What You Need to Know Before Starting an Asbestos Abatement Project

When working with asbestos, there’s no room for shortcuts. The health risks are serious, the regulations are strict, and liability exposure can be costly. For restoration professionals and facility managers across Ontario, it’s not just about removing hazardous materials. It’s about doing it right, without shutting everything else down.

Why Asbestos Is Still a Present-Day Problem

Before the 1990s, asbestos was a common component in insulation, ceiling tiles, pipe wraps and other building materials. Today, many older structures across Ontario still contain the dangerous component. While safe when left alone, danger arises when these materials are disturbed, releasing fibres into the air.

Without proper asbestos containment, those fibres can linger in the environment, putting workers and building occupants at risk. As these fibres are microscopic and odourless, only trained professionals using approved techniques can properly identify and contain the threat.

According to the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, exposure to asbestos can lead to chronic and life-threatening illnesses, including mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis; all of which can take years to develop, but are irreversible once diagnosed.

The Risk of “Good Enough” Contractors

If your project involves demolition, fire restoration, or retrofitting older buildings, there’s a chance you’ll encounter asbestos; unfortunately, not all contractors are equipped to deal with it.

Certified asbestos remediation involves much more than PPE and a few warning signs. Ontario’s asbestos regulations require:

• Full site assessment and risk classification
• Engineered asbestos containment systems with negative air pressure
• Specialized removal techniques to prevent fibre release
• Hazardous waste handling and disposal
• Independent third-party air clearance testing

We’ve seen projects where an unqualified team missed critical steps in the process — leading to rework, exposure, and unexpected delays. If you’re managing a fire-damaged high-rise or upgrading industrial infrastructure, those delays come at a real cost: project stalls, insurance issues, or worse, health concerns for your crew.

What Wickens Does Differently

At Wickens, we approach asbestos abatement with a dual focus: protecting people and protecting progress. We understand that in your world, timelines matter just as much as safety — and both are non-negotiable.

Our certified crews handle every step, including:

• Risk assessment and regulatory coordination
• Engineering controls and containment installation
• Type 3 abatement procedures with certified workers (2253W) and supervisors (253S)
• Removal and disposal compliant with Ontario Regulation 278/05
• Post-remediation verification and documentation

Watch our team at work, preparing a site for asbestos removal:

More importantly, we coordinate with other trades on-site — whether that’s restoration teams, facility engineers, or project managers — to ensure our work doesn’t derail theirs.

In occupied buildings, sensitive industrial zones, or emergency fire recovery jobs, our team is trained to operate with minimal disruption and total discretion. Safety is never sacrificed, and neither is momentum.

Real Risk Requires Real Planning

The risk you face with asbestos mitigation isn’t just fibres, but mismanagement as well. Rushed or poorly scoped work can delay a project, create legal exposure, or jeopardize safety. That’s why every project we undertake begins with a plan built on clarity and control.

Our team starts with an on-site inspection to identify the type and condition of asbestos-containing materials.

From there, we develop a tailored work procedure based on the building’s structure, use, and occupancy. This includes designing engineered asbestos containment zones that effectively isolate the hazard without impacting surrounding operations or workflows.

Finally, we align our work schedule with yours — coordinating directly with general contractors, insurance adjusters, or facilities teams — so there are no surprises, no shutdowns, and no scope creep.

For industrial and commercial environments that can’t risk unnecessary downtime, our planning process isn’t just a precaution — it’s a strategic advantage.

Serving the Professionals – and Why That Matters

Wickens is trusted by professionals who manage complex, high-stakes projects — from post-fire remediation in high-rises to proactive maintenance in regulated industrial facilities. These aren’t jobs where you can afford delays or missteps, and that’s exactly why clients choose us.

Restoration contractors count on us to handle high-risk materials without slowing down the broader recovery effort. Facility managers bring us in because we understand the protocols and safety standards that govern live environments. And industrial clients — especially those in manufacturing or utilities — rely on us to contain risk without disrupting production.

In every case, we show up with more than just certified people and compliant processes. We show up with an understanding of how to work around your team, not in the way of it. Our job is to remove the hazard — not create new ones by disrupting your schedule, your budget, or your workflow.

A Safer Path Forward

Asbestos mitigation isn’t just a compliance issue. It’s a reputational one. A single misstep can halt a project, expose people to serious health risks, or trigger regulatory investigations. That’s why experience, communication, and precision matter as much as technical capability.

At Wickens, we don’t just remove asbestos. We remove the uncertainty that comes with it.

Need support on an asbestos-related project?

Whether you’re managing fire restoration, commercial retrofits, or industrial maintenance, we can help. Request a site assessment today and get a plan that keeps your people safe — and your project on track.