Omega Morgan, a specialized transportation and industrial services company, has acquired Calgary, Alta.’s Donald Rigging.
Donald Rigging offers rigging and transportation services across Western Canada. Leadership and operations will remain unchanged with this acquisition, with the company continuing to operate out of its Calgary headquarters and be overseen by co-founder and president Angus Donald.
“We have a long-term plan for the future, and we’re excited about taking this to the next level with our new partners,” said Donald. “Joining forces with Omega Morgan is a significant milestone for Donald Rigging. This partnership expands our capabilities and provides our employees with greater growth opportunities.”
Based out of Hillsboro, Oregon, Omega Morgan serves Western Canada through its Calgary office. This acquisition marks a further step in the company’s efforts to expand its presence in Alberta’s oil, gas, chemical, utilities and mining sectors, according to the company’s CEO, Dick Ferchak.
“The acquisition of Donald Rigging aligns perfectly with Omega Morgan’s growth strategy and commitment to offering comprehensive industrial services,” said Ferchak. “Their expertise in the field, coupled with our resources and network, will deliver enhanced value to our clients across North America.”
100-tonne crane performs upgrades to Halifax’s MacKay Bridge
Halifax’s MacKay bridge received critical maintenance over two weekends in November and early December, with work performed by a 100-tonne crane.
Halifax Harbour Bridges (HHB) used the crane to replace the bridge’s eighth and ninth panels. Steel plate cracking was detected along each 10,000-kilogram deck section, which have both been replaced since 2010. The replacement plates were manufactured by Dartmouth’s Cherubini Metal Works.
Canadian Construction Association president announces 2024 departure
The president of the Canadian Construction Association (CCA), Mary Van Buren, is ending her six-year term with the association in the spring of 2024.
During her tenure, Van Buren led the organization to a 2023 Governance Award from the Governance Professionals of Canada, and oversaw initiatives including advocacy efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic and the piloting of a digital contracting service set to debut this year.
Van Buren’s leadership of the association is also notable as she was the first female president in the CCA’s 100-plus year history.
In a statement on her departure, Van Buren reflected on her leadership’s impacts across both the CCA and industry at large.
“I am so proud to have brought more attention to an industry that has such a profound impact on our country and affects positive change in our communities every day,” she said. “To see the growth in member engagement in advocacy and the resulting effects that a strong, unified voice for the industry has, is especially rewarding.”
The CCA’s board of directors also released a statement on this upcoming leadership change, thanking Van Buren for the “long lasting” legacy of her presidency and for her advocacy of association members and the issues they face across the industry.
The association is currently in the process of searching for Van Buren’s successor.
During this maintenance work, the crane took up nearly the entire width of the bridge. Due to the size of the crane and the work being performed, the bridge was closed to traffic for both weekends of work. Following the replacement of each panel, paving work has been planned to smooth out the road atop each section.
These replacements were a priorityin 2023, but delays and accommodations had pushed back this work, with HHB getting to work ahead of the cold weather’s arrival.
“We’ve been planning the work for several months. We have specialty workers from across Canada on site,” said Tony Wright, CEO of HHB. “We delayed (a) weekend to accommodate the Parade of Lights. Unfortunately, with winter weather approaching, we couldn’t delay any longer.”
Omega Morgan has expanded its presence in Western Canada with the acquisition of Donald Rigging. PHOTO: DONALD RIGGING
A 100-tonne crane took up nearly the entire width of Halifax’s MacKay Bridge to perform a critical deck section replacement. PHOTO: CHERUBINI METAL WORKS
PHOTO: CANADIAN CONSTRUCTION ASSOCIATION
Mary Van Buren, president of the Canadian Construction Association.
Cropac Equipment Inc.
Cropac carries a wide range of equipment:
• Boom Trucks
• Tower Cranes
• Forklifts & Telescopic Handlers
• Crawler Cranes
• Rough Terrain Cranes and much more!
SINCE 1977, CROPAC EQUIPMENT HAS BEEN COMMITTED TO PROVIDING QUALITY EQUIPMENT, PARTS, AND CUSTOMER SERVICE ACROSS CANADA. Cropac has branches in: ONTARIO - QUEBEC - ALBERTA - B.C.
The record-breaking machine made its debut hoisting a 20-ton wind turbine with a length of 95 metres and a height of 107 metres, successfully docking it onto the turbine hub and installing it into place.
