Province releases report on fire lookout observer safety
EDMONTON – A year after the disappearance of a 70-year-old fire lookout observer, Alberta Sustainable Resources Development officials released a report containing four broad recommendations for safety improvements at the 128 Alberta fire lookout towers staffed by AUPE members.
AUPE called for a review of safety procedures at the towers after Local 005 member Stephanie Stewart disappeared from the Athabasca Fire Lookout Tower near Hinton on Aug. 26, 2006.
“SRD officials have taken our member’s disappearance very seriously, and with this report have made significant steps to improving worker safety at these remote and isolated work sites,” said AUPE Union Representative Brian Randall.
Randall, who discussed fire-lookout safety at an Employee Management Advisory Committee meeting with the department on May 25, said he is pleased that the government’s officials are crediting AUPE with being an effective advocate for improved fire lookout safety.
Randall said it is clear that the department is serious about its commitment to improving safety at the sites, which tend to be staffed by seasonal workers who enjoy working alone in isolated locations and are prepared to live with the risks associated with such activities.
As a result of the disappearance under suspicious circumstances of Stephanie Stewart, a case that continues to be investigated by the RCMP, SRD formed a five-member expert panel in the fall of 2006 to provide recommendations on personal safety and site security at the province’s lookout towers.
In the Expert Panel Review that was released yesterday, entitled Personal Safety and Site Security at Athabasca Lookout, the panel members made four key recommendations:
- That SRD should review the design and layout of lookout facilities using the Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) program, with a priority given to sites that receive a lot of visits.
- That SRD should review working-alone procedures in lookout observer training and operations.
- That SRD should review personal safety training provided to lookout observers.
- That SRD should review its radio communications program for lookout sides.
Each of the four key recommendations contains numerous specific safety recommendations, which include:
- Installing locked gates on roads leading to accessible lookout sites.
- Installing signs stating the sites are government facilities monitored for security 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
- Improving the construction of residence cabins to include deadbolt locks.
- Clearing brush around cabins to provide improved lines of site, as well as improving fire and bear safety.
- Exploration of the possibility of self-defence training for lookout observers.
- Provision of personal portable radios equipped with an emergency activation button to be worn by lookout observers.
- Provision of satellite phones to be considered in areas where radio transmission is weak.
- Strictly enforced check-in and check-out procedures for tower observers.
- Use of a covert radio code word to designate emergencies.
In the mean time, Local 005 members and members of the public continue to be on the lookout for clues to the whereabouts of Stewart.
The $20,000 reward jointly offered by AUPE and SRD for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for her disappearance remains available.
Stewart is described as between 5 feet and 5 feet 2 inches tall, 100 to 105 pounds and in good physical condition. She has blue eyes, permed, shoulder-length grey hair and wears glasses.