Worker killed at Suncor site in northern Edmonton
Danger, in some form, is inherent in every workplace. But when employees are exposed to elements like wildlife and weather, those dangers are amplified — and unpredictable.
Lorna Weafer — an instrument technician for Suncor — was attacked and killed by a black bear at the company’s Oil Sands base plant on May 7. The tragic incident occurred just north of Fort McMurray, Alta.
“A number of her colleagues tried to help her, but tragically,despite their efforts they were not able to save her,” said Suncor spokesperson Sneh Seetal.
Weafer was working in a team with six other people at the time of the attack. Her co-workers reportedly tried to scare the bear away using fire extinguishers, a water cannon and an air horn. While Suncor employees working in the bush carry bear spray, it is not believed spray was used during the incident, which took place on an industrial site.
Bear safety awareness materials, advisories and information sessions are available for Suncor employees with increased emphasis during times of high bear activity, Seetal said.
Following Weafer’s death, the company immediately implemented critical incident counseling services for employees on site and began working directly with officers from the Fish & Wildlife department ofAlberta Environment Sustainable Resource Development to increase surveillance and provide further bear safety measures. Occupational Health and Safety —along with Fish & Wildlife — continues to investigate the incident.
Fatal bear attacks rare
Fatal black bear attacks are rare — there were 59 reported incidents between 1900 and 2009 — but no matter how unlikely an incident maybe, employers are required to mitigate the risks that come with remote workplaces.
“It may be a remote possibility, but it’s a possibility,”said Sari Sairanen, Unifor’s director of health, safety and environment.
The more geographically remote the workplace, the more employees are exposed to the dangers of wildlife, weather and the emotional toll of isolation. Complicating matters is a physical removal from the medical care readily available in more populated areas.
The most effective thing employers can do, according to Sairanen, is engage employees in the assessment of workplace risk and in the implementation of safety procedures.
“Many employers have had to deal with wildlife in their backyard and so we’ve learned lessons. There are best practices out there,” shesaid. “It’s up to the employer to find out what those best practices are and to adapt them to their particular needs and location. You have to engage theworker in all of these decisions. They’re the ones who will rely on these policies, so you have to engage them in the process.”
And while it is positive that employers are re-evaluating their safety programs in light of recent events, Sairanen said, it is important that emergency preparedness plans are considered through the lens of hazard and risk assessments and not re-jigged based on knee-jerk reactions.
“Wildlife attacks are rare,” said Carolyn Campbell, a conservation specialist with the Alberta Wildlife Association. So while it is natural for employers to think offensively in the wake of a serious incident,it is often the most common-sense measures that do the most to protect workers.
“Having wildlife awareness and safety training would be important for all operators in remote areas,” Campbell said. “In the overwhelming number of incidents involving aggressive black bears… there was some kind of food or edible garbage attractant that they approached. Bears are really food-centered, so being strict about anything that looks like food —including edible garbage — is really important.”
In the wake of an attack such as the one that took place at Suncor, it is crucial employers don’t let focus on one area of safety be to the detriment of overall safety.
“People in remote areas could be injured or get lost,”Campbell said. “Hazardous materials around the workplace would probably be far more of a concern to workers than wildlife.”
Kari Jefford — president of Unifor Local 229 — is responsible for 3,500 members, the majority of whom are located in remote workplaces in education and health care.
“We see a gamut of issues,” Jefford said. “A huge issue is the lack of proper support. Workers can’t access any kind of supports within their communities, and really there is no support in those communities. It’s a huge barrier for my members and for their communities as a whole. Something as simple as a broken bone or a sprained back snowballs into this huge negative mess.”
Isolation
Contributing to that snowball factor is the added stress of isolation, she said.
“We have seen a huge increase in mental health issues. The isolation… is a real big barrier for our folks to be made whole again,” Jefford said. “Our workers are working harder, with less support, in more dangerous situations. It’s becoming overwhelming for everyone but more so for our members that are in smaller communities and are father away and don’t have that support. It’s really getting scary.”
Jefford said a renewed focus on prevention — rather than a“pick-up-the-pieces-and-move-on” model — is moving things in the right direction.
Often in remote workplaces, employees become accustomed to precarious situations and eventually accept hazards as part of their everyday routine. By focusing on common-sense, everyday preventative measures in addition to addressing hot-button issues, employers can protect workers against even the most unpredictable elements, Sairanen said.
