CCRA recognizes Canada’s top lifts of the year p. 10
INSIDE
Finding the industry’s future p. 19
Protecting your site from crane climbers p. 24
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CCRA’s
BC
FROM THE EDITOR
BY JACK BURTON
Lifting up the next generation
No need to adjust your TV set –that is, in fact, a new face you see up in the corner. Hi there!
After helping out Mike Lacey as the associate editor on this publication for the last eight months, he’s decided to pass the reins – along with some big shoes to fill – over to me.
I’ve been writing in the B2B space for nearly five years, with much of my time over the last year and a half also spent helping Mike out on our sister publication, Rock to Road (where Mike continues to excel as editor).
While I’ve covered a handful of industries, from occupational safety and HR to quarrying and roadbuilding, I have yet to encounter an audience as enthusiastic and proud of the work they do as those in Canada’s crane and heavy lifting sectors. It’s an energy that I couldn’t be more excited to join in on as the new editor of Crane & Hoist Canada.
One of the most persistent ongoing discussions I’ve encountered across my time covering Canada’s construction industry, no matter the sector, is the labour crunch many operations are facing. With retirement on the horizon for many workers as well, the need for solutions in attracting this next generation grows only more pressing.
An issue shared with me from those in the heavy lifting sector and the construction industry at large is that when it comes to attracting younger talent, many from newer generations just aren’t aware of the range of possibilities that lie ahead on this career path.
The importance of visibility and demonstrating what this industry is capable of in recruiting the next generation came up during my recent chat with the CEO of the Lifting Equipment Engineers’ Association (LEEA), Ross Moloney, about their Global Lifting Awareness Day initiative: “I think what keeps a managing director awake in the middle of the night all boils down to the fact that there is a limited awareness of what we do,” he said.
Increasing this awareness and celebrating your industry’s accomplishments are
central to my goals as your new editor. Things are starting off with a bang, with submissions for Crane & Hoist Canada’s annual Top 10 Under 40 honours program now open.
For the past several years, our annual Top 10 Under 40 has highlighted the best of who’s next across Canada’s crane industry, including operators, engineers, distributors and more. Sharing the story of your company’s rising superstars – along with that patented enthusiasm you’re all known for – is the perfect opportunity to not only celebrate your sector, but to also inspire the next generation by showing them what is possible across the work you do.
Nominee applications are now open on our website, with a deadline of September 18, 2024. Those chosen will be profiled in our November/December 2024 issue, sharing with our national audience the story of their heavy-lifting journey, the growth they’ve experienced in their current company and their own recipe for success.
I may not be behind the boom, but I can understand the importance of mentorship and visibility even from my own role. Though I’m only beginning to get the seat warm in the editor’s chair for this magazine, the advice and guidance from both my peers and those a little further down their career path have been indispensable in getting me to where I am today.
If I’m certain about one thing in this industry, it’s that you’re all damn proud of the work you do, so I implore you all to take this opportunity to toot your own horn –your next young superstar might just be listening.
Jack Burton jburton@annexbusinessmedia.com
Nominate your rising stars!
Crane & Hoist Canada’s Top 10 Under 40 honours program is now open for submissions. Don’t miss this chance to spotlight the employees lifting your operations to the next level.
Send in nominations before September 18, 2024 at https://www.craneandhoistcanada. com/top-10-under-40/
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> 117.9 t (130 USt) capacity > Main Boom: 216’ ft > Jib extension: 26’ ft > Interchangeable counterweight slabs > Crane Control System (CCS) > 20° Tiltable Superstructure Cab
Barnhart goes Canadian with purchase of Alberta’s NCSG
Barnhart Crane & Rigging Co. is entering the Canadian market with the purchase of Alberta’s NCSG Crane & Heavy Haul.
NCSG employs approximately 400 workers providing crane and heavy haul services to various industries including refining, upgrading, upstream oil and gas, utilities, forestry, mining and wind energy.
Founded in 1987 as Northern Crane Services, NCSG is headquartered in Acheson, Alta., with five other locations across the province along with locations in British Columbia and Saskatchewan.
“We are pleased to join the Barnhart family,” said NCSG’s president and CEO Heather MacCallum. “Our goal has been to serve as the premier supplier in Western Canada’s crane and heavy haul sector by providing best-in-class equipment, personnel, an award-winning safety program and operational best practices.”
This marks both Barnhart’s first international acquisition and the company’s largest single acquisition to date.
“The acquisition of NCSG literally takes Barnhart into new territory,” said Alan Barnhart, CEO of Barnhart Crane & Rigging. “The decision to become an international company was not made lightly, but NCSG’s preeminence, reputation, and dominant market share ensure Barnhart’s position as one of the leading crane, rigging, and logistics companies in North America.”
Barnhart Crane & Rigging is a Memphis, Tennessee-based lifting and logistics contractor with one of the largest engineering teams in the industry across its network of more than 60 facilities.
Gordie Howe International Bridge marks connection milestone
Barnhart Crane & Rigging’s largest single acquisition to date also marks its first international purchase.
The Gordie Howe International Bridge has officially become a cross-country connection, with installation complete on the final two girders linking the deck of the second connecting bridge from each side of the border between Windsor, Ont. and Detroit, MI.
The bridge was announced in 2012 and began construction in 2018, with the project’s schedule delayed due to pandemic-related disruptions. The opening of the bridge remains scheduled for September 2025.
Despite this milestone, officials say a “substantial amount of work” remains, including the re-stressing of stay cables, post-tensioning of the deck and the installation of electrical, fire suppression, drainage systems, barriers, signage, lighting, deck paving and pavement markings.
Unirope becomes first AWRF accredited member
Following a successful third-party audit, Unirope Limited, a Canadian specialist and manufacturer of high-performance wire rope and rigging products, is the first rigging shop to become an Associated Wire Rope Fabricators (AWRF) accredited member.
The AWRF–LEEA Accreditation Program is a voluntary opportunity for member companies and affiliated branches. The evaluation for accreditation is based on the current revision of the AWRF RP&G, Recommended Practice for the Operation of Sling Shops.
The goal of this accreditation program is to ensure safer sling shop operation, to drive more business to AWRF member companies, and to help them win more market share.
“In three to five years, this program will be the benchmark in our industry,” said Unirope President Justin Brown. “End users of rigging products will demand that they are produced by an AWRF accredited member, and there will be a clear quality benchmark between
those that can comply and those that cannot.”
