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Four Workers Die of COVID-19 in Alberta Oil Sands Unacceptable COVID-19 Outbreaks in Oil Sands WorkplacesThe Wood Buffalo region in Alberta where Fort McMurray is located has been overwhelmed by a rapid spike in the number of people infected with COVID-19. Three workers have died in the largest outbreak, at the Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. (CNRL) mine and upgrader 70 kms. north of Fort McMurray. A security guard at the Suncor base plant has also died after contracting COVID-19. Workers' Forum extends its deepest sympathy to the families, friends and co-workers of those who died, and those fighting for their lives, none of whom have been identified by name.
CNRL is also contending with outbreaks at its Jackfish and Albian sites. There are also outbreaks at Imperial Oil Kearl Lake, MEG Energy Conklin site, Suncor Firebag, Fort Hills and Mackay River, and Syncrude Aurora and Mildred Lake sites. The Alberta government and health authorities have deliberately suppressed information about the outbreaks. This was possible in part because workers who commute are included in case counts in their home cities or regions, so the real impact of the outbreaks in the camps and work sites is hidden. The majority of the 10,000 workers now involved in maintenance turnarounds come from outside the Wood Buffalo area. Large numbers of oil sands workers also commute, and some sites are strictly fly-in/fly-out where all workers commute, working 14 days of 12 hour shifts and returning home for 14 days. Alberta Health Services (AHS) has not been on the CNRL Horizon site since March despite the crisis, instead reporting that "regular contact with the site continues." Alberta Occupational Health and Safety is completely silent. CNRL has responded to workers' reports of lack of sanitary measures and proper treatment for workers who are in quarantine or need medical treatment by saying it is taking all necessary measures. Alberta Health Services has continued its "hands off" approach, allowing CNRL and other oil sands monopolies to "self-monitor." The same approach was taken with Cargill last year, which was followed by a massive outbreak there, subsequent large outbreaks at other Alberta meat packing plants and now the oil sands. Production workers at CNRL are not unionized. Workers involved in the turnarounds come from different trades not only from Alberta but across Canada and Quebec.
AHS also states that it has provided the oil sands companies with a large number of rapid tests, and is now offering onsite immunization clinics at industrial camps and sites in Wood Buffalo, with CNRL Horizon the first site completed, according to an email sent to Global News. "More than 136,000 rapid tests have been provided to CNRL for its two sites to help detect COVID-19 and protect workers," AHS stated. The failure of the government and health agencies to uphold their social responsibility to the workers and their communities has exposed the extent to which the government considers the workers in the industries it has deemed essential as "expendable." Workers and others are speaking out against the callous disregard by the operators and the government of their health and that of their families and communities.
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CNRL and other oil sands mines and in-situ extraction sites have
had outbreaks for many months. Cases began to surge in April after the
regular maintenance period known as shutdowns or turnarounds began. The
turnaround at CNRL alone involved a peak workforce of 5,000 workers
above the normal daily average. It has recently become
public that 258 workers tested positive between October 2020 and May 1, and
1,169 workers tested positive between April 2 and May 13, with 447 cases
remaining active as of May 13.
When last on site at Horizon in March, AHS noted that there was a
need for such basic measures as sufficient hand sanitizer, further
controls to allow physical distancing and additional cleaning supplies
to be available in trailers.