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Serving the Canadian rental industry for 40 years. www.canadianrentalservice.com
A big birthday year for Canada’s rental magazine. 6
INDUSTRY NEWS
London Machinery picks up IMT, Jet acquires Sellstrom, new Alberta dealer for JCB...
Free training at the Rental Mart will help your workers stay up to date with new rules.
Our unbiased comparison of the latest model pickups and commercial vans.
Everything you need for your spring lawn and garden fleet. PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Your
SAFETY FIRST AND LAST Supervisors have a key role in promoting safety in your store. by Jeff Thorne
A big birthday
It’s our first issue of another new year...but not just any new year. This year, 2016, marks Canadian Rental Service’s 40th year in print.
That’s a great run for any trade magazine, and I’m proud to say we are still going strong with tremendous support from our advertisers, the Canadian Rental Association and you, the readers. Magazines like this one cannot succeed without a strong desire in the industry for communication, education and improvement. It is your interest in your business and in the businesses of your fellow rental operators that fuels what we do here nine times per year. Our commitment to you is that as long as that interest stays strong, we will be here doing our best to bring you the information that binds the Canadian rental community together.
As important as your interest is, it needs to be served in ways that address the needs of today’s market, or we will lose it. That’s why we are continuing to push forward with new ideas and new technology to make it easy for you to connect to us and to each other, and to get the content you want the way you want it. Online publishing and social media grows ever more important each year. With a phone or tablet in everyone’s hand, reaching for a print magazine is fast becoming the second most convenient way to access industry information, where it used to be the most
by Patrick Flannery
convenient. That’s why we embarked on a big overhaul of our website last year to make it mobile-friendly and to reorganize it for a world where people expect to go straight to the content they want without multiple clicks and searches. Our efforts to exploit the power of digital communications to retain your interest will continue with an expanded use of video in the months and years to come. Stay tuned for some interesting new initiatives in the works in that area.
Another great example of the enthusiasm in this community for learning and networking is coming up in the form of the trade shows taking place this spring across the country. As in publishing, event management is an activity that awards constant change and novelty. We are filling that requirement at the 2016 Canadian Rental Mart by offering, for the first time, valuable free training sessions to show attendees. Rental people can take advantage of an all-day course on safe aerial lift platform operation presented by Occupational Safety Group, and a free half-day course on safe propane fuelling by Fuels Learning Centre. Just visit canadianrentalmart.com to register.
Canadian Rental Service will be celebrating our big birthday in our October issue with a look back at some of our favourite profiles and news items from years gone by. If you remember particular items or stories over the years that caught your eye or stuck out as particularly important, do get in touch and let me know. Many of you have been reading this magazine a lot longer than I have!
Speaking of milestones, our friends at the Canadian Rental Association are celebrating an even bigger one of their own. The CRA turns 50 this year! Fortunately, they don’t seem embarrassed to be seen in public with us, even though we are younger and better looking. But seriously – we want to congratulate the CRA on building this industry in Canada and promoting professionalism, safety and success for half a century. This year is a great year to make sure you get out to your local trade show – and the infamous Canadian hospitality event at the ARA Rental Show – to show your support for the group that has helped us all so much. CRS
ONTARIO CRA TOURS MCLEAN SHERWOOD
Canadian Rental Association Ontario members held their November meeting at Mclean Sherwood Event Rental in Brampton, Ont. About 30 members toured the 30,000-squarefoot facility, appreciating the Christmas-themed rustic table settings in the showroom and taking in the well-organized warehouse full of dishware, tables, chairs, tents and featuring a large tent-washing area and linen press. The group then moved to a novel dining room set up under a tent erected indoors and enjoyed a buffet dinner then a Jeopardy-style game where national managing director, Nathlie McGregor, tested members’ knowledge of CRA services. Owners Peter Webster and Stewart Watson conducted the tour. Webster told members the history of the company, which his father, Jack, purchased in 1979 from its founder, adding the Sherwood party business later. The store was originally about 80 per cent equipment rentals, but has transitioned to almost entirely event rentals over time. The company has been in the present location for about five years. Webster pointed out several attractive features of the building, including its division into three semi-separated warehouse bays allowing them to store cleaner items, such as linens and dishware, up front and transition to dustier items (tents, tables) in the middle with trucks, generators, lighting and other dirtier equipment in the back. Mclean Sherwood has also started experimenting with selling some of its space as an event venue, using its tents to transform previous warehouse space into an attractive party space.
LAVIGNE NAMED REGION 10 PERSON OF THE YEAR
Philip Lavigne of S.O.S. Location Industrie in St. Jean Sur Le Richelieu, Que., will be named 2015 Region 10 Person of the Year at the American Rental Association’s Rental Show in February. Canada constitutes Region 10 within the American Rental Association, and the Person-of-the-Year award recognizes members who have made outstanding contributions to the association and the rental industry on the regional, provincial or local levels. James Morden of Rentshop in Alliston, Ont., sits on the ARA board as Region 10 director and was responsible for nominating Lavigne for the award. “Philip’s exceptional contributions to CRA Quebec, CRA, and ARA over the past several years have earned him this recognition,” said Morden. “He has fostered positive change and development at all levels of the association earning the respect and adoration of his peers. Philip has been extremely active in all aspects the association. He was the first leader from Quebec in recent memory to attend the ARA Leadership Conference in Chicago, and did so two years in a row. He has continued to see the benefit of CRA Quebec’s participation in this development program, sending two candidates to the 2015 Conference (Kevin Sirois and Alain Chamberland). He is also active in the ARA’s Young Professional Network and attended the YPN Conference in Phoenix. Philip has demonstrated strength and leadership in his contributions, and has been an advocate for the benefits of membership in the association. I’m sure that he will continue to serve the rental industry admirably for years to come.”
CHAVEZ TAKES OVER AT ALLU
Allu Group has announced Edgar J. Chavez will take over as president and CEO, replacing Mardi Ohanessian who will be retiring at the end of 2015. Chavez assumed overall responsibility for Allu Group day-to-day operations in November. Prior to the promotion, Chavez has served as executive vicepresident and general manager for Allu in order to familiarize himself with the customers, product and operations in North America. Chavez’s career includes experience with Gradall, CNH, Astec, Mitsubishi and Volvo Construction.
BOBCAT EXPANDS IN QUEBEC
Bobcat has expanded its dealer network with the addition of Équipements Plannord as an authorized sales, service, parts and rental provider of Bobcat equipment. The dealership is located in Lévis, Que. Founded in 1976 for the sale of snow groomers and sidewalk snow plowing machines, Équipements Plannord has grown into two locations — Lévis and Laval — and now serves the greater Quebec area with machinery for year-round use.
“We chose to add the Bobcat product line for our business because it’s a good product with a good reputation and it will complement our existing product line,” said Simon Paquet, general manager of Équipements Plannord.
