SYNCRUDE SNIFFING OUT 'PROHIBITED ITEMS' AMONG WORKERS

Company Beefs Up Security Controls

FORT McMURRAY - One of Canada's biggest oilsands companies will use highly
trained sniffer dogs to do random checks of workers and plant areas
starting in August.

"Syncrude is doing its best to ensure safety for everyone, and this is just
another step in that process," said Randy Provencal, Syncrude spokesman.

"There are items that are prohibited on site and that's what we're looking
for."

The dogs will monitor entry points, offices, locker rooms, vehicles, buses,
lunch rooms and shops looking for drugs, explosives and other items.

"This is one component of an enhanced security plan post-Sept. 11,"
Provencal said. "We've added security check points, we're beefing up access
controls on-site ... What it boils down to for Syncrude is making sure we
have a safe workplace for everyone."

With 10,000 workers on site on any given day, Provencal said security
monitoring is essential.

"We're not targeting any one group; it's not about Syncrude employees or
contractors -- everyone's going to be treated the same," he said.

"If you have nothing to hide, it shouldn't be a problem."

Currently Syncrude has about 6,000 construction workers on site for its
$7.8-billion expansion.

Random checks are done now on buses and entry points, but not using
detection dogs, Provencal said.

He also said there are instances of drug use amongst employees, although he
said it wasn't rampant.

Syncrude employees are given a pre-employment drug test. They are also
tested if there is any reason to test them, Provencal said.

Last December, a Syncrude contract worker was arrested in a vehicle in the
company's parking lot. Roger Komla Atsrim, 38, is to appear in Fort
McMurray provincial court on Aug. 11 for summary disposition.

He is charged with possession of stolen property, possession of an
explosive device and possession of an explosive substance intending bodily
harm or damage.

Police said at the time the incident was not terrorism-related.