Target Hospitality, Diversified Transportation and Hines Facilities Are Helping to Keep Our Workforce Healthy

Left: Target Hospitality cleaning staff cleaning the gym, plus communal spaces such as the cafeteria, gym and recreation rooms. Right: The Diversified Transportation motorcoach buses are cleaned twice daily, with several scheduled deep cleanings during the year, overseen by Hines Facilities. Behind the construction crews at Thacker Pass focused on building an industrial-scale lithium processing facility, is a crew of contractor companies and their workers dedicated to keeping hundreds of workers healthy and safe. There are now several hundred residents living at the Workforce Hub in Winnemucca who travel daily via Diversified Transportation's motorcoaches to and from Thacker Pass. Like everywhere else, winter in Humboldt County brings cold and flu season along with it. Keeping these environments clean helps to support workforce health. The contractor companies keeping our workforce safely housed, nourished and transported include Target Hospitality, the operator of the Workforce Hub, Diversified Transportation, the operator of our bus services, and Hines Facilities, the janitorial and maintenance company for Diversified Transportation. All three implement strict cleaning protocols and industrial hygiene best practices to support workforce health. Industrial Hygiene at the Workforce Hub “Industrial hygiene in a residential community is extremely important,” says Gabe Giles, Senior Director of Operations at Target Hospitality. “We have expansive knowledge managing this issue.” Target Hospitality cleaning staff refresh bedding and clean residence rooms twice weekly. At the Workforce Hub, communal spaces including the cafeteria, gym and recreation rooms are cleaned every 4-6 hours, with additional cleaning as needed for inclement weather or high traffic. Residence rooms are cleaned twice weekly, with extra cleanings available upon request. Target Hospitality developed an internal three-phase approach during peak cold and flu season. “We work closely with our Bechtel Safety counterparts to ensure execution of an appropriate response,” Giles explains. “Past measures have included social distancing policies in recreational areas and dining halls, site entrance screening checks, and self or mandated isolation protocols for those with fevers.” Target Hospitality has also established relationships with local healthcare facilities. “We have well-established communication with Humboldt County General Hospital and Sonoma Health and send employees for testing when they have flu-like symptoms in order to proactively mitigate the spread of communicable diseases,” says Giles. “We also work with Bechtel in conducting training related to the flu and cold seasons.” As part of our commitment to health and safety, the Workforce Hub recently opened an on-site health clinic available to the workforce that accepts walk-ins. The clinic provides comprehensive medical and occupational health services including primary and emergency care. “Having medical professionals on-site allows us to respond quickly to health concerns and provides peace of mind for our workforce,” says Giles. Clean Commutes: The Transportation Connection Getting workers safely to and from Thacker Pass includes not only safe driving, but attention to cleanliness, as well. That's where Diversified Transportation comes in. Scott Steffler, Senior Director of Business Development at Diversified Transportation emphasizes that industrial hygiene is foundational to their operation. “Industrial hygiene is a cornerstone of safe workforce transportation, especially for companies like Diversified Transportation, which serves large industrial projects and remote worksites,” Diversified Transportation’s “Safely Home” philosophy extends to every aspect of their service, including maintaining safe and clean vehicles. For the Thacker Pass fleet specifically, buses are cleaned twice daily: after morning transport and evening transport, with several scheduled deep cleanings throughout the year. During cold and flu season, Diversified Transportation implements enhanced protocols including sanitizing high-touch surfaces and providing hand sanitizer on all buses. “Safety is our core identity,” Steffler notes. “We were specifically selected for Thacker Pass by Bechtel, reflecting trust in our operational standards.” Diversified Transportation is the contractor providing motorcoach transportation services to Bechtel’s trade construction workers and staff, traveling to and from the Winnemucca Workforce Hub and Thacker Pass. Bus transport is inclusive for all Thacker Pass workers. Behind the Scenes: Hines Facilities Diversified Transportation and Hines cleaning crews sanitize a motorcoach bus using an electrostatic sprayer and Vital Oxide, a disinfectant used internationally since the SARS outbreak. When illness clusters rise, Hines Facilities is prepared to implement additional measures including mask protocols. “Our goal is simple: protect the workforce, protect the community and help everyone get home safely,” Richards says. Getting workers safely to and from Thacker Pass includes not only safe driving, but attention to cleanliness, as well. That's where Diversified Transportation comes in. Scott Steffler, Senior Director of Business Development at Diversified Transportation emphasizes that industrial hygiene is foundational to their operation. “Industrial hygiene is a cornerstone of safe workforce transportation, especially for companies like Diversified Transportation, which serves large industrial projects and remote worksites,” Diversified Transportation’s “Safely Home” philosophy extends to every aspect of their service, including maintaining safe and clean vehicles. For the Thacker Pass fleet specifically, buses are cleaned twice daily: after morning transport and evening transport, with several scheduled deep cleanings throughout the year. During cold and flu season, Diversified Transportation implements enhanced protocols including sanitizing high-touch surfaces and providing hand sanitizer on all buses. “Safety is our core identity,” Steffler notes. “We were specifically selected for Thacker Pass by Bechtel, reflecting trust in our operational standards.” A Community Effort As we all navigate cold and flu season, the coordinated efforts of Target Hospitality, Diversified Transportation and Hines Facilities demonstrate a commitment to worker health and community well-being. Through rigorous cleaning protocols, proactive health monitoring and ongoing collaboration with local healthcare providers, these companies are ensuring that the Thacker Pass workforce remains healthy and productive, while also doing their part to protect the broader Humboldt County community. Ensuring the health and safety of our workforce during cold and flu season puts into action our Health and Safety Policy: doing the right thing, being collaborative, being proactive and pursuing sustainable programs. It’s important to Lithium Americas that every person returns home safely, every day. With several hundred workers at Thacker Pass and the Workforce Hub, ensuring that the Thacker Pass workforce remains healthy and productive also helps protect the broader Humboldt County community amid cold and flu season.