Today, Équipements Plannord serves municipalities, heavy construction companies, snowmobile clubs, governmental agencies and individuals. The addition of Bobcat will also help the company serve farmers, landscapers and light construction companies. The business has thrived by focusing on delivering the best possible service to customers and creating an excellent work environment for employees.
It All Works Together
NEW ALBERTA PARTNER FOR JCB
Tingley’s Harvest Center, headquartered in Lloydminster, Alta., is partnering with JCB, at its North Battleford and Lloydminster locations as Tingley’s JCB. The dealership now carries JCB’s articulated telehandlers, wheel loaders, excavators, agricultural and compact Loadalls, Fastrac high speed agricultural tractors and skid steer and compact track loaders. Growing from its roots as a service shop providing parts, shop and field repairs to its customers, Tingley’s Harvest Center was officially founded in 2002 by owner Shane Tingley as a full-service CLAAS dealership. Now the business will again expand and pair its current range of combines, forage harvesters,
balers, hay tools, seeding and tillage implements with JCB’s agricultural equipment, including its skid steer line. Tingley’s JCB also offers a fully-stocked parts department and a full-service maintenance team featuring professionally trained JCB mechanics. In addition to providing services for their full line of equipment, the company offers in-field repairs.
“We have always prided ourselves on having the best solution for every agricultural application.” said Shane Tingley, president and CEO of Tingley’s JCB. “As we are expanding our business to eastern Alberta and western Saskatchewan, we knew partnering with JCB would provide our customers with the most productive agricultural equipment
JET ACQUIRES SELLSTROM
The Jet Group has announced the acquisition of Sellstrom Manufacturing, a leading U.S. brand of personal protective equipment safety products based in Schaumburg, Ill. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The acquisition of Sellstrom significantly broadens the Jet Group’s Canadian safety portfolio by adding several categories of professional PPE products to complement its existing Pioneer and Ranpro safety apparel, and PeakWorks fall protection brands. It also offers the Jet Group a solid safety foundation with significant opportunities for expansion and growth within the United States and globally.
“We see tremendous upside for our Sellstrom U.S. and international customers as a result of the acquisition,” stated David Peters, president of Sellstrom. “By continuing to build out our PPE safety program, along with expanding our offering to potentially include an extensive portfolio of complementary Jet Group premium brands, we open a whole new window of opportunity for our distribution partners around the globe.”
in the industry. Being a family owned business we care about our customers like family, and we are excited to partner with a company, like JCB, that shares the same values.”
Tingley’s JCB has adopted JCB’s overall look and brand, and the dealership will be utilizing advertising and marketing to further communicate the availability of JCB equipment within eastern Alberta and western Saskatchewan.
“Tingley’s Harvest Center has consistently provided customers with top notch quality service,” said Dan Schmidt, JCB North America’s vice-president of agriculture. “JCB is excited to pair its industry leading agricultural equipment with a dealer like Tingley’s JCB, and their customer-driven staff.”
PFEILER PROMOTED AT WABASH
Chris Baby, president and COO of the Jet Group, noted that “Sellstrom offers our group the product line, expertise, and technical knowledge required to service the critical North American safety markets and beyond. Similarly, the Jet Group offers Sellstrom several benefits including additional resources and financial capacity. These benefits will allow the Sellstrom brand to further capitalize on its legacy of outstanding product innovation, customer service and growth. This product range addition will also benefit our Canadian customer base tremendously and delivers on our promise to our distribution partners of expanding our Canadian safety portfolio to include a full range of PPE products.”
Sellstrom will continue to be headquartered in Illinois.
Wabash Power Equipment Company has announced the promotion of Michael J. Pfeiler to president. Pfeiler has led the sales and rental team for nearly 10 years as vice-president of sales and marketing. As president, Pfeiler will direct and manage all facets of business including boilers, boiler room equipment, diesel generators, steam and gas turbines, mills and pulverizers.
“I am excited and honoured to be leading such a talented team of people,” said Pfeiler. “Jim Rafferty is tremendous leader. I plan on following his playbook and building on the Caitung family legacy.”
Rafferty has served as the company’s president since 2005 and was promoted to president and CEO in 2014. He will maintain his role as CEO as well as his position on Wabash Power’s board of directors.
INDUSTRY NEWS
DAVID JEWELL JOINS IPS AS HEAD OF CP COMPACTION GROUP
David Jewell, former general manager of Wacker Neuson in Canada, has joined International Power Systems (IPS) as head of its Chicago Pneumatic (CP) walk-behind compaction group to further develop their growing product offering. IPS is the authorized distributor of many premium products including Honda Engines, Yanmar Diesel Engines, and CP. CP manufactures a complete line of compaction plates, rammers, rollers and related construction equipment.
David anticipates great success through the partnership, stating “CP’s topquality, European manufactured products are tough and rugged, with inventory warehoused at IPS headquarters in Oakville, Ont. Aggressively priced, CP wants to be your compaction product supplier. We are confident that you’ll be impressed with our quality.”
David has more than 20 years of expertise in the compaction business, and looks forward to developing IPS’ portfolio of construction products, while increasing market penetration with key dealers across Canada.
COMING EVENTS
Feb. 13
Atlantic Regional Trade Show Moncton, N.B. 8 crarental.org
Feb. 21 - 24
The Rental Show Atlanta, Ga. 8 therentalshow.com
March 4 - 5
Prairie Regional Trade Show Edmonton, Alta. 8 crarental.org
March 8 - 9
Canadian Rental Mart Toronto, Ont. 8 canadianrentalmart.com
March 22 - 23
Quebexpo Laval, Que. 8 crarental.org
April 7 - 8
Atlantic Heavy Equipment Show Moncton, N.B. 8 ahes.ca
LONDON MACHINERY TO CARRY IMT
Iowa Mold Tooling and London Machinery have announced the addition of London Machinery to IMT’s distributor network. London Machinery, founded in 1905, specializes in the manufacture of truck-mounted concrete mixers and batch plants. From its Quebec facilities the company now offers an extensive lineup of IMT products including IMT Dominator mechanics trucks, telescopic and articulating cranes, IMT Site Star lube trucks and lube skids and air compressors. London Machinery and two local partners also provide IMT parts and service, with mobile field service available.
“We’re looking forward to the application knowledge and product support that London Machinery brings to the IMT distributor network, said Tim Gerbus, director of sales and marketing for IMT.
“With over a century of industry experience, London Machinery knows the needs of its customers and has
April 11 - 17 Bauma Munich, Germany 8bauma.de
April 14
CRA Manitoba Bowling Night Winnipeg, Man 8crarental.org
a reputation for providing outstanding service and product availability. Working with London Machinery, IMT customers in the region will find the best equipment for their business and receive top-notch service after the sale.”
