'Significant health risks' from second-hand fentanyl smoke in Vancouver supportive housing offices
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That is the among the findings of tests conducted at 14 British Columbia supportive housing facilities, results that contributed to the province's decision to form a working group aimed at tackling safety issues — including second-hand fentanyl exposure.
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The assessments, conducted by Sauve Safety Services for BC Housing, tested facilities in Vancouver and Victoria and found elevated levels of airborne fentanyl even in the main offices of all three buildings tested in Vancouver.
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In a statement, the B.C. Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs said it takes the concerns about possible worker exposure to airborne fentanyl seriously.
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'We'll be working with our partners to ensure providers can take fast action to protect staff and tenants in supportive housing,' the statement said. 'The immediate need is to mitigate the known risks based on the exposure assessment and air quality testing that has been done.'
In June, the province announced the formation of a working group to tackle safety in supportive housing, including second-hand exposure to fentanyl.
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The announcement of the group came after a number of recent incidents in the housing units, including a June 11 fire at the former Howard Johnson hotel in Vancouver that injured two people.
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The ministry said at the time that testing on the 14 facilities in Vancouver and Victoria showed some may be 'more likely to have elevated levels of airborne fentanyl, above the limit WorkSafeBC has established.'
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Details can be found in more than 600 pages of assessments conducted by Sauve.
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It recommended that all three Vancouver facilities improve ventilation to the main office, as well as mandating workers to wear respiratory protection in some cases and strengthening smoking policy enforcement for tenants.
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In its assessment of the Osborn facility on West Hastings Street, testers found occupational fentanyl exposures over a 12-hour shift that 'grossly exceeded applicable regulatory limits,' including WorkSafeBC's limits.
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'This trend held true across all sampled work activities, including time spent in the main office, working in the kitchen, cleaning shelter areas, and performing general duties on the shelter floor,' the report said.
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