Second-hand fentanyl smoke in BC supportive housing facilities has become so severe workers cannot avoid exposure. Sauve Safety Services conducted tests on 14 BC housing facilities in Vancouver and Victoria finding elevated levels of airborne fentanyl in the main offices of three Vancouver based-buildings.These housing facilities have "substantial exposure" to the opioid.The BC Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs stated some facilities are "more likely to have elevated levels of airborne fentanyl, above the limit WorkSafeBC has established.".In June BC announced it was forming a working group to tackle supportive housing and second-hand exposure to fentanyl. It was recommended to all three Vancouver facilities they ensure better ventilation in the main offices, mandate all workers wear respiratory protection, and strengthen enforcement of tenants' smoking policies. At the Osborn Facility on West Hastings Street, it was found the occupational fentanyl exposures over a 12-hour shift "grossly exceeded applicable regulatory limits," including WorkSafeBC's limits. The report elaborated, "This trend held true across all sampled work activities, including time spent in the main office, working in the kitchen, cleaning shelter areas, and performing general duties on the shelter floor.".The report also found high levels of fluorofentanyl a "structurally modified" version of fentanyl which may be twice as potent as the original opioid at all three Vancouver facilities. The province says it's working with BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC), WorkSafeBC and BC Housing to develop new exposure reduction guidance at supportive housing facilities.In the statement reported by the Canadian Press, the province said, “We expect to have more information from WorkSafeBC and the BCCDC about actions we can take to continue to keep people safe."