London Machinery is an Oshkosh Corporation company based in London, Ont., with locations across North America. Its Quebec branch, which is the first to offer IMT products, was established in 1971 and is located in St. Laurent, Que.
“London Machinery is proud to partner with IMT to offer our customers a new level of service,” said Bob Monchamp, vice-president and general manager of London Machinery. “As with our own machines, we work diligently to ensure that our customers have the best equipment to meet their needs. Because IMT products are known for their quality, and the company shares our dedication to excellent customer service and product support, we are confident that our customers will benefit from our partnership.”
CRA PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
POSITIVE THINKING
Your association can help in challenging times.
by TIM RANSON, CRA PRESIDENT
This year we have experienced changes in federal and provincial government, dropping U.S. exchange rates, and a downturn in economic activity in most regions creating a changing competitive landscape. These pressures are always present at some level, and they have created a difficult road for those in the rental industry and indirectly with our suppliers. It’s often in these challenging times that we look hard at our business plan making decisions to improve both in the short term and for the long haul. At a recent CRA Alberta meeting, I engaged in conversations with various store operators on the topic of specialization and leveraging resources at hand to improve client appreciation of their business’ clear benefit, in an effort to set themselves apart.
What was most interesting was the clear sense that these individuals understood what their businesses’ “value proposition” was. In one case, by being local, having a readily accessible rental facility in the heart of the community was evidently a key to success, helping them maintain high loyalty from their primary local client base. Another mid-sized regional business was specializing in specific industries that demanded the rental company provide above-average technical capability. That focus led to a unique equipment assortment, special availability terms and a high degree of technical knowledge – this was their edge.
Tim Ranson is Environment, Health and Safety manager at Finning (Canada) / The Cat Rental Store in Edmonton, Alta. He has worked in the rental industry for more than 20 years. Tim sat on the ARA Trade Show Committee and the ARA Risk Management Committee and helped start its Professional Driver Improvement Program. He was also a speaker/panelist over the past three years at the ARA Rental Show learning sessions.
I mention these discussions as examples of the benefits which I personally receive from attending each Canadian Rental Association event. Networking within the local, appearing at national events, volunteering for various committees and attending the ARA Rental show has afforded me significant satisfaction and created many new friendships. I do recommend to all members to consider taking advantage of these key networking opportunities within our rental industry. Visiting within your CRA local may provide you with a wealth of new ideas and positive networking while potentially improving your business and definitely offering personal rewards. Show season is now upon us. It is within each Canadian local event that we may experience prime opportunities for us to meet likeminded rental people, and in many cases establish lifelong friendships.
In 2016, we have several regional trade show engagements already booked. I am making plans to attend several of these, including the B.C. Show in January, then the Atlantic Show in Moncton, N.B., followed by the 60th anniversary of the ARA Rental Show held this year in Atlanta, Ga.
A sneak peek to the ARA Rental Show was provided to me by Terry Turner, president of the ARA and Christine Wehrman, CEO. The events, activities and 60th anniversary celebrations will fulfill the promises of a very exciting week. I look forward to hosting the Canadian celebrations on the Sunday-night “Back to the ‘60s” event for all of Region 10 (Canada). You can find out more at therentalshow.com.
Once we are back from Atlanta, The Alberta and Saskatchewan locals will team up to present the new Prairie Rental show in Edmonton. This is the first year the show will be outside of Saskatchewan in many, many years. I thank the Saskatchewan local for their years of dedicated committee work providing a successful and exciting venue. The Alberta team has been handed the Saskatchewan show playbook and with some great guidance from Gene and Jill and their Saskatchewan Show Committee, along with the CRA staff Nathalie and Jenna; we are all very pleased to welcome you to the new CRA Prairie Rental Show in Edmonton on March 4 and 5. If you only plan to attend one show this year, may I recommend Edmonton? Details are online at crarental.org.
I am sincerely looking forward to meeting many of our membership across Canada this next year as I travel in my term as president. Perhaps I may share some time with you at one of the shows, or at a local meeting, summer barbeque or golf tournament. In closing, I wish a happy and prosperous New Year to everyone! CRS
Prompt action pays off
by Deryk Coward
The longer you sit on bad debt, the less chance of getting paid.
As time goes on, we become less and less inclined to deal with old accounts receivable, otherwise known as bad debt. Pretty soon, the account is over 90 days old and there is no real prospect of it getting paid. Rather than simply lamenting the impact on your cash flow, you should do something about it. In this arena, action gets results. Inaction on your part will more than likely not yield anything positive for your organization.
The first step is taking stock. This may sound simple, but if you don’t know what the status of your receivables is, you are at a significant disadvantage. In my experience, many rental companies simply haven’t taken the time to assess how much they are owed, and by whom. Spend whatever amount of time it takes to fully understand who owes you money, how much they owe you, how long the debt has been outstanding, whether the debtor owes money to others as well and what obstacles are standing in the way of collection. You will be surprised how quickly this can be done. You may have hundreds of accounts, but usually this process can be adequately covered in two or three hours.
One helpful tip, which has really worked for my clients, is to schedule a Saturday or Sunday morning at the office with staff that can help with the receivables. Order breakfast into the office and give them a Friday afternoon off in return. Once you are in the office for a few hours, with the sole goal of reviewing and assessing your receivables, you will be amazed at the progress achieved by the end of the session.
Next, you need to develop an action plan. Assess which files need to be followed up on by someone in your organization and which ones need to be referred out. If a receivable is beyond the time period normally expected in your industry, then it’s a problem and needs to be dealt with right away, one way or another. If you assign the follow-up to someone in
your organization, put your own follow-up mechanisms in place so it doesn’t simply get ignored.
One practical tip I have seen work is compensating your employees with a cash bonus for recovering receivables. Any bonus or incentive you pay to an employee will be less than what you pay to a lawyer or collection agency, so don’t be afraid to make the incentive worth their while. After all, they’re the ones who likely have the relationship with the client and can potentially bring the money in.
Once you have made a decision to refer a receivable out of your organization, act on it quickly. There is absolutely no point in sitting on it. I can’t repeat often enough that every delay in action causes the likelihood of recovery to inevitably diminish.
Having a good accountant is important for many reasons, not the least of which is dealing with your receivables. There are opportunities for you to minimize, and in some cases recover, taxes which would otherwise be payable on your accounts receivable. If you are not getting paid by your customers, you should at the very least not be paying any more tax than necessary. Speak to your accountant about your receivables and determine whether you should be doing things differently. On more than one occasion, I have seen a client of mine talk to his or her accountant about their receivables and end up saving a significant amount of money simply by adjusting one or more of their practices.
