Another tragedy in the making? Union at Come by Chance refinery says safety concerns ignored
Service NL says it has done hundreds of inspections and investigated 7 complaints
The union representing employees at Newfoundland and Labrador's only oil refinery is sounding an ominous warning about safety at the facility, and says the owners and the provincial government are working against their efforts to improve the situation.
Service NL, however, says it has been "diligent" in making sure industrial operators obey provincial safety laws.
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United Steelworkers Local 9316 president Glenn Nolan says management-employee relations are reminiscent of the lead-up to an explosion at the refinery in March 1998 that killed two workers and seriously injured a third.
"Our concerns over health and safety have fallen on deaf ears for too long. The government's duty is to protect working people. They're shirking that duty," Nolan stated in a news release.
The union is accusing owner NARL Refining and the government of "working against us," and says such a scenario could bring deadly consequences.
"This is what our people experienced 20 years ago," added Perry Feltham, chair of the union's health and safety committee.
It's the latest sign of tension at the refinery in what's been a tumultuous 10 months after the company introduced big changes in order to adapt to what it called serious economic challenges and impending regulatory changes.
Those changes included sweeping layoffs and an increase in daily refining capacity.
The union said it has been raising concerns for nearly two years, and is accusing the government, specifically the occupational health and safety division of Service NL, of failing to take action.
Regular inspections, complaints investigated
"Service NL is diligent in ensuring that the operators of industrial facilities meet their legislated responsibilities to comply with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the Public Safety Act," a spokesperson for Service NL told CBC News in an email.
"North Atlantic Refining Ltd. (NARL) is legally obligated to follow all requirements related to this legislation at the Come By Chance refinery."
Service NL said officials of the occupational health and safety division met with worker and union representatives 11 times since Jan. 2016 to address concerns, and investigated seven complaints.
Also since Jan. 2016, the department said there have been 387 inspections carried out by Service NL and 73 directives have been issued.
It said a stop-work order was issued July 25, 2017 but the Fire Commissioner found staffing levels for emergency response were adequate.
According to the union, an agreement that gives workers the right to be involved in planning process changes, developing safe work procedures, training and other safety-related issues is not being followed.
'We've repeatedly raised concerns that the government and the company have not lived up to the commitments they made. Those concerns haven't been taken seriously by the government," Nolan said.
He said an inquiry into the 1998 tragedy revealed a "dysfunctional and confrontational" labour-management relationship at the refinery, and he said a similar divide exists today.
"We have been experiencing many of the same concerns that existed at the time of the tragedy, but the government doesn't seem to care," Nolan said.
He said the old "us-versus-them" culture has returned, with health and safety concerns "dismissed by the employer and by the government."
Service NL said the occupational health and safety and engineering and inspection services divisions will continue to complete both scheduled and unscheduled inspections.
"Officials, including officials from the OHS division, continue to be available to union members and representatives to discuss any of these matters at any time," Service NL said.
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