Headquartered in Mississauga, Ont., Unirope also has locations in Quebec and Alberta. All three sites deliver service across Canada and to select American and European customers.
AWRF is a leading organization for sling fabricators and special rigging components manufacturers. Its membership consists of more than 400 companies in 25 countries.
Bishop Lifting acquires Nova Scotia’s Oceanside Equipment
Bishop Lifting has acquired Dartmouth, NS’s Oceanside Equipment, a wholesale distributor of rigging and mooring products located across Canada’s Maritimes.
This transaction marks Bishop Lifting’s fourteenth acquisition since 2012, and the first physical locations the company has acquired in the Canadian market. Oceanside Equipment will retain all of its branding, personnel and leadership post-acquisition.
Oceanside Equipment was founded in 1990 as a distributor for the aquaculture industry. Over the last 30-plus years, the company has expanded its services into Canada’s marine, mining, transportation and manufacturing sectors. In addition to its Dartmouth headquarters, Oceanside also has a location in Mount Pearl, NL.
Bishop Lifting is a portfolio company of Altamont Capital Partners, having grown into the largest provider of wire rope, slings, rigging, fall protection and related safety products in North America since its founding in 1984.
“Oceanside has strong customer relationships across Canada, and I am excited to welcome the entire team to the Bishop family,” said Harold King, CEO of Bishop Lifting.
PHOTO: NCSG
Workers from each side of the Gordie Howe International Bridge marked the project’s Canada-U.S. deck connection.
PHOTO: GORDIE HOWE INTERNATIONAL BRIDGE
Exciting changes coming out of the CCRA’s 2024 annual conference
The Canadian Crane Rental Association (CCRA) recently concluded the highly successful 2024 instalment of its annual conference and AGM in Windsor, Ontario. From June 11 to 13, the event featured record attendance from across Canada’s crane and heavy lifting sector.
Coming out of the event, the CCRA has announced a number of changes across its board of directors, leadership personnel and organizational structure.
2024-2025 board of directors formed During the conference, the CCRA’s board of directors for 2024-2025 was formed. Newly elected members include Pascal Francoeur (Grues JM Francoeur) and John Woulfe (NCSG Crane & Heavy Haul), who join the existing board. Current board members also include:
• Justin Andrews (Tadano America Corp.)
• Steve Anema (TNT Crane & Rigging Ltd.)
• Jeremy Asher (Mammoet Canada)
• Trevor Eckert (Sterling Crane)
• Guillaume Gagnon (Guay Inc.)
• Mark Hooper, (Manitowoc)
• Mike Lavoie (Myshak Crane & Rigging Ltd.)
• Ryan Long (A.W. Leil Cranes & Equipment Ltd.)
• Shannon Moir-Riendeau (Moir Crane Service Ltd.)
• Victor Murty (Irving Equipment Ltd.)
• Paul Walchuk (Kova Engineering Ltd.)
Leadership transition
Following the AGM, the new board elected its executive committee. Steve Anema (TNT Crane & Rigging Ltd.) assumed the
role of board chair, with Ryan Long (A.W. Leil Cranes & Equipment Ltd.) elected as vice-chair and Mike Lavoie (Myshak Crane & Rigging Ltd.) elected as secretary-treasurer. Shannon Moir-Riendeau (Moir Crane Service Ltd.) continues to serve on the executive committee as past chair.
Governance and technical initiatives
Under Shannon Moir-Riendeau’s leadership, the CCRA has developed a robust governance model clarifying the roles and responsibilities of its advisory committees.
The executive committee now serves as the CCRA’s governance and audit committee. The technical committee will oversee multiple initiatives, including a bridge formula research project that is currently being
developed in partnship with the University of Alberta.
Acknowledgements and looking ahead
Steve Anema expressed sincere thanks to Heather MacCallum from NCSG Crane & Heavy Haul and Pat Ash, ROC Corp. for their remarkable contributions to the board of directors during their three-year term. He also thanked Shannon Moir-Riendeau for her leadership and dedication to the industry during her tenure as chair of the board. Looking ahead to the fall, sustainability and growth will be at the heart of discussions during September’s fall board meeting, as well as the topic of fortifying our international relationships.
The CCRA’s 2024-2025 executive committee and board of directors (L-R): Justin Andrews, Victor Murty, Paul Walchuk, Steve Anema, Ryan Long, Pascal Francoeur, Claire BelangerParker, John Woulfe, Shannon Moir-Riendeau, Mark Hooper, Mike Lavoie, Jeremy Asher. Missing: Guillaume Gagnon, Trevor Eckert.
(L-R) The CCRA has clarified the roles and responsibilities of its executive, membership, workforce development and technical committees.
Best in show
Canadian Crane Rental Association honoured top lifts of the year at its annual conference.
By Mike Lacey
The Canadian Crane Rental Association (CCRA) put the spotlight on the most impressive lifts of the past year from across Canada during its conference in Windsor, Ontario from June 11 to 13.
Winners were selected in two categories – Lifts Over 20 Tonnes and Lifts Under 20 Tonnes. Below is a look at the winning lifts and all nominees.
Over 20 Tonnes category
Winner: Sterling Crane
Project Overview: Sterling Crane’s winning lift saw the company erect three penstock towers at the Site C Dam for BC Hydro in the Peace River/Fort St. John area in October of 2023.
Equipment: A Manitowoc GROVE GMK 5275 all-terrain crane and a Terex-Demag CC2400-1 crawler crane.
Process: High winds and communication were two of the challenges the company faced during the job: “[One] of the biggest concerns was controlling the pieces,” explained Sterling Crane’s Jim Littlemore.
High winds and communication were two of the challenges Sterling Crane experienced erecting transmission towers near Fort St. John, B.C.
Sterling Crane erected penstock towers for BC Hydro, winning the Over 20 Tonnes category in the CCRA’s Lift of the
The company used Vita Inclinata’s new below-the hook device, the Vita Load Navigator (VLN), to stabilize the load on the way up.
The remote-controlled VLN measures over 1,000 data points per second in order
PHOTO: STERLING CRANE
Year
Sterling Crane’s Jim Littlemore accepts the Lift of the Year award from Shannon Moir-Riendeau, outgoing chair of the CCRA. PHOTO: JOSH BOWIE PHOTOGRAPHY
PHOTO: STERLING CRANE
to detect load movement in real-time. By using high-powered fans, loads are adjusted based on this data to help eliminate potential threats to the operation or on-site safety, such as the unwanted spinning and rotations that can come from high-wind operating environments.