The XCA3000 was designed specifically for wind turbine hoists, with the goal of reducing wind turbine installations into a 30-minute operational window. According to XCMG, a 20 to 30 per cent reduction in installation time has been achieved by addressing common issues such as performance reduction at higher altitudes and limited space beneath turbine lifting hooks.
The model stands 160 metres tall and features a 3,000-ton lifting capacity, currently the highest among existing wheeled cranes.
Construction’s changing needs to spur growth in global crane rental market
An analysis of the global crane rental market, published by Emergen Research, has predicted a steady rise for the sector over the next decade.
The market, which was valued at $48.6 billion USD in 2022, is expected to experience a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.1 per cent over a 10-year period, pushing its size to $79.35 billion USD by 2032.
As of 2022, the largest revenue share in the global crane rental market was held by the mobile cranes segment, which is also expected to be the primary growth driver during the forecast period. This is due to the increase of urban infrastructure projects and the efficient solutions they provide as project demand increases.
Tower cranes are also expected to hold steady as a contributor to this growth, driven by their lifting versatility and skyscraper construction demands.
A number of factors are responsible for these conclusions. This includes the ease of process and quality guarantees that rental firms provide as contractors and companies find themselves spread thin by project volume, along with strategic and technologal innovations such as online rental platforms.
Sunbelt acquires Okanagan Valley rental company
Sunbelt Rentals has acquired Nor-Val Equipment Rentals, a rental house with several locations and more than 80 employees across the Okanagan Valley region of British Columbia.
The Miron family opened the first Nor-Val location in 1994 in Armstrong, B.C. Following
B.C.’s Nor-Val Equipment Rentals has joined Sunbelt’s network of 129 stores and 2,300 employees across Canada.
decades of expansion within the Okanagan region, the company introduced its Nor-Val Equipment Sales division in 2020.
All Nor-Val employees will remain with the company, with all previous locations to now operate under the Sunbelt name.
“The Nor-Val family would like to thank all of our customers, suppliers, friends and family for their business, loyalty and support over the last three decades,” the company said on LinkedIn. “We believe we have made a huge impact in this valley with our community support, and we know that will continue under the Sunbelt Rentals name.”
With this acquisition, Nor-Val will join Sunbelt’s network of 129 stores and more than 2,300 employees across Canada. Sunbelt entered the Canadian market in 2014 and offers more than 14,000 products across locations in North America and the United Kingdom.
As urban construction projects increase, mobile cranes will be a primary driver of growth in the crane rental market. PHOTO: BKT
PHOTO: SUNBELT
Reflecting on 2023 and Looking Ahead to 2024 for the Canadian Crane Rental Association
As the page turns on a new chapter, it’s time to reflect on the accomplishments of the Canadian Crane Rental Association (CCRA) in the past year and look forward to the opportunities that lie ahead in 2024.
A Year of Milestones
2023 was a landmark year for the CCRA. It celebrated its 25th anniversary, a testament to its enduring commitment to excellence and innovation. This milestone was not just a celebration of its past, but also a stepping stone towards its future.
In 2023, the Weights & Dimensions Committee of the Canadian Crane Rental Association (CCRA) achieved two significant milestones. The first was the successful completion of a two-year pilot project with Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridor. The CCRA is currently awaiting a final decision to approve the permanent increase in weights.
The second milestone was the implementation of major changes to the Chapter 5 Policy for Specialized Vehicle Size and Weight Guidelines and Permits in British Columbia. Further information on both initiatives was anticipated by the end of January. These projects highlighted the CCRA’s ability to collaborate effectively with key stakeholders and deliver impactful results.
In addition, the CCRA made considerable progress in establishing an association structure that offers a robust governance model with clear committee mandates. This development involved the formation of a lead Technical Committee overseeing multiple task forces, enhancing the CCRA’s capacity to address a diverse range of issues. This structure has fostered a culture of collaboration and knowledge sharing, further strengthening the association’s impact in the industry.
Last year, the CCRA embarked on a strategic initiative to foster relationships with the International Union of Operating Engineers, recognizing its integral role in the industry. Simultaneously, the CCRA remained committed to nurturing its relationships with non-unionized, smaller businesses. This dual approach underscores the CCRA’s dedication to inclusivity and collaboration, ensuring all voices within the industry are heard and valued. This balance between union and non-union entities is a testament to the CCRA’s commitment to supporting all members of the crane rental community, regardless of their size or affiliation.
