Interior Health officials issued a formal apology Thursday following confirmation that residents and staff at Overlander Extended Care Hospital in Kamloops were potentially exposed to asbestos during recent renovation work. The health authority now faces substantial regulatory fines and heightened scrutiny over its workplace safety protocols.
“We failed to meet our standards for health and safety,” acknowledged Susan Brown, Interior Health CEO, in a statement released to media outlets. “While testing indicates the exposure was limited, we take full responsibility for this serious lapse in our safety procedures.”
The incident occurred during a corridor renovation project that began in May, when contractors disturbed ceiling materials containing asbestos fibers without proper containment measures. WorkSafeBC inspectors responded to an anonymous complaint and immediately halted all construction activities upon discovering the violation.
According to documents obtained through freedom of information requests, Interior Health has been issued penalties totaling $275,000 for failure to conduct proper hazardous materials testing before commencing the renovation work. The authority has also been ordered to implement enhanced safety protocols and conduct comprehensive air quality testing throughout the facility.
Dr. Rakel Davidson, respiratory specialist at Royal Inland Hospital, explained the health implications: “While brief, limited exposure typically presents minimal risk, asbestos-related diseases develop over decades of exposure. Our immediate concern is ensuring no ongoing exposure exists while implementing appropriate monitoring for affected individuals.”
The 173-bed long-term care facility, which primarily serves elderly residents with complex medical needs, will undergo comprehensive remediation under strict WorkSafeBC oversight. Interior Health has established a dedicated information line for concerned family members and is offering medical consultations to all potentially affected residents and staff.
“This incident reveals troubling gaps in our healthcare infrastructure maintenance protocols,” said Kevin Bronson, spokesperson for the BC Seniors Advocacy Coalition. “These facilities house our most vulnerable citizens who deserve environments that promote health, not endanger it.”
Interior Health confirmed they have launched an internal investigation to determine how the proper asbestos testing protocols were circumvented. The authority has committed to publicly sharing these findings and implementing system-wide improvements to prevent similar incidents.
The health authority has temporarily relocated residents from the affected wing while remediation experts complete the asbestos removal using industry-standard containment procedures. Environmental monitoring will continue throughout the facility, with results being posted publicly on the Interior Health website.
As our healthcare system confronts growing infrastructure challenges in aging facilities, this incident raises critical questions about the balance between necessary renovations and patient safety. With many healthcare facilities across Canada constructed during periods when asbestos use was common, how can we ensure modernization efforts don’t come at the expense of the very people these institutions aim to protect?
