Keeping hazardous situations safe

Proteck has had a busy year safely dealing with asbestos and mould for its clients around Western Canada

Proteck is dedicated to keeping its team safe as they work with hazardous materials. — Kirsten Armleder photo

In early 2012, Proteck Hazardous Materials Management Ltd. opened in Cranbrook. The company’s intent was to provide homeowners and construction companies with a safe and professional source for removing asbestos and mould. They’ve done that, and more, over the last year.

With a background in construction, regional manager with the company, Dean Kroeker, had found that, with increasing regulatory requirements, it was becoming more difficult to source out hazardous material cleanups.

“We were fortunate, if that’s the right word, to have our paths cross with some of the larger environmental consultants in the hazardous materials game,” he said. “Out of that we drew on their expertise to expand our own and created Proteck to better serve the people of the Kootenay region. From there it just kind of mushroomed, as it were, into something that’s kept us busy and growing every day.”

There was a niche to fill. Proteck now does commercial and heavy-industry projects around B.C. and Alberta. An expansion into CO2 cleaning means that it can also offer clients an effective method of non-abrasive cleaning that helps decrease use of fresh water and chemicals. In fact, the company recently signed a production and distribution agreement for refined CO2. A new facility in Cranbrook will allow the company to move forward with this project and with continued growth in general. Proteck is also proud to have partnered with the Ktunaxa Nation. As a proudly Canadian company, Proteck is dedicated to solid business practices, and an inclusive sense of community.

Hazardous situations

Anyone who is having work done on a building older than 1990 has an obligation under WorkSafeBC to ensure their home is inspected for hazardous materials. Dealing with asbestos or mould can be intimidating and scary.

“People have an inherent fear of the unknown,” said Kroeker. “If you walk into a nuclear power plant, you don’t want to start playing with buttons because you’re not sure if it’s safe. But for someone that works there every day, they think it's perfectly safe because they understand working there . . . Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral, just like coal or gold or radium. Just like anything, if you don’t treat it with the respect it deserves it can harm you. Mould is a living organism. It’s just a product of its environment like grass or kelp or trees.”

Asbestos is a respiratory hazard. It doesn’t generally cause a problem in a home until it's disturbed and becomes airborne. Asbestos is no longer utilized in building materials, but is still used in certain manufactured goods such as some brake shoes. Mould, an organism, can show up anywhere that provides it with the right conditions: moisture, and a lack of light and airflow. When working with mould, Proteck ensures that the problem is solved in combination with the cleanup. Education, said Kroeker, is an important part of dealing with hazardous materials appropriately.

“I don’t think anybody wants to deal with this stuff incorrectly,” said Kroeker. “Money is a driving factor, but I think when people stop to think about money versus lives they realize that the days when you would be prepared to lose people to complete a project are long in the past. Most people look at demolition and they think that it's something easy that they can do. But unfortunately, the reality is that that is quite often one of the most dangerous parts of construction.”

A bright future

Proteck maintains a stringent occupational health and safety program that’s subjected to external audits by health and safety professionals. Kroeker credited the company’s leading edge in safety to its professional relationships and absolute dedication to internal safety. Proteck may be a young company, but its staff is experienced.

It’s been a busy year of growth, and Proteck Hazardous Materials Management isn’t showing any signs of slowing down.