Recognizing Excellence
In 2023, the CCRA refined the criteria for the Safety Awards and welcomed a remarkable increase in participation to the Canadian Lift of the Year Awards. The Safety Awards serve as a platform to highlight and celebrate companies’ commitment to occupational health and safety. The Canadian Lift of the Year Awards not only recognize the outstanding lifts performed in the industry, but they also facilitate the sharing of best practices, inspiring all members to strive for excellence and continually raise industry standards.
Its active participation in the National Task Force on Weights and Dimensions Policy meeting, and representation of Canada’s crane industry at the International Crane Stakeholders Assembly, further solidified its position as a key player in the industry.
Looking Ahead to 2024
As the CCRA moves into 2024, it is ready to tackle the challenges that lie ahead. It will continue to address regulatory changes in support of industry and work with governments across Canada to improve the movement of cranes across provincial jurisdictions with the support of the Weights & Dimensions Committee. The Technical Committee is working on a comprehensive analysis of the CSA-Z150 for Mobile Cranes and addressing changes to CSA-Z248 code
for Tower Cranes. CCRA Representatives are contributing their expertise to the development of guidance manuals in collaboration with the International Crane Stakeholders Assembly.
Furthermore, the CCRA is working on developing a comprehensive French language industry lexicon to address the discrepancies in translation of industry manuals, thus ensuring the safety of workers and improving services to French speaking member companies.
More importantly, the CCRA will turn its attention to the workforce of tomorrow. The CCRA believes that its future success lies in its ability to nurture talent, foster innovation, and build a workforce that is ready to meet the challenges of the future. This important issue will be addressed at the 2024 Annual Conference to be held June 11 to 13 , in Windsor, ON and will eventually lead to new initiatives in support of the crane industry. The 2024 conference will also highlight the Gordie Howe International Bridge and the extraordinary importance the Detroit-Windsor Economic Corridor will have on the economy.
2023 was a year of significant achievements and growth for the CCRA. As it looks ahead to 2024, the CCRA remains committed to building a stronger and safer crane industry and looks forward to another year of progress and success.
Mammoet Canada was winner of the 2023 Canadian Lift of the Year Award over 20T.
Making safety a breeze
Contending with crane safety in wind farm construction
By Jack Burton
With nearly 6,700 turbines across 318 wind energy projects throughout the country, Canada knows how to build a wind farm, with cranes being a star of the show. Cranes play a key role in lifting each of these colossal structures to life and installing the turbines needed to meet Canada’s wind energy demands. These demands are nothing to blow off: in the Canadian Wind Energy Association’s future strategy, the association outlined its
goal of meeting 20 per cent of the country’s energy needs with wind power by 2025. This process involves not only getting these wind farms up and running, but doing it in a way that’s safe and efficient for all involved parties.
Amidst this push for alternative energy is the array of safety obstacles this specific type of construction work presents – high winds, extreme temperature exposures and a magnification of the risks around working at heights – and the challenges in managing them while still hitting deadline.
Weathering Obstacles
“Operating cranes on wind farms introduces a host of unique challenges, with adverse weather conditions taking centre stage,” said Joshua Kelly, general installation manager for Borea Construction, one of Canada’s leading wind farm contractors. “While engineers calculate wind speeds for each component and crane based on factors like wind coefficient, drag and surface area, decision-making for foremen and operators remains far from black and white.”
The intricacy of these safety decisions comes from the wide range of considerations that operators must remain mindful of, according to Kelly, including optimal tagline position and angles, crew training and competency, wind direction, and overall workload and schedule.
“This complex interplay of variables demands a nuanced approach, where the expertise of the team is crucial in evaluating real-time conditions and making informed decisions to ensure safe and efficient lifting operations in the dynamic environment of wind farm construction,” Kelly said.
For Kelly, the goal of establishing a safe operating environment for cranes on wind farm projects is not accomplished by any one specific action, but a well-rounded combination of efforts ranging from a project’s equipment arsenal to its personnel’s education and training.
These practices include crane walks and rigging inspections to assess structural integrity and flag potential issues, the use of engineered crane pads to ensure load stability and prevent accidents, developing and following detailed lift plans for each step of the construction process, and enhancing personnel knowledge across safety measures and decision-making through lift director training.
