Working Conditions Workers should be prepared to bend, stoop, crouch and carry heavy equipment and supplies. They often must walk and move very quickly over steep and uneven terrain. This type of work requires physical fitness and endurance. The hours of work for these workers are usually more than 40 hours a week, with weekend shifts as required. Most work, because it is in remote areas, involves living in a camp situation.
Workers are outdoors and exposed to extreme temperatures and weather conditions.
For example, forest fire fighters are exposed to smoke, intense heat and fumes. This is a large occupational group, which saw an increase in the number of workers from 2,680 in 1990 to 6,180 in 1998. The unemployment rate among this occupational group is high, reflecting the seasonal nature of the work. Workers are usually employed during the peak time of spring through to fall. Most employed fire fighters are casual and temporary workers, and the amount of work they do is based on demand.