Saskatchewan Launches New Web-Based Asbestos Registry

The Government of Saskatchewan is launching a new user-friendly and searchable web-based Asbestos Registry as part of its ongoing work regarding asbestos safety.

Along with the new registry, the government has established an Asbestos Advisory Committee to provide input to the Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety on asbestos-related health and safety issues.

“Our government recognizes the danger posed by asbestos and we want this registry to be used to minimize the risk of exposure,” Labour Relations and Workplace Safety Minister Don Morgan said. “This new database is another step toward ensuring the health and safety of workers across our province.”

The updated registry will allow workers, employers and the general public to easily search and find asbestos in public buildings across Saskatchewan. It will also ensure clarity of information and ease of understanding by those who access the registry.

In addition, the new registry will be mobile-friendly and includes map enabled searching with geo-locating capabilities. Owners of public buildings can now easily log into the database and update information on any buildings where asbestos is present. Public users will be able to search the database to view where asbestos is present in Saskatchewan public buildings, including the location, a map view and details on the type of asbestos present.

The Asbestos Registry can be found at www.saskatchewan.ca/asbestos.

Currently, Saskatchewan is the only province in Canada that has a web-based asbestos registry of public buildings. The new advisory committee is made up of representatives from different sectors including the Ministry of Health, the Saskatchewan Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization, the Saskatchewan Provincial Building and Construction Trades Council and the Canadian Cancer Society who bring expertise and experience on health and safety related to asbestos.

“This committee will provide a forum for ongoing discussion and collaboration on strategic direction regarding asbestos related health and safety issues,” Morgan said. “We look forward to working with the committee and continuing our ongoing work on asbestos safety.”

The ministry worked on updating the registry with Information Services Corporation (ISC), which developed the software and will maintain it.

“As the first registry of its kind in Canada, we are very pleased to work with the Government of Saskatchewan to develop and support the province’s online asbestos registry,” ISC President and CEO Jeff Stusek said. “We have developed a user-friendly solution which will support the government’s goal of providing easy access to critical information to support the health, safety and well-being of the citizens of Saskatchewan.”

www.saskatchewan.ca/asbestos