This article is not intended as legal advice. If you have an outstanding debt that you wish to collect, or if you wish to conduct a review of your practices, you are encouraged to consult with an attorney in your province. The information in this article is based on Manitoba law only, and may differ from other jurisdictions. CRS
ONWARDS AND UPWARDS
By specializing in aerial lift equipment and top-notch service, Voisin has reached new heights.
Spend enough talking to Steve Voisin about his business and you’ll invariably hear about his luck and good fortune.
by ROB BLACKSTIEN
But the president of Guelph, Ont.-based Voisin’s Equipment Rental clearly knows how to furnish his own fortune by surrounding himself with great employees and key partners that have been as dependable as they’ve been helpful.
How else do you explain how a business less than a decade old and launched just months before the major U.S. economic collapse could not only survive, but thrive and continue to grow at a phenomenal rate over the last couple of years?
Clearly, there’s more to Voisin’s secret sauce than simply choosing very good employees and partners, but it cannot be overstated how big a part of the success story this has been.
After high school in the late 1980s, Voisin studied to become a structural steel tradesman, doing his apprenticeship with
aerial work platform manufacturer, Skyjack. He wound up spending a decade with the company, working in its R&D program upon completion of the apprenticeship.
“They provided a lot of advancement for a young guy,” Voisin says, explaining how he ultimately grew into a sales role at Skyjack –positions usually filled by those with college or university backgrounds, he says.
“But they saw something in me,” he says.
LEAVING HOME AIN’T EASY
However, the sales job ultimately took him to Illinois. The Guelph-born and bred Voisin wasn’t thrilled with being away from his roots so he came home and landed a gig with Matthews Equipment, an aerial lift dealer.
Less than a year later, Matthews was acquired by Hertz Equipment Rental and
LEFT: Voisin’s was born of an alliance between Steve (left) and his brother, Vince. Steve had lift experience from his years at Skyjack and Matthews, Vince was a farmer.
RIGHT: Specializing in scissor lifts, boom lifts and telehandlers has enabled Voisin’s to brand themselves with customers as “the” lift guys.
Voisin’s career really took off, within a decade going from sales to a branch manager to sales manager for Eastern Canada and finally to operations manager and fleet manager, responsible for 17 stores and 349 employees.
Around 2006, Voisin left Hertz to run a dealership for Strongco and during his first week on the job, was approached by the CEO about selling off an aerial equipment rental business they had acquired as part of a larger deal.
“I was intrigued by it,” Voisin says.
A few months later he found himself back at Skyjack and curious about what happened to Strongco’s rental business. Sure enough, it was still on the market, so Steve teamed up with his brother Vince and bought the business.
Combining Steve’s industry knowledge with the leverage of Vince’s assets and equity (from his farming business) was a perfect match, and so it was that Voisin’s Equipment Rental was born in November 2007.
BAD TIMING
Unfortunately, the timing of this purchase was not ideal.
Just a few months after the acquisition, the U.S. economy suffered a major meltdown, and the Canadian economy – while not dragged down nearly as far – softened as well. Regardless, the brothers were able to use this to their advantage, buying plenty of used equipment out of the United States at discounted prices and not only growing the business through the first year but even taking some market share.
Steve handles the day-to-day operations, the buying and selling of equipment and oversight of both the counter and sales staff. Vince, the vicepresident, deals with logistics, all the truck-related issues, computers, security, telephones and fencing –essentially the facilities side of the business.
There are a couple of key differences that sets the privately owned Voisin’s apart from most rental companies.
First off, instead of merely being a rental firm, half of Voisin’s revenue comes from equipment sales. While the rental business is generally local – mostly in the Greater Toronto Area and the Tri-City area of Cambridge, Kitchener and Guelph – the company has transacted sales to a much wider market. Voisin’s has sold aerial booms
TALE OF THE TAPE
Here’s a look at some of the numbers -- and the brothers -- behind Voisin’s Equipment Rental:
Inventory: When the Voisin brothers first acquired the Strongco rental division, there were 329 machines. Within two years, they had sold 75 per cent of those and replaced them with better units. Today, Voisin’s boasts approximately 2,000 units within its inventory.
Property: The company currently has a 3.5 acre property featuring a 24,000 square foot building with a secondary three acre property up the street that acts as a holding yard for resale inventory. Voisin’s recently bought a three-acre property across the street from its headquarters, and plans to begin building on that in 2016.
Rentals: Voisin’s averages about 40-to-50 rentals per day during peak season (August to Christmas).
Employees: 55 (up from around 25 or 30 in 2013, which gives you a good idea of the company’s meteoric recent growth).
Tractor trailers: 11, with 11 drivers (up from five in 2013).
Customers: End-user contractors, commercial, residential, box stores, steel erectors, siding tradesmen, interior drywall trades, electrical, signage, painters, stucco tradesmen. The super booms are generally rented for larger hotel work, bridge reconstruction or concrete repatch work and mid-rise balcony reconstruction.
Customer Service: Voisin’s takes customer service so seriously that it offers 24-hour service, 365 days per year with an afterhour call centre and mechanics on call to quell any issues -around the clock.
THE BROTHERS VOISIN
STEVE
Married: 14 years
Children: One, a 12-year-old boy
Hobbies: Travel, snowmobiling, attending sports events, racing sports cars, golf
and scissor lifts to customers across North America and – periodically – even further abroad. All told, the company sells about 500 machines per year.
THE REAL DIFFERENCE
More importantly, the fact that the company focuses exclusively on lift equipment is its real differentiator.
“A lot of our competitors and a lot of the general type rental companies rent a lot of different products. They rent jumping jacks, compaction equipment, skid steers, back hoes, construction earth moving equipment,” Steve says.
“We specialize in one thing and that’s scissor lifts, boom lifts and telescopic
VINCE
Married: over 20 years
Children: Three (his oldest son, 19, is now apprenticing to be a mechanic with the company)
forklifts. So by specializing in one thing, you can become pretty good at it.”
Serving a specific niche also allows Voisin’s to offer more choice.
“Not many rental companies would have as many large booms as we do,” Steve explains.
The company’s smallest lifts start at 12 feet and range upwards to 180 feet. As far as he knows, just one other company in Ontario has a boom that high, but Voisin’s was the first to offer this product. In the “super boom” class (125 feet and higher), Voisin’s has around 35 machines.
Steve says he’s not sure anyone in Ontario has more lifts of any size than
they do. In fact, according to the annual Top 20 rankings by industry magazine Access Lift and Telehandlers, there isn’t likely a bigger independent aerial lift player in the entire nation, as Voisin’s consistently ranks around 16 or 17 with an aerial lift fleet size of just over 2,000 machines. No Canadian firm places above them.
“We’re pretty proud of that because it happened in eight years. So we went from a somewhat unknown to one of the market leaders,” Steve says.
