With growing health concerns, media coverage and personal stories of tragedy, the fentanyl crisis is hitting Calgarians close to home.
In response, CREB®’s Professional Development team hosted a REALTips session on the topic.
We had a chance to sit down with Jeanette & Dean May from Mayken Hazmat Solutions and hear some high-level takeaways from their presentation. Here’s a look at our Q&A:
How can members detect fentanyl when entering a property?
Awareness is number one. Look for obvious signs of a lab, such a pill presses, breathing masks or mixing equipment. More subtle clues include white, blue, pink or green dust/powder on surfaces.
A property doesn’t need to be a lab to potentially cause problems. Properties with frequent users could potentially cause a contamination and some of these locations are unassuming. As soon as fentanyl become airborne, cross contamination is possible.
What should a REALTORS® do if they discover a fentanyl lab or suspect fentanyl is present in a property?
The most important thing is to protect yourself by immediately removing yourself from the property. The next step includes notifying authorities.
It is also recommended that you stay in the area and let authorities know your location so you can receive medical assistance (naloxone kit) if it is necessary.
What is the remediation process?
A property that has contained a fentanyl lab may take seven to 10 days to remediate, depending on its size. Fentanyl remediation requires a full hazardous clean up and hazmat response from experts.
A team will clean the property in double suits, double gloves, full face respirators and all of their seams will be taped and sealed-up. All remediators and property must pass through a decontamination booth while walls, windows, cabinets and fixed furnishing will be neutralized and triple washed.
How common of a problem is fentanyl and contamination?
In 2017, an average of 1.8 people died every day in Alberta from opioid overdoses. Many of these overdoses were by accident.
For Mayken Hazmat Solutions, cleaning up Fentanyl labs and rooms that have encountered exposure has become a niche part of our business. This past summer an entire crew spent three straight months just working on properties that had been fentanyl labs or encountered exposure.
Fentanyl lab properties are deemed unfit and become a hazard to their community. By removing, cleaning and neutralizing the hazard, the property can be remediated and put back into the community.
Follow these links for additional information:
CBC article - A dirty, dangerous job: Fentanyl drug house cleaners are crazy busy
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