Toxic Fumes in Building F
On Friday, March 8, 2024, in the late afternoon, several tenants of building F were assaulted by pungent and toxic chemical fumes.
The security guard was contacted, but since the administration had left for the weekend and the guard was not informed of the work being carried out, there was nothing he could do except send a report to his superior, the building manager.
Contacted by one of the tenants who was at their wit's end due to the intense and irritating smell, the CLR sent an email to the Rockhill managers. Fortunately, Mr. Contarini, the Regional Director of Minto Apartments for Montreal, quickly responded and sent the building manager, who had the necessary information to resolve the situation. It was caused by a contractor who had applied varnish in one of the apartments without ensuring adequate ventilation, especially in winter because it is more complicated to ensure good ventilation due to the cold outside which could potentially affect the water pipes.
- When you hire a contractor, is there someone from the administration who acts as a supervisor?
- Is there a checklist of things to systematically verify?
- Do you have a list of known products (to avoid a misunderstanding, that is, the contractor uses the wrong product)?
- Do you research the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for products not on your list? Or do you outright refuse these other products?
- Is there a check by Minto of the work once finished for the day?
- Do you have a ventilation procedure for when it is cold, which also takes into account the risk to the water pipes if the windows are opened?
- Have you considered asking that the ventilation openings (bathroom, kitchen) be covered with plastic during the works and the period during which vapors or dust are potentially in the air of the apartment?
