A carpenter discovers ceiling tiles in an office renovation that are friable (easily crumbled) and located in a building constructed in 1975. The owner insists there's no asbestos because 'he never saw any in the building before.' What is the carpenter's RESPONSIBILITY under Alberta OHS Code Part 16 (Asbestos Exposure)?

Question: A carpenter discovers ceiling tiles in an office renovation that are friable (easily crumbled) and located in a building constructed in 1975. The owner insists there's no asbestos because 'he never saw any in the building before.' What is the carpenter's RESPONSIBILITY under Alberta OHS Code Part 16 (Asbestos Exposure)?

Answer options:

• Proceed with caution, as the owner's knowledge is typically reliable. ✅ Isolate the area and immediately report the discovery to the employer/owner, advising that the material must be sampled and tested by a qualified person before disturbance.
• Spray the material with water to prevent airborne fibres, then remove it quickly.
• Assume the owner is correct and continue work, but wear an N95 respirator.

Correct answer: Isolate the area and immediately report the discovery to the employer/owner, advising that the material must be sampled and tested by a qualified person before disturbance.

Explanation: Under Alberta OHS Code Part 16, workers have a duty to report hazardous conditions. Suspect friable materials in older buildings must be treated as ACM until proven otherwise by a qualified person's assessment and testing. The owner's opinion does not override the legal requirement for proper testing and abatement if necessary.