“Remote areas have some really precarious situation they have to deal with — it’s all about prevention.”
Lorna Weafer — an instrument technician for Suncor — was attacked and killed by a black bear at the company’s Oil Sands base plant on May 7. The tragic incident occurred just north of Fort McMurray, Alta.
“A number of her colleagues tried to help her, but tragically,despite their efforts they were not able to save her,” said Suncor spokesperson Sneh Seetal.
Weafer was working in a team with six other people at the time of the attack. Her co-workers reportedly tried to scare the bear away using fire extinguishers, a water cannon and an air horn. While Suncor employees working in the bush carry bear spray, it is not believed spray was used during the incident, which took place on an industrial site.
Bear safety awareness materials, advisories and information sessions are available for Suncor employees with increased emphasis during times of high bear activity, Seetal said.
Following Weafer’s death, the company immediately implemented critical incident counseling services for employees on site and began working directly with officers from the Fish & Wildlife department ofAlberta Environment Sustainable Resource Development to increase surveillance and provide further bear safety measures. Occupational Health and Safety —along with Fish & Wildlife — continues to investigate the incident.
Fatal bear attacks rare
Fatal black bear attacks are rare — there were 59 reported incidents between 1900 and 2009 — but no matter how unlikely an incident maybe, employers are required to mitigate the risks that come with remote workplaces.
“It may be a remote possibility, but it’s a possibility,”said Sari Sairanen, Unifor’s director of health, safety and environment.
The more geographically remote the workplace, the more employees are exposed to the dangers of wildlife, weather and the emotional toll of isolation. Complicating matters is a physical removal from the medical care readily available in more populated areas.
The most effective thing employers can do, according to Sairanen, is engage employees in the assessment of workplace risk and in the implementation of safety procedures.
“Many employers have had to deal with wildlife in their backyard and so we’ve learned lessons. There are best practices out there,” shesaid. “It’s up to the employer to find out what those best practices are and to adapt them to their particular needs and location. You have to engage theworker in all of these decisions. They’re the ones who will rely on these policies, so you have to engage them in the process.”
And while it is positive that employers are re-evaluating their safety programs in light of recent events, Sairanen said, it is important that emergency preparedness plans are considered through the lens of hazard and risk assessments and not re-jigged based on knee-jerk reactions.
“Wildlife attacks are rare,” said Carolyn Campbell, a conservation specialist with the Alberta Wildlife Association. So while it is natural for employers to think offensively in the wake of a serious incident,it is often the most common-sense measures that do the most to protect workers.
“Having wildlife awareness and safety training would be important for all operators in remote areas,” Campbell said. “In the overwhelming number of incidents involving aggressive black bears… there was some kind of food or edible garbage attractant that they approached. Bears are really food-centered, so being strict about anything that looks like food —including edible garbage — is really important.”
In the wake of an attack such as the one that took place at Suncor, it is crucial employers don’t let focus on one area of safety be to the detriment of overall safety.
“People in remote areas could be injured or get lost,”Campbell said. “Hazardous materials around the workplace would probably be far more of a concern to workers than wildlife.”
Kari Jefford — president of Unifor Local 229 — is responsible for 3,500 members, the majority of whom are located in remote workplaces in education and health care.
“We see a gamut of issues,” Jefford said. “A huge issue is the lack of proper support. Workers can’t access any kind of supports within their communities, and really there is no support in those communities. It’s a huge barrier for my members and for their communities as a whole. Something as simple as a broken bone or a sprained back snowballs into this huge negative mess.”
Isolation
Contributing to that snowball factor is the added stress of isolation, she said.
“We have seen a huge increase in mental health issues. The isolation… is a real big barrier for our folks to be made whole again,” Jefford said. “Our workers are working harder, with less support, in more dangerous situations. It’s becoming overwhelming for everyone but more so for our members that are in smaller communities and are father away and don’t have that support. It’s really getting scary.”
Jefford said a renewed focus on prevention — rather than a“pick-up-the-pieces-and-move-on” model — is moving things in the right direction.
Often in remote workplaces, employees become accustomed to precarious situations and eventually accept hazards as part of their everyday routine. By focusing on common-sense, everyday preventative measures in addition to addressing hot-button issues, employers can protect workers against even the most unpredictable elements, Sairanen said.
“Remote areas have some really precarious situation they have to deal with — it’s all about prevention.”
