Derek Neary
Northern News Services

Fort Liard (Jan 18/02) - To combat drug and alcohol abuse among its employees, Beaver Enterprises is bringing its own drug and alcohol counsellor on board.

Shane Parrish, chief executive officer of the Acho Dene Koe Corporate Group, said the initiative is needed.

"I've always said this is our biggest problem ... if you're on the job you have to be fit for work," he said.

"There's lots of (drugs and alcohol) out there ... every community in the North deals with it," Parrish said. He added that the greater disposable income from oil and gas work in Liard allows those with addictions to bypass home brew for harder drugs like cocaine.

Al Harris, safety officer for Beaver Enterprises and the person who drafted many of the company's policies, said employees affected by drugs or alcohol have the option of seeking assistance, but also face the prospect of being fired.

Harris suggested that having the counsellor visit remote and unpoliced oil and gas camps would be beneficial because "that's definitely where the larger part of our problem exists."

Problems in camp

He said he has worked in conjunction with the RCMP about 10 times during the past two years when he's been aware of alcohol and drug problems in a camp environment. None of those incidents resulted in charges being laid. Rather, the offenders were removed from the premises and the contraband was destroyed. On one occasion, a year-and-a-half ago, 66 people were ousted from a camp.

"It's very hard to catch," Harris admitted. "It's something that a lot of people aren't willing to report."

With Beaver Enterprises owned by Acho Dene Koe band members, Parrish acknowledged there is pressure to give individuals multiple chances to regain employment.

"We're the worst offenders of our own policy, we keep bringing people back who have been suspended or whatever ... (but) we're trying to work with people dealing with their problems," he explained. "We believe in supporting healthy workers and their families."

Absenteeism costs Beaver Enterprises a significant amount of money, Parrish noted. More and more insurance companies are making pre-employment drug testing mandatory, so Beaver may be forced to adopt such a policy in the future, he acknowledged.

Two years ago, Acho Dene Koe companies set up a hotline for employees who are having difficulties on the job, whether they be financial, social or addictions related.

"This (alcohol and drug counsellor) is sort of our next step of things we're trying to do as part of our employees assistance program," Parrish said.

Two seismic programs, for Anadarko and Paramount, are currently going ahead near Fort Liard. Beaver Enterprises has nearly 300 employees at present, according to Parrish.