Councillors want warnings of dust-cloud demos
Residential demolitions can launch dangerous particles and should be monitored
It was July 1997 when a raging fire broke out in an industrial recycling factory on Wellington Street North, plumes of smoke rose hundreds of feet into the air and could be seen as far away as Toronto and Niagara Falls.
Flakes of black ash eventually fell from the sky and the City of Hamilton declared a state of emergency as the fire lasted four days and was deemed the worst environmental disaster in Canadian history.
There was a reasonable fear of long-term health impacts from the exposure to toxins and as an essential service worker who worked in proximity of the disaster over the four-day period, I had the unsettling experience of having to undergo annual health care screening for the next five years.
The demolition that took part at the former Hamilton Specialty Bar site in September 2019 and in par- ticular the experiences of local residents have rekindled memories of my own experience and the motion brought forward during a recent City of Hamilton planning committee meeting on Feb. 2 appeared to be headed in the right direction until other members of the committee chimed in to request a “tightening of the language” which would specify industrial and commercial permits while excluding residential property.
One councillor rationalized that it’s “just a house” so how could there be any risks while another councillor suggested that we needed to avoid creating a lot of “red tape” and inconvenience for homeowners while using the analogy “swatting a fly with a sledgehammer.”
Item 11.1 on the agenda (Integrating Health and Environmental Requirements to Demolition Permits) was raised by Ward 3 Coun. Nrinder Nann who clarified that “communities deserve to feel safe and protected” and articulated the need for a more thorough and rigorous process for vetting and approving demolition permits with the intention of avoiding potentially hazardous events.
City staff have been directed to report back to the committee on recommendations for amending the current demolition permit process and specified that their investigation should include fact gathering and review of current systems in other jurisdictions.
In western Canada, the City of Regina (population 214,000) has a
These ‘invisible killers’ are known to cause long-term problems, such as the fatal lung cancer mesothelioma or brain damage in children
demolition permit process which includes commercial buildings, homes and garages in addition to specific requirements such as conducting surveys for hazardous materials in collaboration with the local Environmental Protection Branch.
Likewise, the City of Vancouver (population 675,218) has an established “Green Permit” program in place in which a percentage of the demolished materials are required to be recycled or reused (in exchange for tax credits) and more importantly strict protocols of ensuring the proper disposal of hazardous materials as well as soil remediation and standards for property cleanup following a demolition. Chicago, Ill., and Detroit, Mich., have been undergoing extensive renewal and intensification for several years resulting in the creation of strict building demolition standards intended to minimize the risk of exposure to hazardous materials such as lead and asbestos which can take the form of dust particles.
These “invisible killers” are known to cause long-term problems, such as the fatal lung cancer mesothelioma or brain damage in children and are known to spread freely during building demolitions without a firm understanding of all of the long-term health consequences.
Scientific research has shown that microscopic particles can travel in the air on an average of 120 metres away from a construction site, however, by implementing specific protocols and strategies can reduce the spread by as much as 90 per cent.
In addition to securing the necessary departmental approval, the recommended best practices include the notification of adjacent neighbours by certified mail, door hangers or public announcements as well as a written notification to the applicable ward councillor.
Demolition strategies include using a “wet-wet” process which involves the structure being sprayed with water before, during and after the demolition process and the separation and containment of identified hazardous materials.
In 2020 the City of Hamilton issued a total of 856 demolition permits of which 54 were for residential properties. The proposed motion being brought forward by Coun. Nann is in the best interest of residents, however, the exclusion of residential demolition permits from this proposal falls short of fully ensuring the long-term health and safety interests of our community and any staff report should include a review of best practices for residential permits so members of council can make an informed decision.