For Coastal GasLink, the of their workforce, their families, and surrounding communities is at the forefront of everything they do.
鈥淎s a project team we have to continually strive to meet the highest standards so that every worker goes home healthy and safe at the end of the day,鈥� said Michael Gibb, Coastal GasLink鈥檚 Director of Health, Safety and Security. 鈥淭his has always been our top priority, and will continue to be as we face the challenges presented with COVID-19.鈥�
A key component of Coastal GasLink鈥檚 team is International SOS; global health experts who have been supporting Coastal GasLink since 2014. Their medical professionals are embedded in the project to provide their workforce with on-site care.
By engaging the medical expertise of International SOS, Coastal GasLink is also delivering on a key commitment to minimize the strain of project activities on local health care infrastructure.
鈥淥ur goal is to try to mitigate the impact that [any medical situation] would have on the local health care infrastructure by trying to manage them in the field,鈥� said Dr. Michael Evans, International SOS Canada鈥檚 Medical Director.
鈥淎s well as emergency services, we also provide a bridging primary care service to take care of a worker鈥檚 basic medical needs, like ordering their prescription, so there鈥檚 no need for them to go to town to see a physician or a nurse practitioner,鈥� adds Dr. Evans.
Dr. Evans and his team are also advising Coastal GasLink as they adapt their high standards for health and safety to meet all and do their part to help slow the spread of COVID-19.
That wealth of expertise and commitment to health and safety is also shared by International SOS medical professionals on the ground.
鈥淲e are constantly adapting to execute our plans and it鈥檚 been very successful,鈥� said Clint Papineau, a Registered Nurse with International SOS who is supporting Coastal GasLink in the Prince George area.
Papineau and his colleagues carry out the protocols they鈥檝e implemented with International SOS. These include educating workers about health guidelines, enhanced screening of workers for symptoms, medical monitoring, and designated quarantine and evacuation protocols.
鈥淭hese parameters are in place so we can catch something early enough that the employee will be able to isolate themselves,鈥� said Papineau. 鈥淢y colleagues are front line workers and we take this very seriously. This is part of Canada鈥檚 economy and many thousands of people鈥檚 livelihoods.鈥�
International SOS and Coastal GasLink continue to work closely with health authorities, including Northern Health and WorkSafeBC, to ensure they are meeting all health directives and requirements.
Learn more about the Coastal GasLink鈥檚 commitment to health and safety at