IBEW Local 402 (Thunder Bay ON CAN) Supports Mercury Clinic for Exposed Workers

Mercury clinics set up

By Bryan Meadows - The Chronicle-Journal

September 30, 2004

The Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers will host an occupational health clinic in Thunder Bay for construction workers who worked on an air emissions project at Weyerhaeuser’s Dryden pulp and paper mill.

“We’re trying to get about 400 people out to be tested for a whole array of chemicals” during the Nov. 26-27 clinic, said Glen Drews of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

That’s about 60 per cent of the workforce who worked on the Weyerhaeuser construction project two years ago, Drews said.

He said letters will to be sent out this week inviting workers to be tested at the clinic.

Drews and others believe there is a link between the construction job and reported high levels of mercury in some workers’ blood.

OHCOW is an arms-length group of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board, funded by WSIB but governed by a provincial body.

“Part of our mandate is the recognition and prevention of occupational injuries, diseases and disabilities,” said executive director Donna Campbell.

Using results from the Thunder Bay clinic, she said, OHCOW will try to determine a diagnosis of worker ailments and if any chemical contamination is related to the workplace.

Worker representatives will be provided with all confidential testing results, she said.

The Ministry of Labour is also investigating reports of elevated levels of mercury found in five workers at the Weyerhaeuser mill.

The investigation was launched after medical officer of health Dr. Pete Sarsfield notified the ministry July 13 that elevated serum samples containing mercury were detected in five individuals who did work in the mill recovery and steam boiler areas.

Weyerhaeuser is conducting an internal investigation.

Drews said OHCOW staff and construction representatives will set up “a testing protocol” today and share the information Friday.

During the last two years of construction of the mill’s air emissions project, there were numerous work refusals and complaints by construction workers due to inhalation of fumes.

Drews said many of the workers have lingering health problems, such as loss of hearing, no energy and short-term memory loss.