 Holmes Foundry, Point Edward Ontario Growing up just down the road from Holmes Foundry in Sarnia, Ontario, I was unknowingly surrounded by a silent but deadly legacy of industrial negligence. The Keith and Brophy study, "Participatory Mapping of Occupational Hazards and Disease among Asbestos-exposed Workers from a Foundry and Insulation Complex in Canada," was a revelation. It detailed the extensive asbestos exposure suffered by workers at Holmes Foundry, with devastating health consequences that were ignored for far too long.
This study was more than an academic exercise for me. It was a haunting echo of the risks lurking in workplaces, risks that I later confronted head-on during my tenure at Alberta OH&S. There, I led a critical investigation into a disturbing case where a building owner flagrantly disregarded worker safety. Unprotected workers were tasked with removing asbestos-containing fireproofing across multiple sites, without respirators or any basic health safeguards. Witnessing the blatant disregard for human life and health reinforced my resolve to fight for safer workplaces. These experiences have profoundly shaped my career in industrial hygiene. They underscore the essential role of occupational health professionals in safeguarding workers. In Sarnia, I saw the aftermath of what happens when safety is sidelined. In Alberta, I was on the front lines, actively working to prevent such tragedies. Now, as an experienced industrial hygienist, I am more committed than ever to championing workplace safety. Each day, I work to ensure that the horrors of the past are not repeated, advocating tirelessly for the health and well-being of workers everywhere. I share this journey as a reminder of the critical importance of our field. We're not just protecting workers; we're preserving families, communities, and futures.
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