Overview

On a mission to reforest the Canadian wilderness, the Silviculture division at Blue Collar has been providing reforestation services across British Columbia and Alberta since 1983. The hardworking team of 300 people plants an average of 30 million seedlings over the four-month planting season each year. Blue Collar is committed to ensuring its workforce remains safe and productive, which in turn contributes to the success of its clients and stakeholders.

Challenge

Teams of up to 50 workers operate across five remote camps, often hundreds of kilometers from the nearest roads or infrastructure. “Very rarely do we have access to cell service,” says Charlebois. The camps are so isolated that Blue Collar often relies on helicopters to transport workers, deliver gear, and move seedlings. Once on-site, crews live off-grid for days at a time.

Key Challenges: 

• Crews worked at reforestation sites with little or no cellular service
• Teams relied on previously installed satellite internet that was slow and unreliable
• Organizations evaluated other satellite communicators that proved costly and complex
• Workers climbed steep, accident-prone terrain while carrying heavy loads
• Safety check-ins were inconsistent and difficult to manage
• Teams navigated hazardous conditions, including extreme weather, wildlife encounters and challenging vehicle routes

Supervisors frequently lacked visibility into the status and location of workers during long, multi-kilometer treks. Without a reliable system in place, these conditions left workers vulnerable and response times uncertain.

Blue Collar needed a communication solution that was affordable, dependable and easy to use to complement their safety protocols and help ensure the well-being of their remote crews.