“It’s a pretty slick device,” Littlemore said.
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Other nominees in the Over 20 Tonnes category were:
Nominee: Irving Equipment Limited
Project Overview: Irving Equipment was nominated for a job involving the removal of a truss-style bridge in Penniac, New Brunswick. Built in 1923, the bridge was closed to vehicular traffic but was still in use by pedestrians and ATV riders.
Equipment: A Liebherr LR1700 crawler crane.
Process: The remote location, deteriorated condition of the bridge and need to keep the structure level during the entire lift were the main challenges, Irving Equipment shared. The bridge deck was removed prior to the lift to lessen the weight, with custom lifting beams built for each end of the bridge.
Nominee: Mammoet Canada
Project Overview: Mammoet Canada removed a 210-tonne girder star frame from a structure in Argentia, Newfoundland.
Equipment: A Mammoet SK 350 ring crane.
Process: “The removal […] was highly technical, requiring a lot of input from our clients on maintaining that balance, identifying the rigging and its controls,” explained Mammoet Canada’s Gord Gilchrist. “They had to maintain that high level of certainty due to the potential of high winds in Newfoundland,” he said. “As you know, there’s a lot of wind projects going on in Newfoundland [because] they have a huge amount of wind. So that was one of our main concerns during the lift.”
Nominee: NSCG Crane & Heavy Haul
Project Overview: NSCG Crane & Heavy Haul lifted and installed two identical vessels in Wandering River, Alberta in January of 2024.
Each vessel weighed 808,259 pounds and stood at 35.9 metres in height, with a diameter of 8.9 metres.
Equipment : A Manitowoc M18000 crawler crane, a Liebherr LTM 11200-9.1 mobile crane, and a Liebherr 1350T all-terrain crane.
Process : Some of the challenges that NCSG experienced were the sizing of the equipment, along with carrying out crane and rigging work with tight clearances.
Irving Equipment Limited removed a truss-style bridge in Penniac, New Brunswick.
PHOTO: IRVING EQUIPMENT
NSCG Crane and Heavy Haul lifted two vessels, each weighing 808,259 pounds.
PHOTO: NSCG CRANE AND HEAVY HAUL
Mammoet’s removal of a girder star frame from a structure in Argentia, Newfoundland. PHOTO: MAMMOET CANADA
of the schedule and space constraints, our in-house designed cantilever lifting beam was going to be the right tool for the job,” explained Julien Rabee of Irving Equipment Limited. “A cantilever lifting beam is a piece of custom rigging that allows loads inside of buildings or underneath structures with low headroom to be lifted out.”
Before Irving sent equipment to the site, Rabee says the customer did a laser scan of the structure.
“We were able to incorporate that into our in-house planning software to be able to demonstrate that we had the required clearances to be able to do the job. As the old saying goes: an
quired accommodation. This included the site’s proximity to St. Michael’s Hospital, which required Mammoet to avoid obstructing the hospital’s flight path by limiting lifting to certain days of the week.
Nominee: Sterling Crane
Project Overview: The installation of three kilometres of pipe for the Trans Mountain pipeline in Jacko Lake, B.C.
Equipment : All-terrain cranes of various capacities, including a 160-ton rough ter-
rain crane and a 130-ton crawler crane.
Process: The work was continuous, with Sterling Crane deploying seven cranes to work around the clock. This required the company to ensure equipment was properly inspected and maintained both prior to and during operations, along with employing an effective fatigue management plan for workers. Weather was also a significant challenge as temperatures dropped during the project.
inch is as good as a mile.”
The planning paid off, with the company performing eight lifts over a five-day period without any issues.
Other nominees in the Under 20 Tonnes category were:
Nominee: Mammoet Canada
Project Overview : Mammoet Canada installed two swimming pools atop a pair of 300-foot-tall high rises on Queen Street East in Toronto.
Equipment: A Liebherr LTM 1750-9.1 all-terrain crane.
Process: The project’s downtown location caused congestion and tight spaces that re-
Mammoet Canada lifted two swimming pools onto high-rises in Toronto.
PHOTO:MAMMOET CANADA
Sterling Crane installed three kilometres of pipe in British Columbia.
PHOTO: STERLING CRANE
Down to the wire
Insights from the CCRA’s wire rope discussion panel.
By the Canadian Crane Rental Association
At the Canadian Crane Rental Association’s annual conference in Windsor, Ont. from June 11 to 13, the Wire Rope and Construction Cranes Panel Discussion tackled important issues such as proper installation, inspection techniques and training challenges.
The panel was moderated by Justin Brown, president of Unirope Limited, and featured guest panelists Chase Richter, business development manager at WireCo and Richard Marcotte, lifting, rigging and material handling subject matter expert (SME) at Bruce Power.
Inspect, detect and select Marcotte told the crowd that the first topic
“If you install a rope correctly, it’s going to last a very, very long time.”
- Chase Richter, WireCo
related to wire rope that should be discussed with a new crane operator is inspection.
“Inspection is paramount for us. We have interlocks and safety systems built into our cranes for many of the other functions, but the wire rope is a single point of vulnerability in many, many cases,” he said. “By focusing on installation practices, such as how you install your rope, how you inspect at that point and benchmark the condition
of your rope, the size your rope, things of that nature, that benchmarking is going to carry on for the rest of the life of that rope.”
Marcotte told the crowd that when installing wire rope, it is important to follow the proper installation procedures and get clear documentation benchmarking diameters, lengths, lay lengths, and all other key factors for wire rope inspection protocols.
“You’re going to continue to use that. If you’re not, you’re in for a rude awakening
The CCRA’s wire rope discussion panel featured moderator Justin Brown of Unirope, along with panelists Richard Marcotte of Bruce Power and WireCo’s Chase Richter.
of what’s going to happen, because failure is in your future,” he said. “Inspection is top shelf, and then pre-use inspection, again, is paramount. Of course, our periodic and our annuals are there, but what you do every day in watching that rope, and how the condition of that rope is either maintained or deteriorating, is going to show on your performance.”
Richter added that installation can be an under-looked moment when people are working with wire rope, and that the selection of the appropriate wire rope is key.
