COVID-19 resources for Canada’s natural resources sectors

To prevent spread into the worksite, or into nearby communities, companies like Gahcho Kué Mine in the Northwest Territories, have been testing and monitoring workers for COVID-19 symptoms. The most popular screening method is temperature testing, including thermal imaging cameras to screen the temperature of employees before entering work areas.

Diavik Mine in the Northwest Territories, placed employees and contractors with specific risk factors on paid leave and implemented a full suite of worker screening measures at site that includes an on-site COVID-19 GuardRX testing laboratory to test all employees and contractors when they arrive and leave site.

Agnico Eagle in Nunavut, is testing their employees before entering their worksite. They are using a certified mobile testing system. This system is also being used by Glencore at the Raglan mine.

Industry has:

• modified shift schedules to facilitate time for appropriate self isolation by reducing the number of shift changes or number of people present at one time, by increasing the number of days in/days out, staggering shifts, or reducing hours of operation;
• staggered lunch breaks and reduced the capacity of shuttle services transporting workers to and from worksites. Where physical distancing is not possible, industry is providing and mandating the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), or clean, non-medical face coverings, depending on the circumstances, to protect workers from potential transmission;
• modified practices at shared cafeterias and lunchrooms at worksites, including a removal of buffet lunches, limiting those able to handle food, and requiring the use of individually wrapped utensils for all meals.

Thompson Mine in Manitoba has required the use of respirators in their elevator cages due to the difficulty of maintaining physical distancing in these confined areas.

Barrick Hemlo Gold Mine in Ontario adjusted its elevator cages to create new cage separation systems allowing for 13 workers with their own plexiglass cubicles to social distance in the cages. This project was endorsed by Thunder Bay Health and the Ministry of Labour.

Industry is leveraging the expertise of healthcare experts to implement policies that include the education of workers on increased hygiene practices and improving the frequency and intensity of cleaning.

Industry is also looking to innovative methods to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of sanitization.

Trans Mountain Corporation and Meliadine Mine employ experts and medical professionals to develop enhanced cleaning and sanitization protocols.

Canfor Wood Products in British Columbia has its operators disinfect their workstations before every shift.

Ontario Power Generation is exploring options to employ handheld ultraviolet-C sterilizers to clean surfaces and incoming shipments.

Vale Industries employs an online wellness platform, Medisys on Demand, to remotely screen its employees.

Companies like Bruce Power, Suncor, AECL, and CNL donated PPE, including medical face masks, clothing, face shields, hand sanitizer and gloves, for front line health care workers.

Industry is engaging with local community leaders and Indigenous peoples in the communities where they operate.

Trans Mountain Corporation (TMC) is responding to Indigenous communities’ concerns about the increased health and personal safety needs of their communities during the pandemic. TMC is putting measures in place to ensure Indigenous worker personal safety and prevention, proactive information disclosure, and enhanced engagement.

De Beers Group allocated US$50,000 funding to be shared among four shelters in the communities surrounding De Beers Group’s Gahcho Kué and Victor operations. In addition, De Beers Group in Canada has made contributions to a number of organizations in the form of food and medical supplies. In the Northwest Territories, the YWCA NWT and the Yellowknife Women’s Centre (YWC) are recipients of funding, food and supplies.

Industry has also taken into consideration the financial toll that work stoppages have on communities and families.

Vale’s Voisey’s Bay Mine is supporting the workers it sent home (who unable to work from home) by paying a percentage of their wages and continuing benefits.

Diavik Diamond Mines, Mary River Mine, Meadowbank Mine Complex, and Doris North Hope Bay, Raglan and Cigar Lake mines sent local Indigenous workers from vulnerable northern communities home with pay to avoid interaction with workers traveling into worksites from other parts of Canada.