RCMP have charged a man with trafficking in relation to a fatal suspected drug overdose at a camp housing pipeline workers in eastern Alberta.

A 41-year-old man from Alberta was found dead early Thursday morning, while two of his co-workers, in their 20s, were treated at hospital and released Friday.

The RCMP said all three appeared to have overdosed on drugs and alcohol.

The workers were staying at a camp owned by pipeline contractor Ledcor made up of modular trailers north of Oyen, about 300 kilometres east of Calgary.

Police laid three charges of trafficking against a Medicine Hat man, 23, on Friday.

'What happens behind the closed doors of the camps of the workers themselves — we can't pound on the doors and tell them to leave them open.'—Dwight Brissette, Ledcor vice-president

RCMP Cpl. Doug Johnston would not disclose if the accused is a worker, but confirmed the charges are connected to incidents that happened at the camp.

Johnston said investigators believe the drug involved is a Schedule 1 substance, which can include highly addictive opiates and methamphetamines as listed in the Criminal Code of Canada.

He added that more witnesses have yet to be interviewed.

The deceased man's family has asked that his name not be released.

An official from Alberta Occupational Health and Safety said it's not involved in the investigation, because the death did not happen at a work site.

Hundreds of workers hired by Ledcor are assigned to the TransCanada Pipeline's Keystone project in the area.

Dwight Brissette, vice-president of health and safety for Ledcor, told CBC News Friday that grief counsellors are working with employees at the site.

"It's really hit them hard," he said.

Workers tested if involved in incident, or suspicious report made

Brissette said workers are given the choice of staying at work camps where food is provided or receiving funding to stay in town where they can make their own meals.

"What happens behind the closed doors of the camps of the workers themselves — we can't pound on the doors and tell them to leave them open," he said.

Brissette said the company is holding a workshop next week at the camp on the dangers of mixing prescription drugs and alcohol.

Ledcor, which has won several awards for its safety practices, follows alcohol and drug guidelines set out by the Construction Owners Association of Alberta, said Brissette.

According to those guidelines, no worker is allowed to distribute, possess or use alcohol or illegal drugs on company work sites, or report to work under the influence of such substances.

Ledcor said it does not conduct random drug tests on its Canadian projects because federal law allows such a program only for employees who are responsible for others' safety, such as commercial truck drivers for large companies.

Currently, a supervisor can request an employee take a drug or alcohol test if someone has reported suspicions that the worker might be under the influence of a substance, or if the worker has been involved in an incident or "near miss."