Asbestos Violation Costs Toronto $60,000

An MOL inspector visited a renovation project at a building owned by the City of Toronto. When he questioned workers, they didn’t know whether there was any asbestos containing material present at the site. A 2007 environmental audit on the building, commissioned by the city, confirmed the presence of asbestos containing material in the building. But the city didn’t give a copy of the audit to the constructor. Although there was no evidence that workers were exposed to asbestos, the city pleaded guilty to failing to provide a copy of the report to the constructor and was fined $60,000 [The City of Toronto, Govt. News Release, April 27, 2012].