Department Issues Sysco Cleanup Investigation Report

Conclusions regarding allegations of occupational health and safety concerns at the Sysco cleanup site in Sydney were released by the Department of Labour today.

"As a result of the complaint investigation, there is no evidence that has been made available to the investigating officer to substantiate the complaints made by the employee at the PLI site," concluded an investigative report.

The report resulted from an investigation carried out by the department's Occupational Health and Safety division and based on complaints made by a worker at the site on July 24, 1998. PLI Environmental Ltd. is conducting the cleanup.

Specifically, the complaints dealt with possible exposure to asbestos and PCBs, inappropriate respiratory protection, lack of personnel on site to deal with asbestos removal, intimidation by management, and copper burned in open pits.

The investigating officer found that the joint occupational health and safety committee on the site, made up of employer and employee representatives, has been a positive advisory group to PLI management and employees in addressing issues and concerns at the cleanup site. Documentation at the site indicates that occupational health and safety remains a priority to workplace parties.

The paperwork also shows that workplace health and safety concerns/deficiencies noted by management and/or the joint occupational health and safety committee are dealt with immediately. These findings were reinforced by various responses received from employees during the investigative process.

The investigation involved documentation review, group interview, randomly administered individual questionnaires as well as consultation with appropriate resources. No occupational health and safety concerns were raised by other employees during confidential conversations.

At the beginning of the investigation, the complainant alluded to having photographs depicting unsafe working conditions on the site. When asked for the photos, the complainant then said he had already given them to the media and had no extra copies. At the invitation of a newspaper outlet, the executive director of Occupational Health and Safety, Jim LeBlanc, viewed the photos on Aug. 10. The newspaper also refused to release the photos to the department to aid the investigation. The newspaper did initially agree to let the investigating officer view all the photos but then only selected nine out of the 115 for her perusal. Neither the complainant nor the newspaper would provide a copy of any of the photos to the department. The department is hopeful that the employee or the newspaper will reconsider their unwillingness to give the Occupational Health and Safety officer these photos if they believe they are useful as evidence of safety violations. The present investigative report, however, had to proceed on the basis of evidence currently in hand.

Officers were mindful of the potential issues raised in the photos -- such as fall protection and personal protective equipment -- as they conducted the investigation. No violations were observed on site.

This report wraps up investigation of the complaints raised during the July 24, 1998, meeting at the cleanup site. The complainant may appeal the results within 14 days to the Occupational Health and Safety Appeal Panel.

As the report was being finalized, new allegations were made concerning past activity at the site. A subsequent investigation commenced immediately. The Department of Labour urges anyone with additional information relating to health and safety concerns with the cleanup project to contact the Occupational Health and Safety division at 1-800-9LABOUR or the Sydney office directly at 902-563-2180. Employees can also bring their concerns to the joint occupational health and safety committee on site or to the union representing their interests.