A portion of the Boundary Dam power station in Estevan, Saskatchewan, Canada was closed abruptly late last week when contractors appear to have released asbestos into the air while rebuilding a generator inside the massive complex.
A story aired on CBC News noted that inspectors discovered a potential asbestos leak at the power station during the renovation work, but SaskPower spokesperson Tyler Hopson said he was unable to either deny or confirm the finding or the presence of asbestos dust in the air inside the plant. He added, however, that crews have closed down a particular area of the plant and have cleared all workers from the vicinity.
After the discovery, samples of the material were sent to a laboratory for testing. Scientists will confirm whether or not asbestos is present, says Hopson, noting that it might take a little time to get the results.
“It’s probably going to be somewhere in the neighbourhood of several days to a week from now when we would know,” Hopson said, confirming that work in the area in question at the Boundary Dam Power Station, the largest coal-fired station in the Province of Saskatchewan, has been halted.
“We want to first of all test and verify that substance, and in the meantime, we’ve isolated that area so it’s not being accessed by employees,” Hopson said.
It isn’t unusual for asbestos to be found in power stations, including those in the United States. While many have been re-outfitted with insulation materials that are safe and non- toxic, it’s important to note that some older plants never upgraded and, hence, power plant workers may still be exposed to asbestos on a regular basis. Through the years, these employees have been high on the list of individuals most likely to develop mesothe lioma and other diseases due to on-the-job exposure to the hazardous material.