Hazardous Materials Information System

The Hazardous Materials Information System (HMIS) provides detailed and up-to-date information on hazardous building materials present in any BCIT spaces. This is managed and maintained by Facilities Services with the support of a specialist contractor. It is an important part of the Institute’s commitment to a safe workplace in compliance with WorkSafe BC regulations.

The hazards of primary concern in buildings are asbestos, lead, and silica, which may be present in building materials.

Asbestos may be found in:

• Ceiling plaster/tiles
• Floor tiles/vinyl/adhesives
• Pipe insulation/fire stops
• Roofing materials
• Window caulking
• Duct mastic
• Exterior applications including stucco, paints, etc

Safety Security and Emergency Management provides full information on asbestos on BCIT campuses here: Asbestos Management – BCIT

• Lead may be present in all painted or coated surfaces.
• Silica is present in concrete and may be present in masonry, ceramic, tiles, stucco and drywall.

Due to the age of several buildings at BCIT, Asbestos Containing Materials (ACMs) are present at the institute. BCIT is committed to ensuring that the community is not exposed to asbestos while at the institute. Any persisting materials remain because they are not friable, not accessible, and/or are in good condition.

Maintaining an accurate Materials Information System (HMIS) for all BCIT facilities is part of our obligation to provide a safe workplace in compliance with WorkSafe BC regulatory requirements.

The labels provide a quick way for the BCIT community to look up the HMIS inventory information for a space and view any hazardous materials that may be present. This information is important to help ensure that occupants are informed of all hazards in a workspace before performing their work.

The label provides a way of checking what information is stored about hazardous materials in a room. The labels are primarily there to make sure that all contractors and maintenance staff work safely to prevent risk to employees and building occupants. They will be able to access the database using the QR codes.

However, any faculty, staff, or student can request information relating to a specific space. Please contact Occupational Health and Safety for this.

If the information shows the presence of a hazardous material, this should not be a cause for concern. As stated above, the risks from material like asbestos arises if material is disturbed, for example during construction.

Sample Label

• If you encounter a damaged material that you suspect contains asbestos or another hazardous material, notify your supervisor immediately followed by BCIT Facilities Services.
• If the object with the material is not a part of the building or is operated by the school/department (e.g. boiler, equipment piece/component, etc.), contact BCIT HSE for assistance.
• Students who encounter damaged material and suspect the presence of ACM should notify their instructor or BCIT Security.
• If Facilities Services or Safety, Security and Emergency Management suspect the presence of a hazardous substance in a building, samples of materials will be tested in a lab to confirm if they contain hazmat.
• If you think you have been exposed to hazardous materials, report to your supervisor/instructor and also through the online Incident Reporting and Information System (IRIS)

All current information is stored through the Hazardous Materials Information System (HMIS). Users can access current information by contacting BCIT HSE at ssemhse@bcit.ca.

Safety, Security and Emergency Management also provide a wealth of resources on all aspects of Health and Safety on campus, including information on safety procedure, asbestos management, and how to report any problems

Health & Safety – BCIT