A company at the centre of a controversy over Fort McMurray wildfire cleanup fired several workers after it received a threat that the company would be reported to the government, CBC News has learned.

Dave Gallop, a former contract employee for restoration company ServiceMaster, emailed an HR manager after he was fired for, according to him, raising safety concerns.

"They need to be held accountable for this and I am going to do everything I can to see to that," he wrote to the manager. "I should report ServiceMaster to Alberta Health Services and labour relations. I fully intend to today when I can."

Gallop sent several similar emails the next morning. Later that day, some of his colleagues, who were still on the job, say many employees who had been working alongside Gallop were fired without warning.

ServiceMaster did not respond to CBC's invitations to comment on these events.

Growing complaints

The Alberta government is investigating a growing number of complaints about work safety in Fort McMurray, after several workers like Gallop went public with concerns over wildfire cleanup.

Alberta Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) says it has now received a total of 12 complaints in Fort McMurray since the region reopened to the public on June 1 — a number that has more than doubled since CBC first reported on some cleanup safety concerns less than a week ago.

I just finished plugging an ozone machine in, started drinking some water and felt dizzy. - WIlliam Bernier-Drapeau

Two of those complaints involve a company called Fort Mac Cleaning and ServiceMaster. CBC News talked to some of their employees in last week's coverage.Now, one of the anonymous sources in the CBC stories who got sick on the job has decided to allow his name to be made public.

Messy treatment

"It's basically been a mess since the first day we got there," said William Bernier-Drapeau.

He answered a job ad on Kijiji through a company called Fort Mac Cleaning and was taken by bus to help with a wildfire cleanup job run by ServiceMaster at the beginning of June.

Bernier-Drapeau said the contract was supposed to start June 5, and that he was surprised to instead be told to start work minutes after he arrived on June 3.

"They made us drop our stuff in the hallway and start," he said.

CBC obtained photos like this of ozone work that a worker alleges were taken at a Fort McMurray cleanup site at the beginning of June. The man in this photo is wearing a respirator. (Provided to CBC) Some other ServiceMaster employees have claimed working with, or near, ozone machines — a type of industrial air freshener — made them sick. They also say they received little training.

Fort Mac Cleaning, the sub-contractor who provided ServiceMaster with temporary workers, has refused several requests for an interview. ServiceMaster has refuted some of the claims.

Read their full response here: Multinational company defends its use of ozone gas after Fort McMurray wildfire

Breathing training

Bernier-Drapeau said he was provided with a fitted respirator and had about an hour of ozone training with a ServiceMaster supervisor.

"He told me not to walk in without a respirator, and not to spend time at all in a room that's being ozoned," he said.

"But my main knowledge of that also came from the internet. Like how the machine itself works, that I had to look it up. I didn't know what ozone gas was until I actually smelled it."

Any worker who believes they are in an unsafe environment has the right to refuse work. - Alberta Occupational Health and Safety

OHS laws require employers to ensure workers are adequately trained to do their job, which would include knowledge of potential hazards. ServiceMaster says employees hold daily safety meetings, provide adequate training, and follow all necessary safety procedures for ozone generators.

Bernier-Drapeau said the cause of his seizure is still unknown. He said doctors at the hospital told him they did not think it was related to the chemicals he was using because he was wearing a respirator.

When fighting flames, firefighters bring their own tanks of oxygen to breathe through special respirators. Restoration industry expert Michael Pinto says this is the only type of respirator that could fully protect someone from the ozone gas and other unknown chemicals created by ozone generators. (Mark Blinch/Reuters ) Experts in the field claim a respirator, even one with a special cartridge that guards against ozone, may not be fully effective protection unless a worker regularly tests the ozone concentration in the air. Bernier-Drapeau said he was not aware of an air measurement tool or gauge on the site.

More questions

"It worries me but it's not the main priority," he said, adding he has booked another doctor's appointment to find out more about what happened when he collapsed June 6.

His memory of the day is clear.

"I just finished plugging an ozone machine in, and went into another room a couple rooms down, started drinking some water and felt dizzy."

The next thing he remembers is waking up on some pillows with "all the ServiceMaster supervisors there." He was discharged from hospital later that day and went back to work, assigned to light duties.

Things came to a head a few days later.​

On June 10, Dave Gallop sent the email to ServiceMaster threatening to report the company.

On June 11, he sent several more similar emails to the same person. He said he called OHS to report alleged safety infractions soon after.

That day, Bernier-Drapeau said he and roughly 25 to 30 other workers who had temporary contracts like his were laid off and sent home. "When we asked why, they couldn't answer the question," he explained.

On June 12, an OHS officer inspected one of the company's work sites on Powder Drive. A spokesperson said they found no improper use of ozone machines, but reviewed the company's safety procedures and will continue to monitor to make sure they're being followed.

ServiceMaster offered Bernier-Drapeau a full-time job. He said he has decided not to accept it.

Latest statement from Alberta Occupational Health and Safety:

We have received 12 complaints in Fort McMurray since June 1.

Two complaints from the Fort McMurray area involve ServiceMaster and Fort Mac Cleaners at a worksite on Powder Drive. OHS inspected the work site on Powder Drive on June 12 and has met with representatives of both companies. At the time of the inspection appropriate PPE, including respiratory equipment, was available to workers. No direct evidence of improper use of ozone machines was found, but OHS staff have reviewed the company's procedures for their safe use and will continue to monitor to ensure they are being followed. OHS will continue to work to ensure these employers are taking all necessary precautions to keep their workers safe and healthy, including ensuring workers have been properly trained and to ensure the respiratory equipment has been fit-tested.

OHS staff followed up with the employer about this incident. We understand that the worker was released from the hospital later that same day, and has since requested to continue working. Light duties were assigned. Although OHS officers have found no evidence of improper use of ozone machines, OHS staff have reviewed the company's procedures for their safe use and will continue to monitor to ensure they are being followed. Any worker who believes they are in an unsafe environment has the right to refuse work. We encourage any workers with safety concerns to call OHS at [1-866-415-8690] so we can conduct an inspection and take any action necessary to protect worker health and safety.