Even with Canada’s ban on new asbestos products, the danger hasn’t gone away—it still lives in older buildings being maintained, renovated, or demolished. And new research shows workers are still very much in danger and aren’t being properly protected. Research into data from Ontario’s Asbestos Workers Registry (AWR) has found that workers are developing life-threatening respiratory disease well before the current 2,000-hour screening trigger kicks in.

That’s not a minor gap—it’s a serious system failure. Regulators, employers, and supervisors need to move the line—earlier. And workplaces need:

- better controls and joint health and safety committee (JHSCs)/worker health and safety rep (HSRs)/worker trades committee involvement in their development
- competent training
- faster escalation when exposure is suspected

What the new study found

Researchers followed 26,164 asbestos-exposed workers in Ontario between 1986 and 2019 and examined how total hours working with asbestos related to disease. They found respiratory disease rates were substantially elevated before 2,000 cumulative work hours—the point where Ontario currently notifies workers to get a medical exam. Using a causal modelling approach (simplified g-computation), the research team estimated that capping exposure at 100 hours could have prevented 76 asbestosis, 36 pulmonary fibrosis, 27 mesothelioma, and 79 lung cancer cases over the follow-up period. Even limiting exposure at 2,000 hours (today’s screening threshold) would reduce disease burden, particularly in construction, but it’s too late for many cases. The authors conclude: intervene sooner.

That recommendation directly challenges the province’s long-standing practice: workers in the AWR are notified for screening after they accumulate 2,000 hours—the rough equivalent of a full year of asbestos work. This policy dates back decades and, according to the study, misses an opportunity for earlier detection and prevention.

Why earlier action matters—what the broader evidence says

Global and Canadian authorities agree on the underlying hazard: there is no known safe level of asbestos exposure. This means prevention must focus on elimination and strict control, not tolerance.

Ontario’s own occupational cancer surveillance has shown asbestos drives a large share of compensated occupational cancer deaths; from 1997–2010, about 71 per cent of accepted occupational cancer fatality claims in Ontario were linked to asbestos exposure. The Occupational Cancer Research Centre also estimates that about 140 mesotheliomas per year in Ontario are attributable to occupational asbestos exposure and that tens of thousands of workers remain at risk today.

Asbestos-related diseases often appears 10 to 50 years after exposure and most asbestos-related illnesses are never recognized by compensation systems. The result is hidden harm—workers and families bearing the costs quietly, long after the dust has settled.

From evidence to action: why training matters

When risk is real and often invisible, people need a shared understanding of what asbestos is, where it shows up, and how work should be done. Training helps align workers, supervisors, and JHSCs/worker HSRs/worker trades committees on common language, roles, and procedures—so decisions are consistent with regulation and good practice, and questions get raised sooner.

Training that turns awareness into prevention (October offer)

This October, save 50% on three prevention-focused programs:

• Asbestos — $37.50 + HST (regular $75)
   
• Chemical Hazards — $37.50 + HST (regular $75)
   
• GHS WHMIS (2 hr) — $5.00 + HST (regular $10)

Register by Oct 31: https://www.whsc.on.ca/training/training-registration

Who should register: workers, supervisors, employers, and JHSCs/worker HSRs/worker trades committees who want practical, applied skills that actually lead to safer, healthier workplaces.

Bottom line: intervene earlier, train better, protect workers

The Ontario AWR study doesn’t mince words: waiting until 2,000 hours of asbestos work to trigger medical screening is too late for many workers, and policy should move to protect people before disease risk spikes. Combine that with the global consensus—no safe level of asbestos exposure—and the path forward is obvious: better controls, earlier surveillance, and competent training that sticks.

Need more information?
Contact a WHSC Training Services Representative in your area.
Email: contactus@whsc.on.ca
Visit: whsc.on.ca
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