SNIFFER DOGS UP THE SYNCRUDE SECURITY ANTE

Syncrude Canada employees and contractors working for the oil giant had
better get ready for some sniffing around.

The company will begin doing random, periodic tests of workers and work
areas using highly-trained sniffer dogs in August.

"Syncrude is doing its best to ensure safety for everyone, and this is just
another step in that process," said Syncrude spokesman Randy Provencal.
"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 "a laundry list" of items, including
contraband drugs or explosives.

"This is one component of an enhanced security plan post-Sept. 11 (2001),"
Provencal said. "We've added security check points, we're beefing up access
controls on-site. One thing 9/11 did do ... was show us that maybe we all
need to look at our security measures.

"What it boils down to for Syncrude is making sure we have a safe workplace
for everyone."

With 10,000 workers on site at the same time 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. We hope everyone sees that
our motive is a safe workplace."

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

"It's totally random, and it won't happen every day. If the detection dog
does arrive at something, it will react appropriately."

Though drug use on-site isn't "rampant," Provencal said he there have been
problems.

"I wouldn't necessarily say there's a problem, but have there been
instances? Yes. And even one instance is too many. A safe workplace is in
everyone's best interest."

Syncrude employees are given a pre-employment drug test. They are also
tested "post-incident" if there is a cause to test them.

Last December, a contract employee was arrested after a possible explosive
device was found in the Syncrude parking lot.