In 2018, the JGC Fluor BC LNG Joint Venture was created to build a liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminal in Kitimat, British Columbia, Canada. Employees at remote worksites have historically had limited access to mental health care. The JGC Fluor Health, Safety, Security and Environmental (HSSE) team decided to take a broader approach, and go beyond tracking and preventing physical safety incidents only.
When the LNG Canada project opened its doors, there were no mental health services or education programs onsite. The MIND your Health initiative, which was implemented in partnership with Workplace Options Canada, offers support 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. On-site support includes two counsellors, one educator and a program coordinator who work rotational shifts like the employees they support. Employees and eligible family members also have access to off-site and virtual support at any time. MIND your Health provides a wide variety of mental health counselling and support services, health and wellness educational programs and overall health support programs.
By implementing MIND your Health, the project has seen more than a 250% increase in on-site counselling utilization. Educational program attendance went from 355 people per month to 765 people per month between the first and third years of the program. And their Net Promoter Scores are now 98% and 99%. Together, JGC Fluor and Workplace Options Canada have successfully broadened the definition of what health and safety means while achieving an overall program engagement rate of 158 per cent.
This case study tells the story of how it’s possible to change the culture on a blue-collar, remote-site mega project to include employee mental health in the overall health and safety environment.