Two Interfor workers shifted to other jobs that don't require safety headgear

Kate Webb and Ian Austin, The Province

Kalwant Singh Sahota and Mander Singh Sohal gathered with dozens of supporters yesterday at the Ross Street Sikh temple to explain why they've launched a human-rights complaint against the lumber firm Interfor.

The two sawmill workers were told they could only continue working if they put hard hats over their turbans -- a move they say would be an insult to their Sikh religion.

Interfor countered by offering the two workers jobs that don't require hard hats.

Lawyer David Perry, who's representing the duo, said it's only a victory if it applies across the board.

"Is this an exception available to only Mr. Sohal and Mr. Sahota?" asked Perry. "Will it apply to other Interfor mills? Will it apply to other turban-wearing Sikhs?"

The policy, brought in last November amid rising concerns over head injuries at the Delta sawmill, applies to all workers except those in two positions -- apparently the two posts now offered to Sohal and Sahota -- and was adopted following a safety audit commissioned by the company.

Interfor vice-president Rick Slaco said before the new policy's introduction a mill employee had suffered a head injury about once every two months, but since November not a single head injury has been reported. "It's a really interesting issue, because what trumps what? Is it human rights or is it a safety issue?" he said. "The company's position is that we want to create a safe work environment for all our employees and that this question needs to be answered."

Slaco said Sahota and Sohal are the only two employees who have complained about the policy.

Slaco said that -- as was the case with a similar dispute with waterfront Sikh workers several years ago -- giving them jobs that do not require hard hats is the best compromise he can think of.

Perry said the policy infringes on the two workers' right to freedom of religion.

"No Canadian should be forced to choose between their religion and their work," said Perry. "These workers have lost their job."

Sohal said he's been with the company for 29 years, working without a hard hat without incident.

"I've done all the jobs in the sawmill since 1988," Sohal said. "I've never had a medical claim against the company."

Kashmir Singh Dhaliwal, president of the Ross Street temple, said the decision is important for all Sikhs. "This really hurts the feeling of all Sikhs," said Dhaliwal. "We will continue to fight until the company changes the policy."