A Suncor Energy Inc. logo. appears at the company’s annual meeting in Calgary on May 2, 2019. Suncor says a worker has died at one of its Alberta Base mines, north of Fort McMurray, Alta. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh A worker has died in an incident at Suncor Energy Inc.’s base mine. in Alberta. The Calgary-based energy company confirmed Thursday that a contractor was killed Thursday morning at the site north of Fort McMurray. The victim’s name has not been released, but Suncor spokesman Leighton Slade said next of kin have been notified. “We extend our deepest condolences to the family, friends and co-workers of this individual,” Slade said, adding that the RCMP were called to the scene and Occupational Health and Safety is investigating. Thursday’s death was the latest in a string of workplace deaths at the company. Since 2014, there have been at least 12 deaths at Suncor facilities, more than all of its oil and sands competitors combined. The spate of fatalities has drawn the attention of activist investor Elliot Investment Management, which earlier this spring pointed to Suncor’s safety record as part of its case for an overhaul of the company’s board and management. In May, Suncor CEO Mark Little said the company is already making changes, including a third-party safety review, bringing in new management including former LNG Canada CEO Peter Zebedee (now Suncor’s executive vice-president of mining and upgrading) and integrating new Fatigue Management and Collision Avoidance Technology at oil and petroleum sites to reduce risk to workers and contractors. In that regard, Thursday’s latest incident is unfortunate, said Mike Archibald, vice president and portfolio manager at AGF Investments Inc. “It seemed like (Suncor) was turning the corner on the safety side of their particular project and obviously now you have another fatality that has occurred,” Archibald said. Suncor’s tarnished safety record includes the death of a contractor in a truck accident at the company’s Base Mine site in January, as well as a 2021 incident involving a bulldozer and truck at the Fort Hills oil mine. The incident resulted in the death of two contractors. Another worker died in 2021 when the bulldozer he was driving fell through the ice of a tailings pond at Suncor’s base mine. The company also had a refinery fire in March that resulted in an injury. Suncor is set to hold an “oil operations presentation” for investors on Wednesday. The event, which was planned before this latest workplace death, will provide updates on production as well as “plans to ensure safe and reliable performance,” the company said.
