastes. Thankfully, due to well-trained personnel, and well versed handling laws, these hazards are by-passed without incident far more often than not. Considering the number and variety of these types of wastes, that's a good thing. Given the assortment of hazardous waste, that also means there are almost as many different types of jobs dealing with their handling and disposal.>

At WasteCo Environmental Services Ltd., the company deals with several types of hazardous waste, including the hazardous fluids used in the oil and gas industry. "A lot of the work is fairly specific," explained Jennifer Kot. "You get on and go through intensive training (in that area). And those of us working with the hazardous wastes have taken TDG training." Because the oil and gas industry is regulated, those working with that industry must also have some background in regulations put out by the provincial government's Energy and Utilities Board.

Kot said people with a wide variety of education work for WasteCo. "We all have post-secondary education. That is a basic requirement. The minimum is a diploma in sciences." She works alongside people with degrees in biological sciences, environmental engineering, earth sciences and those with chemical technology or environmental technician diplomas.

But different types of waste require different types of training. For instance, Hazmat Transportation Services employs vacuum truck operators to dispose of liquid wastes, mainly industrial, such as fuels, oils and solvents. In addition to having a Class 1 or Class 3 driver's licence, TDG and standard first aid training, the operators also require H2S and confined space entry and rescue training.

"A few of the guys have additional training for emergency response," explained Dean, Hazmat's operations supervisor. The company also provides emergency spill response duties, if, for instance, a transport truck rolls over and begins to leak fuel. This part of the work means at least one operator will be on call for 24 hours. If not on call the work runs a more typical 8-5 type of schedule.

Dean said anyone looking for this type of work should have a clean driver's abstract. Being over 25 will also help due to higher insurance costs for those under the quarter-century mark. Applying directly to the company is the best way to land this type or work, Dean said as Hazmat likes to hire and train its own people.

Many of the positions working with hazardous wastes have basic similarities, however, the specifics of each type of job can vary greatly. Most often the specific training required will be provided by the employer to ensure a focus specifically on the material or materials that company handles, said a provincial workplace health and safety officer.