Page 11 - Suncor 360 - September 2014 - English

09

SEPTEMBER 2014
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360+

See Jerry Cooper’s fatality
investigation summary on
the Core > Departments >
EH&S > Safety >
Fatality Updates.
led to this incident. The team was unable concerns at our Wood Buffalo Region sites.
to determine why Shane moved out of the The use of barbecues was also immediately

safe work location. Unfortunately, this is suspended. With the support of Alberta Fish
something we will likely never know.
and Wildlife and with the help of bear narrow active wildlife corridor. In addition,

conditioning experts, one key initiative that there was a general risk tolerance and
Investigation recommendations
the team facilitated was to increase ield complacency within Oil Sands and
• Update and clarify the Electrical Safety
presence, actively engage bears and throughout the entire region regarding
Standard LMS0090A to identify electrical encourage them to remain in their natural wildlife encounters and working in close
testing as energized electrical work to
habitat. Some of the other actions included:
proximity of wildlife. Wildlife encounters in
ensure a complete work plan and the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
mitigation of hazards, including but not • drafting an Interim Black Bear Encounter
are a common occurrence and we’ve grown
limited to protocols for the physical Safety Policy
accustomed to ‘co-habitation’ while

location of workers (visual/verbal contact), working or living in the region.
barrier placement, control zone, etc.
• developing and applying a standardized
risk assessment protocol
We will also take additional actions to
• Consider updating Safe Work Permit mitigate the risk of such encounters in the
Standard RGP004A to include a • producing updated Wood Buffalo Region
safety advisories and implementing future which will include:
condition into all work permits for
energized electrical work (Part E: Work wildlife safety measures
• review existing, and where required,

Authorization and/or Documentation). create new standards to mitigate
Identifying this condition on the permit • creating a bear awareness safety potential wildlife conlicts
presentation and additional wildlife
would then require an Energized
safety training
• revise Land Use Procedure and include
Electrical Work Permit to be completed
and submitted.
• responding to employee and contractor Suncor Oil Sands Environmental Affairs
as a Land Management Stakeholder
wildlife questions.
These recommendations are expected to be
implemented in short order. Until then, the Investigation indings and • increase worker and leader
accountabilities for adhering to standards
electrical supervisor will be required to sign recommendations
off on all permits involving energized
After a thorough analysis of the facts, • implement seasonal mitigation activities
electrical work, including testing.
investigators concluded that the incident at
to manage wildlife interactions.
Lorna Weafer, May 7, 2014
La Bodega occurred in close proximity to a

Lorna was working in our La Bodega E&I
Shop near Fort McMurray. She had left the

shop to use the wash car that is located

across the yard where she encountered a
large male black bear that attacked her.

A number of co-workers tried to intervene.
Upon arrival to the scene, Suncor’s

Emergency Services Department used a
water cannon to deter the bear, which

caused it to release Lorna and retreat into
the woods. Sadly, Lorna received fatal

injuries during the attack and was declared
deceased at the scene. RCMP put the bear

down a short time later.

What was done immediately after

the incident?
This map shows the site of
A Rapid Response Team was formed to Lorna Weafer's fatality.
address short-term emerging wildlife