“These combined practices create a robust framework for crane safety, prioritizing both equipment reliability and the well-trained workforce essential for accident prevention,” Kelly said.
The need for crane safety precautions across wind farm operations becomes more pronounced across Canada’s environment, with the extreme cold and resulting frost conditions presenting a handful of unique occupational obstacles that require accommodation.
“Successfully navigating these challenges demands rigorous planning, adherence to safety protocols and specialized training
“Successfully navigating these challenges demands rigorous planning, adherence to safety protocols and specialized training for crane operators and construction crews working in these harsh winter conditions.”
– Joshua Kelly, general installation manager, Borea Construction
for crane operators and construction crews working in these harsh winter conditions,” said Kelly.
“Hoar frost accumulation on crane components poses a significant hazard, impacting visibility and potentially compromising machinery functionality,” while “the freeze-thaw ground conditions characteristic of winter in Canada can create unstable surfaces, demanding extra caution to prevent accidents,” he said.
Proper maintenance is key to addressing these challenges, said Kelly, due to the effect extreme cold can have on the crane’s mechanical components and lubricants, in addition to the low temperature’s impacts on the flexibility and strength of lifting slings and other types of rigging equipment.
Safety By Numbers
With the high winds inherent to this work environment, its presence is completely out of the project’s hands. The risks these conditions present, and their significant ramifications on both worker safety and project costs, instead demand adaptation
and management from crane operators and project teams.
It’s in knowing and preparing for the precise wind velocity that separates a day of cautious work from a potential accident that operators can properly protect the health of both the project and the workers involved. The premise that data can equip crane operators and project leads to make these decisions with the necessary knowledge and intentionality is what Scottish company Windcrane has built its services on.
“Having the accurate form of data to help you decide between ‘yes, it’s safe’ and ‘it’s not safe, let’s wait’ is quite an important thing for the crane operator, and really for the whole site dealing with the operation,” said Melody Dewar, operations manager at Windcrane.
The company’s solutions have been used in the construction of numerous projects across both Canada and the world, including the Grizzly Bear Creek Wind Project east of Edmonton, Saint John, N.B.’s Burchill Wind Energy Project and the Jenner Wind Farm in southeastern Alberta.
Data can be an effective tool for crane operators in navigating wind farms projects’ need for both safety and completion, according to Windcrane’s Eduardo Estelles. PHOTO: WINDCRANE
Windcrane and its titular platform is in the business of helping contractors in the wind sector get their projects built both safely and on time. The platform uses sensors implanted on the crane to not only measure real-time wind data, but also build a backlog of historical wind data over time that can measure and predict fluctuations in operational conditions.
“If you need to go back and check, then we will have provided a forecast from the heart of the crane,” said Dewar. “So from there, you can take all of that data and make a better decision now on what needs to do be done to perform your work safely and get the job done for the day.”
While the intersection between data and wind power has always been at the core of Windcrane’s services, the company did not start out with crane operators as the target of their services. Rather, its technology was initially used to help companies scout potential wind farm sites; a process that demanded impeccable accuracy for proper energy output estimation.
“Years ago, we were measuring the wind speed in places where they were thinking of installing a wind farm,” said Eduardo Estelles, managing director and founder of Windcrane. Estelles explained that the wind energy industry requires very strict standards for calculating wind speed, as even a percentage of error in wind measurement could prove troublesome for an operation’s energy outputs over a 15-year timeline.
Changes in the wind farm sector pushed Windcrane to refocus its platform with the construction side of wind energy operations in mind, leveraging the value of the wind measurement accuracy the company developed across its technology toward ensuring safety for crane operators on these sites.
The propensity for extreme cold across Canada’s wind farm construction operations can lead to numerous safety hazards, including machine functionality, lubrication and flexibility.
PHOTO: WINDCRANE
By providing wind speed data from the heart of the crane, Windcrane aims to help operators and project managers make the right decisions when it comes to safe operating conditions.
PHOTO: WINDCRANE
“Wind doesn’t go on and off, but more up and down – it’s a jump, like a wave of water. So, if you get the forecast and see that it’s getting worse, and you look at the last few hours and see data to support that trend, it’s a clear indication that it will just be too risky to continue.”