“Every crane manufacturer designs their drums to accept different tolerances of rope, and even though we may make a rope that says 26-millimetre diameter, we have a specific manufacturing tolerance for that rope that is made of oversize. It can be a range from 0 per cent to 5 per cent, sometimes even 6-per-cent above that nominal diameter,” he said.
“You need to spend time with people who are knowledgeable. You need to get your hands on the rope; you need to spend some time using it.”
– Richard Marcotte, Bruce Power
It is important to stay mindful of this range and its capacity for variance by manufacturer when going through this process, said Richter.
“You need to make sure you select the correct rope for that crane, which is going to accept something with a range,” he explained. “Again, each manufacturer is different. One OEM is going to specify two- to four-per-cent oversized. Another’s going to specify one-and-a-half to two-and-a-half per cent.”
Installation and training
After selecting the right wire rope for a crane, proper installation is the next step. Richter noted that ensuring proper distance between the reel as you’re spooling it on to the drum is key, as well as having proper back tension, especially on multilayer drums.
“If you install it with low tension on the drum, you make that rope much more susceptible to things like crushing or gap forming,” he said. “If you install a rope correctly, it’s going to last a very, very long time. If you install it incorrectly, you can ruin that rope in five minutes.”
Marcotte brought up the topic of properly seizing wire rope during the discussion.
“We need to properly seize it as per the manufacturer’s recommendations. The Wire Rope User’s Manual has some fantastic criteria,” Marcotte said, adding that ensuring proper seizing at the end of the rope is going to ensure longevity and proper installation.
One of the issues identified across the discussion was a lack of proper training of personnel on wire rope inspection and installation procedures.
“There are very few groups out there that really do in-depth wire rope training specific to hoist rope, whether for overhead crane, mobile crane or tower crane,” Marcotte said. “We need in-depth training.”
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Richter said that ensuring proper distance between the reel as you’re spooling it on to the drum is key, as well as having proper back tension, especially on multilayer drums.
For Marcotte, this training should go beyond digital modules, with education proving most impactful when based on in-field lessons and direct knowledge transfer from experts on the subject.
“I can tell you, eight hours in front of a computer for a computer-based training (CBT) is not enough,” he said. “You need to spend time with people who are knowledgeable. You need to get your hands on the rope; you need to spend some time using it, and now you need to shadow that person. I wouldn’t say it has to be a full apprenticeship, but there has to be a set time
spent out there in the field.”
This practical knowledge is not only valuable, but also serves to support what Marcotte sees as the other two pillars of a solid training program.
“Competency is that threelegged stool of training: some sort of qualification or certification to show that the training has taken hold and that we have the retention of knowledge, and then that third leg is that ongoing experience,” he said.
“If you don’t have the three things put together, then I wouldn’t say you’re a competent inspector, in my opinion.”
Emphasizing boom hoist rope
The panel also discussed boom hoist rope and boom hoist rope inspection as a key concern within the industry.
“It’s dismissed or deflected. A lot of people focus on the hoist rope because that’s one that they see traveling more, it’s the one they’re seeing a lot of movement on. But your boom hoist rope is constantly under tension – any movement in your boom then transfers down into that boom hoist rope,” Marcotte said.
Richter added that rope construction selection for boom hoist lines is extremely important.
“Things like swaged ropes aren’t necessarily one-size-fitsall. When it comes to boom hoist lines, you really want a swaged rope that’s designed for
a boom hoist application that is going to be fatigue resistant,” he said.
Brown noted that a troubling trend he has noticed taking place in the industry is the increased use of plastic wire rope sheaves as a replacement for steel sheaves.
“This is a problem for boom hoist ropes and boom hoist systems, and luffing boom hoist systems,” he said. “You are not able to properly inspect an entire wire rope based on external wire breaks.”
“A plastic sheave can extend the life of your rope, but really, what it’s doing is kind of hiding the wear,” Richter added.
For Richard Marcotte, the lack of in-depth training surrounding hoist rope only increases the need for more comprehensive education.
“[Inside-out wear] makes inspection much more difficult, and that’s when you have to start doing things like inspecting diameter changes, which are much more challenging to do versus looking for individual broken wires.”
- Chase Richter, WireCo
Unirope’s Justin Brown warned operators against the troubling trend he’s noticed of using plastic wire rope sheaves: “You are not able to properly inspect an entire wire rope based on external wire breaks,” he said.
“We like ropes to wear out from the outside-in, versus the inside-out, and the way that they wear out from the outside-in is out of direct contact with a steel sheave. However, when you put it in a softer sheave, like nylon, it doesn’t wear from the outside-in.”
One best practice that Richter suggests for detecting rope wear from the inside-out is the addition of diameter change inspections.
While an involved process, inside-out wear must be met with an inspection process that meets its complexity.
Inside-out wear “makes inspection much more difficult, and that’s when you have to start doing things like inspecting diameter changes, which are much more challenging to do versus looking for individual broken wires […] While you can do that, you just have to be more diligent in your inspection procedure.”
The 2025 CCRA Annual Conference will take place in Edmonton.
Finding the industry’s future
CCRA’s roundtable, keynote discussed solutions for finding the next generation of crane operators.
By Mike Lacey
This year’s Canadian Crane Rental Association (CCRA) conference put the spotlight on the next generation of workers, with a roundtable discussion hosted at the event digging deeper into Canada’s apprenticeship system and strategies for hooking youth on a career in the industry.
Moderator Heather MacCallum, president and CEO of NCSG Crane & Heavy Haul and co-chair of the CCRA workforce committee kicked off the discussion by highlighting apprenticeship programs as one of the current challenges to entering the crane industry.
“The landscape of crane apprenticeships
across Canada is as varied as the provinces themselves. Each region brings unique challenges and strengths, from regulatory frameworks and training standards to geographic and demographic considerations. Navigating these differences can be daunting for apprentices, for employers and for educators alike,” she said.
Risa Abella of Skilled Trades Ontario explained that while strides have been made to harmonize apprenticeship programs across Canada, interprovincial differences still exist. The Red Seal Program, which sets common standards to assess the skills of tradespeople across Canada, bridges some of these obstacles, but not all.
“We aim to harmonize trade or occupation name, the total hours for training as an apprentice, the number of levels in school and the sequencing of the content in school. But even doing something as simple as harmonizing the trade name, we run into jurisdictional obstacles,” she said. “In many jurisdictions, trade names are set out in regulation. So, it would require a regulation change.”
