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Prince George - News - Free Press
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The resource industry the North has continued to grow over the last decade – and with it, industrial work camps. An industrial work camp is a “work place and living space,� which is sometimes located outside of town, near an operational oil and gas or
mining site. Camps can accommodate anywhere from 50 to 1,000 people and the impacts it has on workers’ health has triggered concerns with the Northern Health Authority. “When considering the determinants of health in a population health approach, industrial camps are an important work setting that merit
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attention and health resources,â€? states a report, conducted by NHA, called Understanding the State of Industrial Camps in Northern BC: A Background Paper. It also adds that it is challenging to gain a full understanding of the impact camps have on workers’ health, surrounding communities and health services. Charles Jago, NHA’s board chair, said it’s difficult to gather the information because there isn’t much of it that exists. “I think the camps are established for mining and oil and gas, they’re in a different industry,â€? he said. “There are different regulations and requirements, they report to different agencies, there is no central source that we are aware of within government or elsewhere where you can chart the development of these camps.â€? Northern Health’s latest report is the first and only documented piece with combined information on industrial camp life. “We’ve had to go to multiple sources to put together the information that is contained in this first report. I think it’s a significant phenomenon, that over time ‌ government will be disciplined in terms of monitoring this kind of thing – but right now there is no central source and the researchers have done a tremendous job to pull together the information that has been presented.â€? However, it’s not complete. “We have a lot more questions than we have answers,â€? said Jago. “So the study you have right now is the first shot at [trying to get a sense of the scale and scope of industrial camp activity]. Mainly it’s identifying location and looking at the overall health issues related to camp life.â€? According to the report, camps located around Fort St. John have a “partyâ€?-like atmosphere, which then translates to drug and alcohol use. “Overall, these types of camps can have ‘negative consequences’ for individuals, families, and the
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Mr. PG is back welcoming people to Prince George at the intersection of highways 16 and 97, but on a different corner than he used to be. communities where they live,� states the report. However one oil and gas labourer, who has been in the industry for the past decade, said the scene has changed for the better. “Most of the camps I attend are strictly monitored with being a dry camp.� He said that he doesn’t notice the drug prevalence as much as he did when he first started out, adding that bigger camps now have search dogs to ensure the camps stay dry. “There’s no bringing anything to camp.� He noted that it’s usually the “remote camps that aren’t looked after quite as well.� However, the report states that even though there are stringent corporate policies in place and designated dry camps, alcohol use is still “prevalent.� Drinking alcohol in the camps has potential to result in “onthe-job� accidents, anxiety and stress. “These and other factors such as social isolation and lack of integration among
new or temporary workers and permanent residents of host communities can lead to struggles with problematic use of substances,� the report states. On a scale of one to 10, the labourer who spoke with the Northeast News rated the quality of life in camps at a five to six, with one being the poorest. “It can be pretty secluded sometimes, depending on the camps.� Camps vary in size, based on how big the project is. The bigger the job, the better the camp, he said. “In the larger camps they do try to put in an effort. In the smaller camps, not so much, they’re moreso temporary. The permanent camps will have recreational rooms for people to be physically active.� The NHA report states that the industrial camp regulation is being looked at again; however, it is unlikely that additional responsibilities regarding general health and wellness or health promotion will be included in any future versions.