– Eduardo Estelles, managing director and founder of Windcrane
“With less and less onshore projects, and things moving more to offshore, we’ve reused that technology, moving away from measuring the possibility or viability of a wind farm, and toward measuring the safety of the person of the crane while they are erecting these things,” said Estelles.
Blowing Through Safety Disputes
The solutions that Windcrane presents go beyond keeping crane operators safe; also allowing operators and the on-site team to accurately navigate the difficult gulf between working safely and dealing with project completion pressures.
Estelles explained that in most wind farm projects, “you have two teams almost competing against each other, both with very different priorities.”
On one hand, according to Estelles, are the crane operators and directors, for whom safety is paramount. In occasional opposition to this approach is the project manager or customer, who have a deadline to meet and may not be able to afford or manage the costs associated with weather-related delays in work.
“You can see already how that common goal of being very safe suddenly starts to have a bit of cracks,” he said. “Of course, safety is number one, but at the same time, you have a ticking clock on your work at all times.”
With the potential for these disputes over safety versus productivity, the data provided by Windcrane’s platforms offer a way of mediating these interests. By offering accurate condition reporting, the platform helps crews navigate these issues by providing the clarity on when to move forward, and when a day off really could make the difference between life and death.
“Wind doesn’t go on and off, but more up and down – it’s a jump, like a wave of water,” said Estelles. “So, if you get the forecast and see that it’s getting worse, and you look at the last few hours and see data to support that trend, it’s a clear indication that it will just be too risky to continue.”
Destigmatizing mental health care
The crane industry grapples with a new understanding of mental health
By Matt Jones
On the surface, Denika Mitchelmore appears to have everything perfectly together.
In 2020, she became the first female level 3 offshore crane operator in Atlantic Canada while working at the West Aquarius oil rig in Newfoundland. She’s had a productive career in the crane industry, working both as an operator and providing training. And she’s living her dream, after having become fascinated with cranes at age 17 (for more on Mitchelmore’s career, see CHC May/June 2020).
But the surface does not tell the entire story.
“I struggle a lot with it,” says Mitchelmore. “This industry can be very hard on the head, but it’s not necessarily on the head, it’s emotionally too.”
Mitchelmore was not always so forthcoming about her manic obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), anxiety and severe depression. There was a time when she tried to keep it hidden.
“I wasn’t sure how people were going to react to it,” she says. “And coming from a small community, of only 80 to 100 people, you’re much more closed off because it’s unheard of in those communities. So, when I first got into the industry, I struggled with it.”
A Growing Awareness
For far too long, the standard approach to mental health issues was to ignore it – to pretend everything was alright and simply carry on. However, that has started to change.
“I have observed growing public interest and awareness around mental health over the past decade,” writes Dr. GiShawn Mance in the Howard University magazine. “Literacy around mental health has increased exponentially, coupled with the rise of public figures speaking openly and candidly about their challenges.”
With that increased interest and awareness, virtually all industries are grappling with what this new understanding of mental health means. But the crane industry is also in a particular inflection point as it relates to on-job stress which can often lead to mental health issues. While many workers, such as transport truck drivers, can relate to overseeing expensive and delicate cargo, and workers such as medical personnel can relate to being responsible for the health and safety of others, cranes are a rare case where the operators are responsible for both.
That includes not just a moral responsibility but also a legal responsibility – Canadian crane operators are responsible for the assembly, maintenance and inspection of their crane, along with the rigging and other attachments. And that’s not even talking about the stress operators feel when seeing dramatic examples of what can go wrong, such as incidents in Seattle, Kelowna and Halifax in recent years.
“There’s the stress of doing things right, but there’s also different stresses that come on psychologically,” says Doug Younger, a former crane operator who now works with WorksafeBC. “Many crane operators are in and out of town, travelling for work, living in camps away from your family, especially through these times of COVID
Denika Mitchelmore struggles with OCD, anxiety and depression. She says her mental health is never better than when she’s enjoying this view from the cab of her crane.
Newfoundland’s
or status.
aren’t as evolved in this space as maybe they are in some other areas,” says MacCallum. “I think it’s just as prevalent, if not more, because there hasn’t been access to resources or conversations to start to lift the weight that bears down on people operating in this industry.”