Abella noted there are also regional differences when it comes to certain skills or tasks: what is seen as critical knowledge in one area of the country is less so in another. As such, there will also be a need for provincial standards, with each jurisdiction
A roundtable discussion during the Canadian Crane Rental Association’s 2024 conference looked at how to attract the next generation to the industry.
having its own reasons as to why some things can or can’t be done or changed.
These regional differences can also cause divisions in how certain terms or titles are defined across the trades. Lorna Harnum of the International Union of Operating Engineers recalled this issue surfacing in a meeting years ago.
“There was a certain definition and we had about a 20-minute debate on what it meant, because it meant something different in each province.”
Attracting the next generation
With Canada’s aging workforce, Harnum noted the industry is losing experienced workers whose practical skills and knowledge are not easily replaced.
“It’s very difficult sometimes to bridge the gap between the older and the new entrants coming into our industry,” she said Harnum explained that the apprenticeship programs that the International Union of Operating Engineers offer across the country are struc-
allows children a chance to explore the machinery.
“It brings hundreds of kids out, and they get to touch and feel and learn about the cranes,” she said.
Shanna Hodgins, a third-year apprentice with Moir Crane Services, agreed that more outreach is necessary. Hodgins explained that when she was in high school, she was unaware that crane operator was even a career path.
Hodgins also agreed that social media has proven to be an effective tool for promoting the industry.
salesperson. You can kind of become a teacher. You can journey into so many different opportunities,” she said.
While there is a focus on how to bring new workers into the industry, Harnum believes that more emphasis needs to be placed on ensuring that apprentices stay in the industry.
“I think our biggest challenge is keeping the apprentice throughout the program, and getting them to the journeyperson level,” she said. “Make the apprentice feel valued and a part of the solution.”
tured to ensure that apprentices gain the required skills and knowledge, while also learning from older workers.
“I think what we need to do is, we need to look outside the box – we need to attract Indigenous and underrepresented groups, and we do that as part of our apprenticeship,” she said.
Attracting youth to the industry is a big challenge, said Shannon Moir-Riendeau, vice president of operations with Moir Crane Services and outgoing chair of the CCRA.
Moir-Riendeau noted that it is the responsibility of everyone in the heavy lifting sector to work with communities, schools, unions and others to promote the industry. She shared her success in posting about apprenticeship opportunities on social media.
“Starting at the elementary level, I don’t think there’s enough information out there for the kids,” said Moir-Riendeau.
One example of success that Moir Crane Services has found is its annual Meet a Machine event. The event showcases Moir Crane’s equipment and
“We make TikTok videos, and we make them fun and interactive. We do Facebook posts a lot. We’re involved in the community,” she said. “It’s a good way for us to get the word out about how amazing and rewarding this industry and career really is.”
MacCallum said it’s important that any messaging to students or would-be operators highlights the world of opportunity that entering the trades can open up.
People need to understand that a person is not attached to the inside of a crane for their entire career, she explained.
“You can become a business owner. You can become a vice president. You can become a
Building a connected workforce
Author Ryan Jenkins focused on creating this sense of value during his keynote address, where he discussed the importance of connection in the workplace and bridging the gap between generations in retaining workers.
Jenkins has spent the past 12 years studying generations to better understand these differences, and how these differences are set to impact the evolution of work. His newest book, Connectable: How Leaders Can Move Teams from Isolated to All In, explores the process of how to build a connected workforce.
An issue Jenkins has found
In reversing labour shortages across the heavy lifting industry, the IUOE’s Lorna Harnum said, “I think what we need to do is look outside the box – we need to attract Indigenous and underrepresented groups.”
Keynote speaker Ryan Jenkins discussed how to accommodate and grow from the generational gaps across your organization.
spanning across all generations is a feeling of disconnection. Among these generations, the group that feels the most isolated and lonely is Gen Z (those born between 1997 and 2012), though they often don’t communicate those feelings with their employers, he said.
“Ninety per cent of employees suffering from isolation or disconnection say they would not tell their supervisor,” said Jenkins.
While technological innovations have improved communication, Jenkins explained that he sees connection as a concept distinct from communication. Not only have these innovations not improved connection, but they often lead us to assume that we are more connected than ever.
“There is a big, big, big difference between communication and connection – those two things are not the same thing,” he stressed. “Connection is felt. If you want to see big strides and really leverage connection, we have to take that one step further from communication to connection.”
You want productive employees who will stay with your company? Create connection, he advised.
Jenkins also believes that connection is important to understanding why generational differences may exist, and how those differences may cause workplace friction due to contrasts in work and communication styles.
Leveraging generational differences
When generational differences are concerned, Jenkins advised the audience to approach any discussion on these divisions as clues, rather than absolutes.
“They’re really big clues on how you lead, communicate,
recruit or sell” he said. “The better understanding you and I have of each generation, the better we are to thrive in today’s – and in the future’s – multi-generational marketplace.”
Jenkins believes that these differences exist due to the unique experiences of each generation, with the world that one generation grew up in being quite different than the world that any other generation came of age in.
Remaining mindful of this fact and the differences that may emerge from it can help leaders avoid any incorrect assumptions about younger generations and the friction they can cause, advised Jenkins.
“Established generations tend to compare themselves as they are today to emerging generations, rather than who they were in the past,” he said. “Most established generations struggle to actually remember themselves as young people. Our memory as humans is highly, highly unreliable.”
One factor contributing to these divisions also comes from a shift in technology and how each generation understands it, Jenkins said.
“We have emerging generations that have skills and knowledge that previous generations don’t have,” he said, adding that young workers are often more technologically adept than their older counterparts.
“They grew up as the chief technology officers of their own homes, right? They were helping Mom, Dad, Grandma and Grandpa troubleshoot a laptop, how to use Facebook, and learn what ChatGPT is,” he said.
It’s by remaining open-minded and understanding of these differences, rather than trying to eliminate them, where companies have the opportunity to tap into these distinctions and leverage them to create stronger teams, said Jenkins.
Harmonic ergonomics
BC Crane Safety’s Roberta Sheng-Taylor on the unique ergonomic challenges of crane cabins – and how to tackle
By Jack Burton
As a crane operator, you spend a fair share of your time inside the cabin. While your home away from home might shield you from some of the major on-site hazards, your cabin is not without its own safety challenges.
