Concern over safety of temp workers

Councillor, expert call for more information about refinery camp

An occupational health and safety expert and a city councillor are concerned about the safety of workers living at the temporary camp at the Co-op Refinery Complex (CRC).

“The refinery in 2013 had issued concerns around the development of the Somerset neighbourhood citing health,” said Ward 3 Coun.

Andrew Stevens. “I was really puzzled as to why an employer didn’t want a neighbourhood to be built far away, was all of a sudden OK with having a neighbourhood built right on its site where there are signs everywhere talking about health and safety and environmental hazards.”

The same concern crossed the mind of Sean Tucker an associate professor of occupational health and safety at the University of Regina who has been trying to get information from the city about the camp since late January, with little success.

Worried about the safety of hundreds of workers who have been living on site since the beginning of the dispute, plus the hundreds more of additional workers that CRC will be bringing in for its annual turnaround, Tucker has been trying to find out if a risk assessment were done prior to the city approving the permit for the camp.

“I’m not suggesting the camp shouldn’t be there, it just struck me as something we don’t know a lot about ... and I’m just surprised why the information is incredibly slow in coming out,” said Tucker.

But according to the CRC, it has taken all necessary precautions to ensure the health, safety, security and well-being of workers.

In a written statement, CRC spokesperson Brad Delorey said the camp must comply with the National Building Code of Canada.

Applications — which include engineered drawings and design details of the camp modules — are also made to the City of Regina for building permits.

When living quarters are provided at a workplace, it is up to the employer to ensure the facilities are adequate and safe for their employees.

They are reviewed and permits issued if all documentation complies with the city’s requirements and the National Building Code.

A city inspector and fire marshal inspect the camp to ensure it’s ready for occupancy.

CRC says the ideal location for the camp is determined by prevailing wind direction.

It also makes assurances that it is located “a proper distance” away from the refinery’s equipment and that CRC consults with the Ministry of Environment to ensure compliance.

It also has continuous air monitoring stations established at the camp.

“In addition, we have strong and robust emergency procedures in place for the Camp to ensure the safety of our people in the event of an emergency,” Delorey wrote.

Asked why the CRC opposed the Somerset development, yet allows the camp, Delorey cited noise and nuisance odour issues as reasons the proximity to the refinery might not be ideal for such a residential development.

He said the work camp is temporary and houses employees and contractors who are accustomed to the refinery and industrial facilities.

According to the City of Regina, permits for the camp were approved based on the standard permitting process used for any development in the city.

The city did not ask for the completion of any additional risk assessments and said any items pertaining to things like air quality would be regulated through the Ministry of Environment.

“They seem to be saying that this work camp is temporary ... and that it complies with all of the building codes and such, but this is not like a typical building site,” Tucker said.

“It’s next to Canada’s third- or fourth-largest refinery.”

A written statement from a government of Saskatchewan spokesperson said the Ministry of Environment conducts inspections at the CRC to check for compliance with its permit to operate.

“When living quarters are provided at a workplace, it is up to the employer to ensure the facilities are adequate and safe for their employees,” said the statement.

According to the city, CRC was issued a temporary development and building permit on Oct. 11, which is valid for 12 months.

Additional building permits were issued for the expansion of the initial camp on Dec. 3 and Jan 16.

An additional permit was issued on Feb. 24 for a temporary worker’s camp.