MULTIPLE REVENUE STREAMS
Of course, the company doesn’t merely act as a rental agency and a reseller; it also offers training, sells parts, and engages in extensive servicing for customers, creating multiple streams of revenue for Voisin’s.
The real secret to its success has been a patient approach to hiring which has resulted in “a high quality group of employees,” Steve says.
His approach is to hire the character. He wants really dedicated employees that genuinely care, because in the end “your customers see it.”
Being an independent allows Voisin’s to be more user-friendly, Steve says. He has seen how rigid the national rental houses can be, but he takes a different approach.
“I give an awful lot of autonomy to my sales reps, managers and our rental department; they don’t have to come to me very often for approval to do anything. I tell them ‘just take care of the customer, regardless of what the situation is.’”
And that, in a nutshell, is Voisin’s philosophy: “As long as you always make the right decision and the customer’s taken care of, they will always come back. The salesman can make the phone ring once; it’s everybody’s job to make the phone ring twice.”
Steve believes that ethos is behind the source of much of the company’s growth –namely, referral business.
A WELL-OILED MACHINE
His staff is so good now that “it’s a common joke around here that this thing may run better when I’m not here,” Steve chuckles.
He’s also quick to credit some key business partners with helping the company get to where it has. You don’t often hear someone wax effusive about their financial institution, but that’s exactly what Steve did.
With 35 lifts in the “super boom” category alone, Voisin’s is confident that they have the largest lift selection in Canada. Not bad for a company that has only been around eight years.
“We have a phenomenal relationship with the bank. The bank has been incredibly supportive. I would say at times the bank has more confidence in us than we have in ourselves,” he says. The company also benefited from its relationship with Canadian Equipment Finance and Leasing Inc. (CEFL), especially early on in its history “when no one would lend us money because we were such a new business, and it wasn’t that we weren’t creditworthy, but we didn’t have any credit
history because we were such a young company,” Steve explains.
Not only did CEFL lend Voisin’s money and find the company other financing, but it was also a very good business advisor.
Steve also points to the accounting and legal firms he’s partnered with as key players in the development of the business. His accountant from RLB Guelph, in particular, seemed to be right on the same page with the brothers, anticipating their needs as
the company grew.
Steve said he also really values his key suppliers, among them Skyjack, Genie, JLG and Haulotte. “They help us with factory training for our technicians, operator safety training, parts programs, etc. We cherish these relationships,” he says.
THE CHANGING LANDSCAPE
While those business relationships really gave Voisin’s a shot in the arm, the changing industry landscape was also a big help.
In recent years, the province of Ontario has cracked down on safety procedures related to working from heights. You’d think that would present a challenge for the company, but instead Steve said it’s “more of an opportunity.”
As boom lifts replace ladders and scaffolding as the tools of choice on job and construction sites, the company’s business is, well, booming.
In fact, it’s at the point now where Steve’s 12-year-old boy – who hopes to sell the company’s products when he finishes school – gives dad the gears when he spots an opportunity the company hasn’t seized.
“If we’re driving around in the car and we drive by a building and it’s not one of our booms on the building, it’s one of our competitors, he lets me know that we should go and try to sell that guy one of our booms,” Steve laughs.
But just because Voisin’s doesn’t have a boom on every building doesn’t mean its growth has become stunted. Future expansion plans include adding a GTA location, something the company has been seeking for about a year – a two-to-three acre plot that would house a 10,000-to-20,000-square foot shop, ideally situated in Etobicoke or Mississauga. CRS For updates on Voisin’s upcoming expansion, follow @CRSmagazine on Twitter.
When NO!...is a good thing.
Skyjack has consistently approached the issue of emission compliance with the knowledge that rental rates don’t just go up with emissions standards cost increases. The all new Skyjack TH range is engineered to require NO diesel particulate filter (DPF), NO diesel exhaust fluid (DEF), NO additional engine and exhaust sensors, NO complicated engine programming and computer logic, NO selective catalytic reduction (SCR) and NO other active exhaust after treatment on standard engines for Tier IV Final.
Simple, Serviceable, Reliable….Skyjack
CANADIAN RENTAL MART
WORKING SAFE
Free safety training at the Rental Mart protects you.
by PATRICK FLANNERY
Canadian Rental Mart organizers saw a chance to give attendees more when they come to the show March 8 and 9 at the Toronto Congress Centre, and also to further our mission to promote safe practices in the Canadian rental industry. The 2016 show will feature a chance for a limited number of attendees to receive free safety training on aerial lift platforms and construction heater fueling from certified instructors. Trainees will receive documentation recognized by their provincial authorities that will protect them and you when they are working out on job sites or around your yard.
Safe operation of aerial work platforms
March 8, 2016 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m presented by: Occupational Safety Group and Haulotte
Ontario and other jurisdictions across the country are stiffening regulations for workers working at heights. Pat Lipscomb of Occupational Safety Group will train attendees in all aspects of safe operation of aerial work platforms in this hands-on, eight-hour course. Course participants will receive documentation recognized by provincial labour safety authorities confirming they are trained in safe AWP operation. By the end of the day, course participants will be able to:
• Identify hazards when working with AWPs
• Understand how AWP controls work
• Complete a pre-operational inspection¬¬
In a world where you can buy equipment from your desk with the click of a button, trade shows need to offer more than just a chance to browse product.
• Understand safe operating procedures
• Understand proper shutdown and park procedures
• Understand fuel-source basics
Construction heaters, torches and propane cylinders at construction sites
March 9, 2016 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
presented by: Fuels Learning Centre and L.B. White
Fuel-safety training is an ongoing need for all rental stores. This course has been designed to train rental store operators to safely use propane-fuelled construction heaters and torches. In addition, students will learn how propane cylinders are to be stored at a construction site. This course covers all the updated requirements of the 2015 edition of
B149.2 Propane Storage and Handling Code.
After completing the four lessons within this course, students will have an understanding of:
• Propane and cylinger basics and primary construction heater components
• Installation, storage and use of propane cylinders and tank systems
• Installation and use of propane construction heaters
• Connecting and using propane torches Requirements for how propane cylinders and tanks systems are installed and used are covered to provide clarity. Tanks systems to support larger heaters must be installed by a certified gas technician.
Upon successful completion of both the written exam and the skills evaluation, students will be issued a Record of Training (ROT) Certificate by the instructor.
Safety authorities across the country are getting serious about working-at-heights risks. The Rental Mart gives you a chance to get your workers the training they need in a free one-day course.