A participant in the Nova Scotia crane industry who spoke to Crane & Hoist Canada on the condition of anonymity, proposed that a person with open mental health struggles would not be able to work in the crane industry – not that they would be incapable of performing the work, but rather that the stigma around mental health would prevent them from being hired.
“If there’s a person who had mental health issues, or was struggling, and is then cleared to go back to work, if it’s known in the industry, they would find a reason to not take them,” said the source. “They would never ever admit that it was due to that. But it would just be ‘we don’t need anybody right now.’”
However, those employers’ concerns don’t necessarily correspond with reality. While there are a wide variety of ways that mental health issues will impact someone’s life and livelihood, in her experience Mitchelmore says that the actual on-the-job work was never the cause of her challenges. It’s the other things that surround the work that can exacerbate her conditions.
“When I’m operating the crane, that’s when I feel the most calm, I feel the most focused,” she says. “That’s the best time my
Denika Mitchelmore says that most of her employers in the industry have been very supportive as it relates to mental health issues.
health ever is, because I’m passionate about it. I’m happy when I’m doing it, so I’m always focused.”
MacCallum also suggests that while much focus is directed at the impacts of mental illnesses, general mental health is just as important and can be triggered by a variety of factors.
“We see in the industry, and we experienced it as well at NCSG, an uptick in incidents – bumps, bruises, et cetera – in January and February,” says MacCallum. “A lot of that comes from seasonal affective disorder, the Christmas bills coming in, which all lands in the mental health spectrum as well. You’re just not at your peak, your mind is elsewhere and you’re worried about things.”
Varying Responses
While it’s often tempting to view larger companies as unfeeling corporate behemoths and smaller companies as friendly, family-run extensions of the community, the responses of such companies to mental health issues don’t necessarily follow that pattern. For Mitchelmore, while working at larger companies she has felt that she was supported by her employers, but that wasn’t the case when she spent time working for a smaller company. During a period of difficult financial stress, her mental health struggles became almost insurmountable.
“I really had a bad spurt where I wanted to die,” says Mitchelmore. “I didn’t know
Heather
how I was going to overcome this big situation of getting back on my feet again. So, like I do every time I have a moment, I sent the boss an e-mail. I offered that I could do this part time, because I need a more stable job with money coming in, but I never got a response. Not even so much as a ‘well, we hope you’re OK, is there anything I can do for you?’ You always think that in a smaller place that you support each other more, but in this case it was the bigger companies that supported me.”
Mitchelmore says it was the first time she had a negative experience with a company as it related to her mental health. In larger companies, she would occasionally encounter a co-worker who was insensitive, but she never had such issues with management.
“It was disheartening, because I went about it professionally,” she says. “I told him exactly what was going on, that I was drowning in debt and that my mental health had gone out the window and I don’t know what I’m going to do, and they never offered any assistance whatsoever. That was an eye-opener.”
Feeling that she lacked appropriate support, Mitchelmore eventually quit that position. Thankfully, she says that she feels much more supported by her current employer.
What Gaps Remain
While there are a variety of support systems in place, this is an evolving conversation that will likely lead to further sup-
Clinton Connell, executive director of BC Crane Safety, says that men, in particular, are often hesitant to speak of mental health issues due to fear of losing income
MacCallum, NCSG Crane and Heavy Haul president, hopes that discussions around mental healthcare become more normalized in the industry.
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port programs. But exactly what form those programs will take is unclear. Speaking further on how fear of reprisal causes some to not seek help, Connell notes that an employer can provide a benefits program and life and family assistance programs, but they cannot guarantee that a worker’s income or employment won’t be disrupted if they need extended time off.
“Governments are putting some of these protections in place, but there’s that balance between the employer-employee relationship and the fact that the going concern needs to survive,” says Connell. “I see it as a balancing act. If you over-legislate it, there’s a fear that people will abuse the provisions. You don’t want to focus on the bad players because they’re the smallest percentage but there’s always a subset of bad players.”
Younger suggests a risk-management approach to the topic: that employers place a premium on psychological checks, to know their workforce and what makes them tick.
“Are there any factors that you can identify, not that someone needs to be pulled off the job, but maybe there’s something they need to be happy?” asks Younger rhetorically. “Maybe it isn’t an extra turnaround day at home, maybe it’s drug and alcohol rehab. Employers need to be cognizant and have those assessments in place to be able to identify those things early.”