We sat down to talk about the science of sitting down (and much more) – ergonomics – with BC Crane Safety’s director of credentialing and licensing, Roberta Sheng-Taylor; discussing what this issue looks like for crane operators, along with some of the features and practices for both in and outside of the cabin that support ergonomic efficiency.
CHC: What are some of the primary ergonomic obstacles present in operating cabins on heavy equipment?
SHENG-TAYLOR: Brkic et al. (2022) reported numerous ergonomic issues among Serbian operators in the cabs of heavy mobile machinery. Operators frequently complained of discomfort in the neck, shoulders, and lower back, along with fatigue from awkward postures and the static sitting and repetitive movements stemming from inadequate design or working procedures.
When it comes to ergonomics, “crane manufacturers, employers and supervisors must focus on the human element, alongside machinery capabilities,” said BC Crane Safety’s Roberta Sheng-Taylor.
To ensure their ergonomic advice was put to good use, BC Crane Safety and WorkSmart Ergonomics maximized the reach and versatility of their information by printing five key stretches on a commercialgrade magnet.
DIAGRAMS: WORKSMART ERGONOMICS
Additionally, the working conditions for operators included whole-body vibration,
them effectively.
psychosocial factors, dust, exhaust gases, noise, temperature extremes, time pressure compounded by long shifts and mental demands.
These mental demands encompass a range of variables that operators need to remain mindful of with accuracy and precision. This includes the location of the boom and object being moved relative to other pieces of equipment, the building, and the personnel. This need for visibility and awareness can also cause extra-significant tension on the neck, shoulders, wrists, and fingers. These factors all significantly impact the health and performance of operators. The study also highlighted visibility problems, limited cabin space, difficulty reaching commands and levers, poor seat design and problems with cab entry and exit.
Non-neutral torso positions that involve flexion, lateral flexion, and twisting were also cited as contributing factors to muscle fatigue, spinal compression, lumbar pain and increased intervertebral pressure in the lower back.
CHC: Are there any distinct ergonomic issues posed by crane cabins when compared other types of heavy equipment?
SHENG-TAYLOR: Baskaran et al. (2021) reported that among 30 mobile crane operators, 83.3 per cent experienced discomfort in the lower back, while 20 per cent reported discomfort in the upper back. Additionally, 23.3 per cent to 63 per cent of operators reported discomfort in other body parts. The highest levels of discomfort were observed in the lower back and neck regions.
The study also found that the operator’s age significantly influenced the level of body discomfort. The main affected areas were identified as the lower back and neck, with awkward postures and
whole-body vibration being the primary risk factors causing this discomfort.
The science of ergonomics, when applied to crane cabs, aims to create a workspace that minimizes operator fatigue, maximizes efficiency, and enhances overall comfort. The profound impact of operator well-being on productivity stresses the importance of ergonomic crane cab design. Crane manufacturers, employers, and supervisors must focus on the human element, alongside machinery capabilities.
CHC: When it comes to crane cabs, what features make for good ergonomic design?
SHENG-TAYLOR: Some of the key elements or features of ergonomic crane cab design include hydraulic/electric tilt cabs; seating adjustability that allows operators to accommodate their preferences and supports comfortable posture during long hours of operation; control panel accessibility to allow operators to interact with the machine easily and intuitively; and increased visibility from within the cab, whether through panoramic windows or strategically positioned cameras.
CHC: Are there any recent design trends or in-cab features that have appeared in recent years to ergonomically support crane operators?
SHENG-TAYLOR: Modern crane cabs feature cutting-edge technologies like advanced materials, ergonomic seating, and smart control panels. At BC Crane Safety, we believe that AI will also help shape the future of crane cab design and automation. This technology offers a number of benefits that the industry could leverage toward crane operator health and performance, such as its ability to adapt to crane operator preferences and to potentially automate repetitive tasks.
CHC: Looking beyond the cabin itself, what are some initiatives or practices that both organizational leaders and the operators themselves can implement to support ergonomic safety?
SHENG-TAYLOR: As it applies to crane operator ergonomics, at BC Crane Safety our emphasis is on engaging operators in training and learning that empowers them to contribute to operational improvements. While we have developed a number of resources on this topic, such as our Toolbox Talks targeting crane operator ergonomics, we believe it’s critical to empower operators themselves to contribute directly to the safety process.
Some of the practices that can ensure and encourage this empowered role among operators when it comes to ergonomics is ensuring that they are part of the ergonomic discussions on straightforward topics like conducting stretches or crane operator health and wellness programs, while also making a point of involving them in acquisition purchases, crane panel control testing and seat ergonomics.
CHC: What are some of the initiatives that you’ve been a part of at BC Crane Safety to help increase ergonomic efficiency across operations?
SHENG-TAYLOR: Safe work practices and ergonomic safety requirements must be tailored and created for use in the field: while it’s useful to have documented practices and procedures printed in manuals or delivered via phone apps, we believe it is more efficient and practical to deliver the content in ways that the
audience will actually use the information.
This is why when we developed our “Level Up Your Shift” stretching exercises program, we knew that both paper and electronic publication would not be enough. In collaboration with WorkSmart Ergonomics, we boiled the key requirements and messages down to their essentials and developed a commercial-grade magnet featuring five stretches a crane operator can use before, during or after the shift.
These magnets are strong, and can adhere to magnetic surfaces on the exteriors or interiors of tower cranes, mobile cranes and boom trucks. We printed and distributed them to crane employers, IUOE trainees and WorkSafeBC.
CHC: How would you describe the current conversation around cabin ergonomics across Canada’s crane industry, in terms of the issues or practices that are the focus of these discussions?
SHENG-TAYLOR: We believe that one of the major issues facing crane suppliers and employers is the cost and ability to retrofit existing cranes to improved ergonomic standards with the attraction and retention of crane operators across Canada.
These issues around retrofitting and updating equipment become more pronounced when looking at how quickly technology is changing the face of ergonomic assessments. Solutions on the horizon, such as AI, show numerous possibilities – companies like TUMeke AI allow users to receive an industry-standard risk score in seconds by just recording or uploading a video.
Down with crane climbers
Keeping would-be crane climbers out of your sites and off your machines. By
Saul Chernos
Late last summer, well before dawn, police in Kitchener, Ontario responded to a distress call at a residential construction site and spotted a man 16 storeys up in the air atop a tower crane.
