When you’re a hazmat technician working in Toronto, your job is to enhance the safety levels by removing the threat of a variety of chemicals and agents. Although the list of potentially hazardous items includes dozens upon dozens of compounds, manmade items and other substances, some are more common than others. Below are five of the biggest that a Toronto hazmat technician can expect to encounter regularly.
#1: Asbestos
If you’ve ever purchased a home, you know that having an asbestos-free environment is essential for the health of you and your family. Modern residences and office buildings are constructed without the use of asbestos, but it was once heralded as a top insulator. Homes – as well as commercial and industrial buildings – designed and constructed after the mid-1950s and prior to around the late 1980s or 1990 are very likely to contain asbestos. Unfortunately, asbestos has been linked to lung cancer and other ultimately fatal diseases. This is not a DIY removal job, but a serious problem that requires the expertise of hazmat technicians.
#2: Mold
Think a bit of mold isn’t such a big deal? Hazmat technicians know otherwise. Mold is one of the most deceptively “innocent” substances. Some types of mold, such as black mold, are extremely dangerous to humans and pets, and can cause everything from headaches and flu-like symptoms to life-threatening asthma and allergy attacks. When mold is a serious problem, hazmat technicians understand how to fully remove it from an area, leaving behind only healthy spaces for you to live and work.
#3: Lead
Again, as a homebuyer or even renter, you should always be on the lookout for lead. Lead was once used extensively in construction and redecoration, especially in commercial paints. Now, we understand that lead paint poses a significant threat to us, and can even cause brain damage if accidentally ingested or inhaled. Lead removal is a precise process that requires level-headed thinking and thorough elimination solutions. As such, it’s a top job for any hazmat technician.
#4: Nuclear and/or Radioactive Waste
Does it seem strange to think that Toronto could have nuclear or radioactive waste? It’s not as odd as you might assume. Places from hospitals to corporations routinely deal with radioactive products, and if it isn’t carefully monitored or contained, it can become a huge issue. At that point, hazmat technicians must systematically clean the area. Then, they have to remove and securely dispose of the items.
#5: Mercury
Medical waste. Old-fashioned thermometers and thermostats. Older light bulbs. What do they have in common? They all contain mercury. In fact, you might have come across mercury in the past day or so and never realized it. While mercury isn’t toxic when handled correctly, it causes alarm when it’s improperly disposed of. Make no mistake: Mercury isn’t something to take lightly. Like many other substances, it’s poisonous to human beings, as well as animals. Thus, it requires professional clean-up.
Overall, the hazmat technicians working diligently in and around the GTA are more than just experts: They’re safety heroes, quietly keeping us all healthier. If you’ve ever thought about joining, feel free to contact the IUPAT on 132 Toro Road for more information.