Mitchelmore points to the intersectionality of the topic – these issues are even more pronounced if the person in question is, for example, being bullied on the job site for being gay or transgender. Her impression is that such support is often lacking in the wider industry. Mental health issues are compounded when a worker is experiencing that.
“I’ve known people to commit suicide because the way they live is not accepted,” says Mitchelmore. “Something the companies and government or whoever should be doing is education. If you see someone struggling, ask them if they need a hand; provide a mental health line for people, more tools to help people to get through the day.”
MacCallum hopes that as time goes on, and as more people from younger generations who are comfortable discussing mental health join the workforce, that these discussions become more normalized. Because mental healthcare isn’t something that has to relate to severe episodes – “it’s just part of living a healthy, normal life,” she says.
RESOURCES
• The Canadian Mental Health Association – www.cmha.ca/
• HeadsUpGuys (an online resource designed for men and their families to support mental health and reduce suicide deaths) –www.headsupguys.org/
• RE-MIND Work to Wellness (a program that provides resources and support tailored to the construction industry) – www.re-mind.ca/
• Talk Suicide Canada – www.talksuicide.ca
• Wellness Together Canada – Homewood Health Counselling – 1-866-585-0445
• Construction Industry Alliance For Suicide Prevention –https://preventconstructionsuicide.com/
For info: Western Canada 604-701-9098 Eastern Canada 514-792-9220
For resources that are tailored specifically to your region, organizations such as BC Crane Safety and Construction Safety Nova Scotia also provide lists of region-specific resources on their websites. It can also be valuable to check in with your employer and your union – both may have specific support systems available to you.
2023-04-19 1:12 PM
Wolffkran’s High Speed Positioning System hits the market
Following its introduction at bauma in 2022, Wolffkran’s High Speed Positioning System (HiSPS), an electronic crane assistance platform that uses automatic trolley response to reduce sway and load damage, is now available to order.
This automatic response comes from two battery-powered sensors placed on the crane’s trolley and hook block, which detect rope movements and adjust the slewing gear and trolley accordingly. When engaged, the HiSPS can stop swinging loads in seconds, said Wolffkran. The trolley’s automatic response to rope movement also prevents diagonal load pull and optimizes anti-collision systems.
The HiSPS also contains smart technology to help drive operations, including the ability to save hook positions to later be reached automatically, allowing positioning precision even in limited visibility. Movement and positioning data is also collected during operations, which can be integrated into building modelling tools and digital construction systems.
Liebherr debuts VarioBase system in new LTR 1150 telescopic crawler crane
Liebherr’s new LTR 1150 telescopic crawler crane is the first crane to come equipped with the VarioBase system, a variable supporting base for improved safety and increased load capacity in telescopic mobile cranes.
VarioBase works by determining the optimum load capacity in real time, based on fixed track width and variable rotation angle. This is most useful when lifting over the corners of tracks, Liebherr said in a press release.
The LTR 1150 is available with track widths of 3.5 metres, five metres and 5.8 metres. The machine comes with load charts for slopes of up to four degrees, with a wind speed load chart of up to 15.6 metres per second also included.
The LTR 1150 weighs 150 tonnes and offers 50 per cent more lifting capacity than the LTR 1100. A short erection jib, in combination with the additional hoist gear, allows operators to move loads of up to 34.6 tonnes into their desired position.
In addition to construction lifting applications, Liebherr has also designed the 1150 to be suited for auxiliary tasks in wind turbine assembly. The LTR 1150 has the capability to assemble crawler
cranes up to the 1,000-tonne class and move components weighing more than 60 tonnes.
The range of working equipment for the 52-metre telescopic boom also includes a hydraulically–adjustable double folding jib and telescopic boom extensions that allow hoisting heights of up to 83 metres.
CCRA STANDARD TERMS & CONDITIONS
1. CLARITY: They provide clear instructions on what is expected from both parties in a transaction. This helps to prevent misunderstandings and disputes.
2. PROTECTION: They protect both the business and the customer by defining the rights and responsibilities of each party.
3. EFFICIENCY: They save time and resources by providing a standard agreement that doesn’t need to be negotiated for each transaction.
4. LEGAL COMPLIANCE: They ensure that the business is complying with relevant laws and regulations.
5. PROFESSIONALISM: They demonstrate that the business is professional and trustworthy.
Potain launches new line of self-erecting cranes
Potain, a Manitowoc company, has launched the Evy 30-23 4 t, the debut model in their new Evy line of self-erecting cranes.
