To help raise awareness about asbestos, this week has been recognized as Global Asbestos Awareness Week (April 1-7) .
Asbestos was commonly used until the late 1990s and is a naturally occurring fibrous material. Products that contain asbestos are dispersed into the air, the tiny fibres are released into the air, which could be trapped in your lungs and remain in your system for many years. Over time, the fibres could expand leading to serious health problems.
"Work related asbestos diseases can be prevented if you are aware of where it is located in a building and how to properly handle it to avoid exposure to its fibers," Labour Relations and Workplace Safety Minister Jim Reiter said in a news release.
In last year’s provincial budget, $230,000 of funding was allocated to replace the asbestos registry. This was done so workers are protected when doing repairs or renovations to buildings that contain asbestos.
An updated registry was launched in February.
At the conclusion of 2024, more than 5,200 buildings have been identified in the registry.
According to the registry, there are 65 facilities in Humboldt.
The asbestos registry is located at saskatchewan.ca