FLC ROT certificates are recognized by regulatory authorities across Canada and each certificate is customized to meet regulatory requirements of the province where the employee works. Instructors may complete the skills evaluation using a mobile device connected to an online learning management system, immediately triggering the release of the ROT certificate. ROT certificates issued by the Fuels Learning Centre are valid for 36 months following the successful completion of the skills evaluation. To sign up for Canadian Rental Mart training sessions, visit canadianrentalmart.com > Training. Available spaces are limited and awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. CRS
The new Ditch Witch® SK750 and SK755 are built to outperform on any jobsite. Both models feature a high-drive track system along with an enhanced operator station, delivering superior performance through increased ground clearance, more lift capacity, faster ground speed, longer track life, and more operator comfort. And these new SK mini skid steers send more horsepower to the attachment than any competitor. That’s a lot of might from a small machine! Count on Brandt for quality products and the support to help keep you productive and profitable, job after job. That’s Powerful Value. Delivered.
TRUCK KING CHALLENGE
LONG LIVE THE KINGS
Our annual comparison of popular new pickup models.
For the past nine years veteran automotive journalists have donated their time to act as judges in the only annual North American truck competition that tests pickup and van models head-to-head while hauling payload and also towing.
by HOWARD J ELMER
Howard Elmer’s Truck King Challenge does all it can to eliminate guesswork from truck comparisons. Five professional automotive journalists test-drive the trucks, and gas mileage data is collected and analyzed by a third-party lab. Trucks are tested loaded and unloaded, onand off-road.
The Canadian Truck King Challenge started in 2006, and each year these writers return because they believe in this straightforward approach to testing and they know their readers want the results it creates.
I started it (and continue to do it) for the same reason. After 40 years of putting trucks to work I know what’s important to Canadians. That’s a long list of qualifications, but in a nutshell it’s the concept that a truck can be pretty, but also better do its job and do it well.
This year, nine judges travelled from Quebec, Saskatchewan and across Ontario to the Kawartha Lakes Region where we test the trucks each year. All the entries are delivered to my 70-acre IronWood test site days before the judges arrive so we can prepare them for hauling and towing. In the meantime they are all outfitted with digital data collectors. These gadgets plug into the USB readers on each vehicle and transmit fuel consumption data to
a company in Kitchener, Ont. (MyCarma) who records, compiles and translates those readings into fuel economy results that span the almost 4,000 test kilometers that we accumulate over two long days.
These results are as real-world as it gets. The numbers are broken into empty runs, loaded results and even consumption while towing. Each segment is measured during test loops with the trucks being driven by five judges, one after the other. That’s five different driving styles, acceleration, braking and idling (we don’t shut the engines down during seat changes).
The Head River test loop itself is also a combination of road surfaces and speed limits. At 17 kms long it runs on gravel, secondary paved road and highway. Speed limits vary from 50 to 80 km/h and the road climbs and drops off an escarpment–like ridgeline several times; plus it crosses the Head River twice at its lowest elevation. The off-road part of our testing is done
King 2016:
1500 ECODIESEL
SUBJECTIVE:
Pickups
on my own course at IronWood. Vans are not tested on the off-road though it’s noteworthy that the Mercedes Sprinter was equipped with a four-wheel drive system this year.
This is the third year that we have used the data-collection system and released the final fuel consumption report that MyCarma prepares for the Truck King Challenge. It’s become one of our most anticipated results.
But how do we decide what to test? Well as anyone who’s bought a truck knows, the manufacturers never sleep, bringing something different to market every year. The Challenge looks to follow market trends, so what and how we test must change each year too. The coming 2016 model year proved no different. We had a field of 14 contenders at IronWood this year covering four categories. They were as follows:
Full-Size Half-Ton Pickup Truck
• Ford F-150, Platinum, 3.5L, V6 EcoBoost, gas, 6-speed Auto
• Ford F-150, XLT, 2.7L, V6 EcoBoost, gas, 6-speed Auto
• Chevrolet Silverado, High Country, 6.2L, V8, gas, 8-speed Auto
• Ram ProMaster City, SLT, 2.4L Tigershark I-4 gas, 9-speed Auto
• Nissan NV200, 2.0L I-4, gas, Xtronic CVT Auto
• Mercedes Metris, 2.0L I-4, gas, 7-speed Auto
These vehicles are each all-new or have had significant changes made since the last model year. However, this year, the Truck King Challenge decided to try something else new by offering a Returning Champion category.
This idea had been growing for a while based on my understanding of the engineering cycles that each manufacturer
follows. Simply put, trucks are not significantly updated each year and, to date, we have only included new iron in each year’s competition. However, we started to think that just because a truck is in the second or third year of its current generational life shouldn’t make it non-competitive. Certainly, if you watch the builders’ ads it doesn’t!
So, this spring we decided that the immediate previous year’s winner (in each category) would be offered the chance to send its current truck back to IronWood to compete against what’s new on the market.
PAVING BREAKERS
DEMOLITION TOOLS
ROCK DRILLING
Truck King 2016: FORD TRANSIT 250 Full-Size Pickups
This year the invitation was sent to the Ram 1500 EcoDiesel, Ford Transit 250 and Nissan NV200 – all previous winners that accepted the offer to return and fight for their crowns.
They, along with the new vehicles, took the tests over two days with the judges evaluating everything from towing feel to interior features.
The judges score each vehicle in 20 different categories; these scores are then averaged across the field of judges and
converted to a score out of 100. Finally the “as tested” price of each vehicle is also weighted against the average (adding or subtracting points) for the final outcome.
The overall top scoring 2016 Canadian Truck King Challenge winner is the Ram 1500, Laramie, 3L EcoDiesel, V6, diesel, 8-speed Auto.
Congratulations to all the winners and to the two repeating champions – the Ram 1500 EcoDiesel and the Ford Transit 250. CRS
PRODUCT SHOWCASE
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With Ryan’s Lawnaire IV and V aerators with Easy Steer technology, landscapers never have to take the tines out of the ground to steer and turn, so aeration is faster and easier than ever before. With this unique design, each tine assembly rotates independently as the user turns for quick and easy maneuvering around flowerbeds, trees and landscape features. When landscapers don’t have to raise and lower the aeration head after each turn, they get done sooner and are less tired at the end of the day.
MANY OPTIONS
8easternfarmmachinery.com
Messersi tracked dumpers are available in capacities from 500 kg up to 2,500 kg. Gas, diesel or battery electric drives are available with or without
self-loading, three-way dumping, high dumping or swivel-dump options. These dumpers feature a heavy-duty commercial design with planetary final drives, oil coolers and variabledisplacement hydraulic motors. All models with less then 1,200 kg capacity are only 32 inches wide for access to backyards and tight jobsites.
CARPET-LIKE COVERAGE
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customers happy and business booming. The convenient fold-down handles make the unit easy to transport and store.
