Employer who exposed teen workers to asbestos jailed Arthur Moore had employees as young as 14-years-old tear down asbestos-filled walls without protection, according to WorkSafe BC

A Metro Vancouver employer who repeatedly exposed unprotected workers to asbestos has been sentenced to 60 days in jail for disobeying a court order, but labour leaders say justice won't be served unless he's criminally charged. Read More...

Government of Canada Adds 41 Hazardous Substances to Emergency Regulations 33 Substances Used in Commerce Included in List

OTTAWA, Ont. -- December 21, 2011 -- Canada's Environment Minister, the Honourable Peter Kent, today announced the addition of 41 unique substances to the Environmental Emergency Regulations. The substances include styrene, an explosive chemical used to make polystyrene plastic containers, and ammonium nitrate, a fertilizer.

"The Government of Canada continues to meet its commitment to protect Canadians and safeguard our environment," said Minister Kent. "These amendments to the Environmental Emergency Regulations will further protect Canadians where it matters most: at work, in their homes and in their communities." Read More...

22,000 kilograms of obsolete pesticides recycled in BC Unwanted agricultural pesticides collected as part of CleanFARMS' B.C. pesticides collection program for fall 2011

Too much of a good thing? Odd though it may sound, experts say Canada may be doing too good a job of handling hazardous medical waste produced in the nation’s hospitals.

While the world may be increasingly awash in hazardous medical waste that is not being properly handled and treated, according to a United Nations report (www.cmaj.ca/lookup/doi/10.1503/cmaj.109-4032), Canadian administrators may be overly fastidious in their efforts, driving up costs to the health care system, hospital and waste-management administrators claim. Read More...

Medical waste-management practices vary across Canada How does Canada stack up?

Condoms and syringes mixed with household waste and then exported from the United Kingdom to Brazil for recycling. Scalpels and other sharps left in heaps outside of hospitals. Effluents from health facilities "discharged directly in rivers and other water streams." Hazardous materials incinerated at inadequate temperatures. Deaths in Brazil, Algeria, Morocco and Mexico caused by improper disposal of radiotherapy materials. Read More...

Railroad authority investigates threat of unattended trains Often with hazardous cargo and left unattended

Improperly Discarded 'Sharps' Can Be Dangerous Disposal of needles and syringes can be damgerous

Many people use needles, syringes and lancets-called "sharps"-to manage their medical conditions at home.  These conditions include diabetes, allergies, infertility, arthritis, hepatitis, HIV, blood clotting disorders, migraines and cancer. Sharps are also used to give medication to pets and farm animals. Read More...

How Safe are EV's? GM’s Chevy Volt Catching Fire Said to Prompt U.S. Lithium-Battery Probe

U.S. auto-safety regulators are examining the safety of lithium-ion batteries that power all plug-in electric vehicles after a General Motors Co. (GM) Chevrolet Volt caught fire, people familiar with the probe said. The regulators have asked automakers, including GM, Nissan Motor Co. and Ford Motor Co. (F), that sell or have plans to sell vehicles with lithium-ion batteries about the batteries' fire risk, four people familiar with the inquiry said. LG Chem Ltd. (051910), South Korea's biggest chemical maker, supplies Volt batteries.

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