Ontario Ministry of Northern Development and Mines

April 24, 1991

MEMORANDUM TO: B. Parker

SUBJECT: MNDM/MGS Meeting; April 25, 1991

A list of discussion items follows:

1) Results of the Public Institutions Inspection Panel Report (October 29, 1990 Inspection)

Those items specified for correction that were the responsibility of MNDM have been corrected.

Concerning illuminated exit signs in the TTL building, this item and other safety related concerns were brought forward to MGS earlier in 1990, The subject was discussed by Jim Harney/ Brian Parker and Leo Owsiacki prior to a H&S meeting held at TTL on April 27/ 1990. At that time, emergency lighting and an evacuation plan were recommended by the committee. Minutes of the meeting indicate Jim Graydon of MGS was working on the evacuation plan. A memorandum from Dave Webb, A/Regional Safety Consultant, to Jim Harney (Aug. 8, 1990), states that emergengy lighting and a fire alarm system were not required by code. Mr. Webb did recommend that emergency lights be installed in strategic locations together with an "emergency " alarm system(not a "fire" alarm system).

Question: Are these safety measures included in the 1991-92 Maintenance Plan for the TTL building?

2) Plumbing/Heating Repairs/Asbestos Removal at TTL (Tender No. 90-111-NB)

There appears to be irregularities in the minutes of the Site Meeting held September 27, 1990, at TTL, concerning the above mentioned tender. Leo Owsiacki, A/Manager, TTL was recorded as being present for the meeting. He was in fact out of town. Elaine Basa, Staff Geologist, Resident Geologist's Office , was recorded as being present at the meeting. Her statement (see attached Memorandum dated April 22, 1991) indicates otherwise.

Mill workers voted their concern over the methods used to remove asbestos from pipes located in the main loading and storage bay, located in, the basement. The area was not sealed off from the rest of the Basement area and the fan-forced heaters spread dust from the process throughout the basement. The asbestos was apparently stuffed into garbage bags and carried away by the workers, who were wearing only dust masks and regular street clothing during the removal process.

Mill workers indicated that their initial concern about asbestos was confined to the boiler room/ where past repairs had exposed previously encapsulated asbestos. This exposed asbestos was not removed or re-encapsulated- during the scheduled asbestos removal. In subsequent discussions with Jim Graydon, Property Manager MGS/ it was inferred that one of his staff, Alex Underwood, had told him that the exposed material in the boiler room was actually gypsum cement. On November 23, 1990, Jim Graydon and I inspected the boiler room and the exposed material was determined to be asbestos. The exposed asbestos was subsequently encapsulated.

Question: How many other potentially hazardous exposures of asbestos have been mis-identified as being "gypsum cement" by people unqualified to make such an identification? The hazardous situation at TTL could have been prolonged if a trained mineralogist and professional geologist was not present at the boiler room inspection.