CUT THOSE PATIO STONES
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Small in size, big in action, the Stihl TSA 230 is the first batterypowered cut-off machine with a 230 mm cutting wheel, and it is light at only 3.9 kg without the battery. Emission-free cordless technology ensures clean work when cutting those patio stones. The standardfitted water connection and optimal accessories for attaching to a vacuum cleaner ensure effective dust control when cutting. With a
The Classen selfpropelled Hydro Overseeder with Honda engine boasts the industry’s best seed coverage – 13 rows of planted seed per 20-inch swath – and a floating 40-pound-capacity seed box, ensuring carpet-like coverage on even the bumpiest terrain. More seed rows placed closer together produces thicker
cutting depth of up to 70 mm, the TSA 230 is equipped for a variety of applications. Suitable for backyard patio or pool deck creations. Combine with Stihl’s X-100 diamond abrasive wheel for best results. A nine-inch wheel designed for the TSA 230 lithium-ion battery-powered cut-off saw, the X-100 is an extremely fast, multi-purpose wheel for cutting brick, concrete and granite. It’s extremely robust, with temperature-resistant composition.
HEAT AND AIR CONDITIONING
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Polaris has expanded its purposebuilt commercial vehicle line, Polaris Brutus, to include the Brutus base model with a cab, heat and air conditioning, which is now available for order through authorized Brutus dealers in North America. The new Brutus model enhances the level of comfort, versatility and productivity by integrating key offerings from the Brutus HD and Brutus HDPTO models. A fully enclosed, factoryinstalled cab with heating, defrost and air conditioning ensures operators are comfortable no matter what the outside conditions. As the only Brutus with an all-season climate controlled cab equipped with seating for three adults, the new model’s slide-through access makes it easy for passengers to enter and exit the cab. Also added to the new model is the electric bed lift for the pallet-sized cargo box, which is standard on the HD and HDPTO models. The full Brutus line includes standard features that are ideal for commercial applications. A 24-horsepower diesel engine with hydrostatic transmission, on-demand true all-wheel drive, and a treadle pedal for seamless and shiftless forward and reverse travel, provide
Our
operators with the power and functionality necessary on the jobsite. As the first side-by-side utility vehicle line to use a multi-link coil over De Dion rear suspension, Brutus delivers a superior ride quality, minimizes suspension sag when the 1,250-pound capacity rear cargo box is fully loaded and maintains class-leading ground clearance when trailering with its 2,000 pound towing capacity. All models feature Polaris’ exclusive lock-andride cargo system, with a full line of cab, storage and vehicle protection accessories also available. Brutus vehicles come with a 12-month standard warranty.
SUCKS UP ANYTHING
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Be it bulky bottles, crushed cans, leaves, pine needles or pea-sized gravel, the Little Wonder Pro Vac doesn’t
discriminate. The industryleading impellor housing design funnels airflow and debris of all sizes into its top-loading, 74.5 gallon capacity bag without loss of suction, so users can collect more debris per bag and spend less time emptying it. The Pro Vac is excellent for residential cleanup, industrial applications, commercial sites and parking lots and is available in push and self-propelled. It boasts superior power, speed, bag capacity, suction, maneuverability, durability, comfort and value.
HANDLES WET MATERIAL
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Earth and Turf topdressers are available in capacities from three up to 27 cubic feet. Drives include a walkbehind ground drive, a pull type and a self-propelled walk behind. With their unique powered conveyor
and widespread beater design, handling wet material is not a problem for these multispread topdressers. Self-propelled models are narrow enough to fit through gates and highly maneouverable around beds and obstacles.
SET-AND-FORGET DEPTH ADJUSTMENT
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Billy Goat Industries’ 18-inch Hydro-Drive sod cutter boasts a variable speed hydrostatic transmission allowing operators to match cutting speed to ground condition and also has a fast transport speed at over 3.5 mph. The SC180H features an easyto-use, set-and-forget blade depth adjustment where users can simply adjust the depth to 2.5 inches with a single lever from the operator station. Handle
isolation mounts reduce vibration and fatigue, and a rear caster wheel for curved cuts is standard. Comfortably mounted drive and cut controls including reverse are all at fingertip access. Paddle drive wheels clear mud and improve grip for added control.
LEAVES ONLY WOOD MULCH
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CEAttachments has added a new Edge rotary brush mower: a 72-inch high-flow model to its lineup of mower attachments for any brand or model of skid steer or track loader. These machines are designed to
cut through the thickest brush and glide over rough terrain with ease.
Applications include heavy weeds, undergrowth, brush and small saplings up to four inches in diameter. It
without sacrificing production speed. To meet the needs of the residential contractor who may be working in tight spaces, this self-propelled trencher can easily handle sprinkler systems, electrical lines, and other shallow trench applications. The 912 saves on space while still providing the horsepower necessary to trench up to 24 inches deep. The boom pivot design keeps high-wear components out of the dirt and is easily maintained. The front end pivots on a pin instead of a boom pivot bushing. This reduces maintenance issues often caused by dirt and debris.
FLATTEN THE CURVES
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K-Tec Earthmovers have released a new line of land levelers to expand the company’s product offering to earthmoving contractors and land forming professionals. The K-Tec land leveler has bee n designed for maintaining haul roads, precision site leveling, and field drainage. K-Tec’s heavyduty land levelers range in size between 10- and 28-foot widths. Various advancements are included as standard features such as walking axles; a single,
simplistic tilt function, a depth level gauge, and an LED light package. A unique moldboard curve design enables superior rolling of dirt. The units are also compatible with dual GPS/ laser for precision grading work. The models come in either a rigid frame, or a flex hitch design. The flex models enable the folding back of the hitchpole for legal road transportation widths of under 8.5 feet.
HANDLES HIGH FLOW
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With a maximum output torque of 4,180 foot-pounds, the new Digga compact high-flow 4DDS auger drive, manufactured by Iowa-based Digga North America, delivers faster, more powerful performance than comparable units for increased overall productivity. The result of more than 30 years of experience in the design and manufacture of planetary gearboxes and drives, the Digga 4DDS Drilling Drive is engineered for use on the latest, most powerful skid steer loaders, backhoes and mini-excavators on the market today. The 4DDS will handle high flows of up to 42 gallons per minute, providing output speeds of up to 108 RPM. The result is an ideal balance of torque and speed for faster production and a greater return on investment. The 4DDS motor system allows more of the carrier
machine’s horsepower to be used in delivering power to the ground for faster drilling and better spin-off speeds, allowing operators to more quickly drill largerdiameter holes in harsh ground conditions. The motor features an integrated pressure relief valve that eliminates the need for bulky valve blocks, while reducing many potential leak points. And the sleek, compact gearbox design ensures that the drive can fit into a 10-inch-diameter hole, providing deeper penetration without the need for extensions, for more efficient operation. Because it can handle flows from eight to 42 gallons per minute, the 4DDS is truly versatile, fitting a wide range of skid steers, backhoes and mini-excavators.