Thankfully, no one was hurt. Waterloo Regional Police Service Constable Chris Iden told Crane & Hoist Canada that officers coaxed the individual down. Instead of laying charges, police took him to the hospital for what they described as an assessment.
“We experienced an almost identical incident with the same outcome in October of 2020,” Iden said. “When police respond to a call that is similar to this, we utilize our trained negotiators to speak to the individual and have them come down on their own. For safety measures, we will always have an ambulance stand by in case a serious injury was to occur.”
These incidents are not isolated. This past May, officers in nearby Guelph persuaded a 49-year-old man to come down after two hours atop an eight-storey crane. In 2017, York Regional Police north of Toronto reported three separate climbing incidents in one week. “It seems almost crazy that we have to […] warn people about the dangers of climbing construction cranes, but nevertheless here we are,” Const. Andy Pattenden told CP24 at the time.
Seeking thrills, courting danger
Clinton Connell, executive director of BC Crane Safety, says tower cranes attract climbers for many reasons. Some people, impaired by drugs or alcohol or experiencing mental or personal crisis, find the cranes and the vistas they offer alluring. “It’s a crime of opportunity,” Connell explained. “They might be doing it for a quick laugh or could possibly be entertaining self-harm.”
Climbing is high-risk even in legitimate circumstances when crews are trained, licensed, and following safety protocol. So, scaling cranes freestyle while under the influence is courting disaster.
Connell points to the 2012 death of a 29-year-old man who fell from a crane in Australia during holiday celebrations. The Sydney Morning Herald reported that a fellow climber told a coroner’s inquest that he watched helplessly as his mate stumbled and bounced off the railing of the operator’s cab on his way down. A toxicology analysis showed a blood alcohol level equivalent to 22 standard drinks, along with traces of amphetamines, cocaine and ecstasy.
The most notorious climbers, however, are people quite soberly seeking adventure and fame. “It’s about getting to the top of these things and that whole selfie and YouTube daredevil culture,” Connell said. “They’re looking for that prize, that moneyshot of them climbing to the top.”
From Moscow to New York City, thrill seekers maintain legions of fans who follow their every move. A handful sell merchandise and offer guided tours of rooftops. Like BASE jumpers, they research their ventures with precision: “In most cases they know they’re breaking the law, but they do it anyway because there’s value in the achievement, whether it’s bragging rights or proof they’ve pulled it off,” Connell said.
Thrill seekers might willfully disregard their own safety or even relish an extreme challenge, but their activities show reckless disregard for other peoples’ lives, Connell said: “When it involves any type of high-angle rope rescue, they’re also putting first responders at risk.”
Connell hasn’t heard of trespassers damaging cranes, but climbers could even unintentionally touch levers or loosen pins or bolts, potentially endangering work crews later on.
Locking out climbers
Andrew Pariser, vice-president of the Residential Construction Council of Ontario (RESCON), says he’s unaware of any deaths or injuries attributed to unauthorized climbing in recent years. Pariser attributes this to ongoing due diligence, including fencing, locks, alarms, security personnel, and motion-activated lighting and cameras, as well as regular checks for signs of possible breaches.
With the allure of cranes, security plans need to address both a site’s perimeter as well as the vulnerable areas inside throughout a project’s duration. “You obviously need to secure the whole site, but you also need to create additional security as you come out of the ground versus when there’s a deep excavation there,” Pariser explained. “As the risks change, your security plan has to change. You have to adapt to the hazards.”
Location also needs to figure prominently in security planning. “A site next to or close to bars in downtown Toronto will have very different risks than a greenfield site outside the city,” Pariser said. “Sometimes crane climbers get a little bit of liquid courage, so maybe have a bit more security on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday night. Perhaps have a live patrol around the time the bars close.”
Site managers bear the ultimate responsibility, but foremen, contractors and other crane personnel need to incorporate the risks into routine inspections. “If the crane operator comes to the site and realizes something’s not looking right, they need to flag that,” Pariser said. “Crane operators are incredibly skilled individuals and will know that crane better than anybody, so we really rely on them to identify hazards.”
For any would-be crane climbers, Pariser has some sound advice: “If you want to go climb, go to a climbing gym. Don’t come to our sites.”
Securing the tools
Patrick Straw, executive director of the Canadian Security Association (CANASA), says his sector supplies a range of high-tech equipment, from motion detector systems to high-end cameras, to deter intruders.
“You can have a completely, perfectly-clear picture in the dead of night with the infrared technology that’s used with video surveillance systems, and sites are usually well lit as well.”
but Straw urged project teams to focus on the basics. This is due to the trend of courts finding project proponents liable for injuries borne by intruders when barriers such as fencing have proven inadequate.
“Everybody sues everybody now,” Straw said. “If you have a crane […] and it’s easily accessible, and some drunk comes out of a hotel and decides to climb it and breaks their neck, you have to do a lot of due diligence to show you did everything you
“If you want to go climb, go to a climbing gym. Don’t come to our sites.”
– Andrew Pariser, vice-president of RESCON
Portable video surveillance systems, with multiple cameras equipped with real-time communication capabilities and independent power supplies, are gaining traction.
“They can send live video back to a monitoring station,” Straw said, noting their popularity in the luxury car market.
“In the old days, dealerships would find out the next day. They would have video surveillance of the robbery, but by then the cars would be long gone. Now, the second somebody comes in and tries to steal something, the monitoring station contacts the police or whoever the car company wants contacted,” said Straw.
Technology has improved exponentially,
could to protect the site.”
Straw noted simple changes made across some of the construction sites he has visited, such as moving ladders used to access tower cranes to be safely out of reach during off-hours: “It’s about making the site physically difficult to get in,” he added. Security should also be highly visible. Guards can be highly effective, as can lighting and well-placed signs reminding potential trespassers they will be seen and warning them of every potential danger.
“Have a look at the whole scenario, and then come up with the most effective way of getting the protection you need,” Straw said.
Video surveillance systems are gaining traction as a solution to dissuading would-be crane climbers, said Patrick Straw, executive director of CANASA.
CM Labs introduces new intelligent training system for heavy equipment
CM Labs, a Montreal-based provider of heavy equipment training simulations, has announced the next step in its workforce solutions with the Intellia intelligent training system, a new suite of software for the construction, utilities and port industries.
