Mining Site Security Rotations: FIFO Logistics Explained
Fly-in / drive-in security work is 60% logistics before it's 40% security. Here's how the rotation model actually operates.
The Rotation Formats.
Common Canadian mining rotations are 2/2 (two weeks in, two weeks out), 3/1, and 4/1. Site clock and calendar clock diverge — a 2/2 officer works 168 hours in a rotation compared to ~80 for a metropolitan officer.
Northern Logistics.
Officers fly to camp via charter (typically from Toronto, Yellowknife, Iqaluit, or provincial staging airports). Kit is shipped ahead. Personal PPE and cold-weather gear are provided by 1Northwest Security.
Site-Specific Training.
Every operator completes bear-safety, remote first aid, radio protocols, and site-specific induction before the first shift. On sensitive commodity sites (diamonds, gold), an additional integrity briefing is required.
Supervisor Structure.
Every rotation is led by a supervisor with minimum three years' Northern experience. Rotation handoffs are formal — the outgoing supervisor briefs the incoming for one full shift before departure.
Compliance Dimensions.
Mining rotations require WCB coverage across multiple provinces, cross-jurisdictional licensing (BC + Yukon, for example), and coordinated federal-territorial paperwork. Not for generalist agencies.
Related Services
Continue Reading
Mobile Patrol vs. Static Guards: Cost, Coverage, and Fit
When to deploy a static officer, when a mobile patrol makes economic sense, and when a hybrid model is the right answer.
How to Choose a Security Guard Company in Canada
A procurement-grade checklist covering licensing, insurance, SOP quality, and reporting — the eight things that separate a real security partner from a headcount vendor.
PSISA: Ontario Security Guard Licensing Explained
The Ontario Private Security and Investigative Services Act (PSISA) governs every guard in the province. Here's what it actually requires — and where agencies cut corners.