Additional features of the 4DDS include a two-piece shaft design that isolates the planetary gears from pushing, pulling and bending forces, without increasing the load on the bearings. All Digga drilling drives are covered by warranty protection that is unsurpassed in the industry, with a five-year gearbox and three-year motor warranty, as well as a lifetime shaft pull-out warranty.
SPREADERS
FOR ALL APPLICATIONS
8easternfarmmachinery.com
For every purpose, turf manager to homeowner, Gandy has a full line of drop
spreaders. Gandy spreaders make accurate, professional applications of dry freeflowing materials. 24-inch and 36-inch width models are easy to maneuver around ornamentals and small lawns areas with push handles. Model 36 is available with tractor hitch for other applications.
NEW CORDLESS LINE
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Shindaiwa has launched a new family of 56-Volt cordless products to be sold exclusively through servicing dealers across Canada. The first three models include the T3000 string trimmer, EB6000 handheld blower and the DH2000 hedge trimmer. With gas-like performance, all three pro-grade cordless tools feature powerful brushless motors and use common 56V batteries, available in both 2-AHR (charges fully in just over 40 minutes)and 4-AHR (90 minutes to full charge) sizes. A gauge on the charger illustrates charge status. A series of indicator lights on the battery show the remaining charge life. The tools may be purchased with or without batteries and chargers, further leveraging the investment. As with Shindaiwa’s gas products, the new cordless line also carries five-year consumer and two-year commercial warranties. The battery carries a two-year warranty.
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TurfEx offers the 12-cubicfoot capacity TS1200GR ground-drive spreader. Intended for use with tractors and various utility vehicles, the spreader is designed to exert less impact on surfaces than similar tow-behind models, making it safe to use on golf course greens and sports fields. And with the ability to spread a variety of freeflowing materials including seed, fertilizer, pelletized lime and pest control products, it is also ideal for lawn care, landscape and facility maintenance applications. The TS1200GR is constructed of heavy-duty, yet lightweight polyethylene. This reduces corrosion and maintenance concerns commonly associated with similar steel-built models, while making the units up to 40-per cent lighter. The lightweight design helps eliminate potential turf damage and lessens fuel consumption for the towing vehicle. Additionally, the spreader features large flotation tires to further minimize impact on delicate surfaces. To ensure precise material feed and spread pattern, the TS1200GR is equipped with a manual flow gate. Additionally, the unit includes a 12-inch steel spinner with adjustable fins. Spread width is infinitely variable up to 30 feet. Spreader performance can be further fine-tuned thanks to a standard adjustable
deflector. Other standard equipment includes a clear, fitted hopper cover and an integral trailer mount. All TurfEx products are covered by a two-year limited warranty.
MOW FIVE ACRES PER HOUR
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The productive and nimble Toro Z Master Commercial 3000 Series mowers are a true blend of performance and versatility. Equipped with a seven-gauge, highstrength steel Turbo Force cutting deck, the 3000 Series can handle a variety of terrains and conditions with ease. Z Master Commercial 3000 Series mowers are powered by 20.5 – 25 horsepower Kawasaki and Kohler engines, depending on cutting deck width. Commercial 3000 Series mowers can reach mowing speeds of up to 10 miles per hour and can mow up to five acres per hour. Race-inspired deck struts with rubber bushings reduce wear and tear, contributing to the machine’s overall productivity. The Commercial 3000 Series offers all the performance and durability of Toro’s larger zero-turn riders in a mid-size package that is ideal for landscape contractors and acreage owners.
MAKES TOUGH
JOBS EASY
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Whether customers are preparing a new landscape bed, clearing for a new
SAFETY FIRST AND LAST Supervisor safety
by Jeff Thorne
Companies must clearly define work plans and compliance expectations prior to the start of the job or project.
Supervisors must have a full understanding of safety measures in use and what is required to achieve them. Job tasks must be defined, planned, communicated, and executed according to plan, and then measured and evaluated.
With the above defined, supervisors should then be able to identify substandard acts, practices or deviations from set plans. This can be achieved through formalized documented compliance audits, discussions, monitoring or site inspections. Any deviations from the safety plan must be acted on immediately and corrective action identified and documented.
Supervisors must exercise competency in recognizing, assessing, controlling, and evaluating hazards. Most definitions of competency across Canada speak to this fact. Having knowledge about job tasks and hazards so that proper information, instruction and supervision can be provided to the worker is crucial to the supervisor’s effectiveness.
In addition to regular job tasks, many work environments change frequently throughout the day, so it is important that supervisors recognize tasks performed outside of the identified scope of work and evaluate any new hazards that may be presented.
It is also important that risk assessments are reviewed to ensure they are current, adequate and the identified controls are being implemented. If hazards or deviations have been identified, the supervisor must determine which control strategies to apply and then communicate and document changes.
Legislation in Canada prescribes that the employer develops and implements a health and safety system to ensure reasonable precautions are taken for worker protection and compliance with applicable legislative obligations. Supervisors share this responsibility. Employers establish a compliance system, educate supervisors with respect to their roles and responsibilities within the system and then supervisors carry out the
responsibilities assigned to them. In order to manage compliance successfully within the system, supervisors must be familiar with the law. Failure to be familiar with applicable legislation can leave supervisors facing some tough questions if something goes wrong.
Monitoring work or job-site activity is crucial to safety success. Supervisors must verify that standards and procedures are in place and being followed through routine inspections. Results must be documented.
Monitoring can also involve performing behaviour-based observations. These observations provide opportunities to assess worker understanding and compliance with safe work practices and procedures. This may involve orienting workers new to a position or task, confirming workers understand hazards and controls, observing behaviour and taking the time to address positive and negative safety performance. All actions must be documented. Managing compliance involves the removal of unsafe tools, material and equipment. These items are to be addressed directly when they are encountered.
Workers must have the knowledge, skill and ability to perform assigned tasks. Supervisors should verify worker training and competency requirements through documented spot audits. As we all know, lack of training can equate to lack of knowledge and therefore skill, leaving workers open to the risk of injury or illness. Compliance monitoring also involves monitoring the safety equipment to be used in the workplace and dealing with substandard acts directly. Supervisors must verify that inspection and maintenance of equipment has been completed, guarding is in place, and training on specific equipment is in place. At the end of the day supervisors must develop and ingrain positive habits that support company objectives to protect workers from harm. Safety is no different than other company objectives, it needs to be planned, communicated, carried out and evaluated. Keeping this in mind and carrying out these duties is one step that will help others make it home safely at the end of the day. CRS
Honda sets the standard for reliable, hard-working engines you can always trust to get the job done. GX160 GX630 GXV690
*Warranty applies to all Honda GX Series Engines, 100cc or larger purchased at retail or put into rental service since January 1, 2009. Warranty excludes the Honda GXV160 model. See full warranty details at engine.honda.ca. For optimum performance and safety, please read the owner’s manual before operating your Honda Power Equipment.