The 30-23 has been designed for applications in the home construction and residential building sector, with its height allowing for construction operations at up to three stories. The model has a maximum capacity of four tons and a one-ton capacity from its 30-metre jib tip.
The crane also features variable jib positions of 10, 20 or 30 degrees, with a maximum height of 35 metres at the 30-degree position. Further jib versatility is added through hydraulic folding features, which can reduce jib size to both 15 and 24 metres. Also included is a three-phase power system and permanent four-fall reeving.
The Evy 30-23 is compatible with existing axles for transportation purposes, with a trailer transport speed of 25km/h and a semi-trailer transport speed of 80km/h.
A number of Potain’s smart features have been integrated into the Evy 30-23, including the CCS Crane Control System, Smart Set-Up, the CONNECT telematics modem, along with power and drive controls. Ergonomic considerations have also been included in the cab design.
Stellar Industries launches redesigned hydraulic service crane
Stellar Industries has launched a redesign of their 14530 hydraulic service crane, featuring reduced weight, increased strength and integration with Stellar’s CDTpro control system with Range Finder.
The 14,000-lb class crane features a reduced weight of 11 per cent compared to previous models, in addition to an increased 92,000 ft-lb lifting capacity. The 14530 has also been redesigned with an octagonal boom design and a smaller boom tip.
The integrated Stellar CDTpro control system with Range Finder provides an ergonomic and balanced radio remote control with single-handed operation and proportional control. This allows for both the precise placing of loads and for multiple functions to be run simultaneously. The system’s vibrational alerts will also inform operators when maximum load capacity is approached.
“The newly redesigned 14530 hydraulic service crane helps users maximize the value of their crane. Not only does it provide more payload for customers by reducing the weight of the crane, but it can also lift more. We’re excited about the new lighter, stronger 14530 crane, completing our redesign of our heavy-duty hydraulic service crane line,” said Adam Oppermann, Stellar’s product manager.
OZ Lifting Products introduces new davit crane wheel base
OZ Lifting Products has launched a new wheel base with a 1,200-lb capacity, designed for usage alongside the company’s range of davit cranes.
The adjustable wheel base has four different length positions, providing it with a length range of 56.57 to 77.57 inches. When fully assembled and before the addition of a crane’s pedestal base, the model weighs in at 140lbs and stands at 36.87 inches high and 32.44 inches wide.
The wheel base has been constructed from steel and provided with a powder-coat finish. Movement is increased by oversized casters for rolling movement, in addition to a floor anchoring system for 360-degree rotations, even under load.
“Demand for such a solution has steadily increased over the last few years,” said Richard Miller, sales manager for OZ Lifting. “Our customers try to leverage the benefits of our lightweight davit cranes with the ability to use them in different ways and locations. The base allows them to move the crane to various points within a facility; the applications are limitless.”
The wheel base has a planned launch of January 2024.
United Rentals has updated its client app with new equipment access management features, enabling users to remotely complete their equipment and rental tasks from mobile devices.
With these updates, permissioned users can view equipment access PIN codes from the mobile app, in addition to having access to United Rentals’ equipment catalog for product specifications and descriptions.
These new features also allow users to monitor real-time equipment data, tracking the usage and location of their specified equipment.
“The new access management functionality and improved rental experience deliver on safety and productivity capabilities that our customers have requested,” said Tony Leopold, senior vice president of strategy and digital at United Rentals. “Our team is continuously innovating our digital tools so our customers can make sound equipment decisions and take speedy action that keeps projects moving forward.”
Also featured in this update is a new pricing and checkout design, with teams now able to view account-specific pricing and to make their purchase with fewer clicks than before.
The United Rentals Mobile App is compatible with Apple iOS and Android devices and is available for free on the Apple and Google Play stores.
New 2024 Grove tMS9000-2
115-Ton Capacity Hydraulic Truck Crane
The Grove TMS9000-2 is the premier truck-mounted crane in the industry.
The Grove MEGAFORM boom hydraulically offset bi-fold swingaway and counterweight removal system makes the TMS9000 maneuverable and strong.
Contact our Nova Scotia Office to inquire about this equipment: (902) 883-7450
(902) 883-7450
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