Intellia is designed to drive organizational efficiency across training processes. The program targets all levels of an organization, from advanced reporting features that support administrators to aiding instructor processes through the program’s ability to monitor and manage multiple trainees. The system also supports trainees on their learning journey by providing them with the freedom to increase their
heavy equipment skills at their own pace through prescribed learning paths.
The Intellia suite is comprised of four different products, with each of them compatible with CM Labs’ entire line of simulators. These products include Intellia Instructor, Intellia Drone View, Intellia Training Packs and Intellia Add-On Modules.
“With Intellia, our clients are seeing measurable improvements in operational efficiency, which translates into a strong return on investment. No other company offers the full depth and breadth of what we are offering,” said Lisa Barbieri, vice president of marketing at CM Labs. “Intellia represents a pivotal moment in operator training within our industry.”
Liebherr adds improvements to Crane Finder app
Liebherr has updated its Crane Finder tool, with the company now offering their proprietary crane selection platform on mobile devices.
The new version of Crane Finder is compatible with smartphones and tablets running both iOS and Android, providing users with a mobile option when finding a crane to fit their required configurations for specific load cases. Users can input data including load, required height and desired radius to find a list of possible cranes for their task at hand.
A revised database of crane specifications has also been added to the app, including updated load chart information, up-to-date planning data, all operating modes and additional crane types, along with details such as ballast radius, support, main boom angle,
accessory angle and central ballast.
All of this new information can be displayed in large tiles or in the new compact list view feature.
Crane Finder’s newly-added “Optimize Configuration” option shows users the smallest possible crane for their selected load case with the maximum load capacity, while a “favourites” function saves preferred crane models to the MyLiebherr portal.
JLG upgrades its SkyTrak 8042 telehandler
JLG Industries has released a new model of its SkyTrak 8042 telehandler, upgraded with a more lightweight design, advanced control system and electric-over-hydraulic joystick. Its lighter design allows two 8042 models to fit on a single flatbed trailer, with the machine still retaining the performance capacity of previous generations.
With a 21,200 lb. operating weight, the telehandler has a maximum lift height of 42 feet and four inches and a maximum reach of 29 feet and six inches.
In-cab improvements include a larger LCD display and single-page load charts for streamlined data delivery. The 8042’s electric-over-hydraulic joystick includes auxiliary hydraulic functions and attachment tilt capabilities.
Additional options have also been added to the control system such as load stability indication (LSI) and optional seatbelt engagement and operator presence (SEOP).
For faster delivery of materials at height, the hydrostatic transmission of the 8042 provides operators with the ability for inching; the process of running the boom at high speeds without shifting into neutral.
An overall improved boom speed is supported by auxiliary hydraulic connections on the side of the boom head for quick attachment changes, with more than a dozen
attachments available for the machine.
The 8042 runs on a 74-hp. 2.9L Deutz diesel engine that reduces maintenance costs due to it not needing to run on diesel exhaust fluid (DEF).
JASO releases new luffing tower crane
Spain-based crane manufacturer JASO has launched its J638PA luffing tower crane for markets across Canada, the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Oceania.
The J638PA has a maximum reach of 65 metres, a maximum load capacity of 32
tonnes and a maximum tip load of 7.2 tonnes while at full reach.
The crane has reeving options of DP/2R, with 110kW and 132kW power options for its hook mechanisms.
The model comes equipped with JASO’s Optimus Line technology suite to support performance, efficiency and safety across all scales of construction project operations.
The J638PA has also been designed for minimized transport costs and features a spacious high-visibility cabin, personalization options, a diagnostics system, eco-mode, high-powered motors to increase hoisting speed, a JL25 tower crane elevator and an included safety pack, according to the company.
“Developed in collaboration with our partners, the J638PA is the result of shared expertise and a collective commitment to overcoming challenges,” a press release from JASO reads. “Addressing technical, commercial, construction, logistical, safety and environmental considerations, this crane stands as a versatile, sustainable and technologically-advanced solution.”
SAFETY CORNER
BY CLINTON CONNELL
Beat the heat during summer crane operations
With the summer sun bringing the heat, here’s how operators can protect themselves from its hazards.
It’s critical to understand how heat can affect your work as a crane operator in demanding environments. The cabs of tower cranes, mobile cranes and boom trucks can heat up quickly, putting operators at risk of heat-related illness. This makes it even more important to stay mindful that heat stress can be very serious – even deadly – and learn how to recognize, treat, prevent and monitor heat stress on the job.
All members of your team, including employers, supervisors and workers, should collaborate to protect the well-being of crane operators and other personnel subject to high-temperature weather.
To help organizations prepare for safely operating through summertime and its high-heat hazards, BC Crane Safety has developed and published a resource webpage dedicated to the topic. Built with organizational collaboration in mind, employers, supervisors and crane operators can use these resources to help educate themselves and their co-workers on how to prevent and manage heat stress.
What is heat stress?
You should know when you or another worker could be at risk of heat stress. Everyone on the worksite has a role to play in protecting themselves, and each other, from the risks associated with heat stress.
The effects of hot weather can be compounded by external heat sources and nearby activities. Examples include working inside a crane cab where the heat can be magnified by the windows, being near roadwork such as the laying of asphalt, or doing rigging work outside in the sun. Protective clothing can also contribute to heat stress if it is heavy or does not allow the skin to breathe.
One of the most simple and effective ways to avoid heat stress is to make sure to stay hydrated by drinking lots of water regularly; even estimating the amount of water you may need using a heat stress calculator if necessary.
Resources from BC Crane Safety
Heat stress occurs when the body heats up faster than it can cool itself; a phenomenon especially common in hot, humid conditions. Heat stress causes the body’s core temperature to rise. Though our bodies naturally cool down by sweating, in some hot, humid conditions, sweating isn’t enough. If the body can’t cope, it could start to shut down.
When are you at risk
of heat stress?
Heat stress can occur both indoors and outdoors, such as when performing physical labour in hot, humid environments or when working in closed areas without adequate ventilation.
The importance of hydration is partially behind BC Crane Safety’s idea to promote our heat stress resources using branded water bottles. The bottles contain printed reminders of heat exhaustion symptoms and tips to stay cooler and safer, along with a dynamic QR code on each bottle linking to our heat stress resource webpage.
BC Crane Safety’s heat stress resource webpage features ready-to-use tips, tools and safe work practices, occupational health and safety responsibilities and useful, practical links to industry resources. Numerous topics are covered across several different formats, such as the short animations in our “Are You Prepared to Work in the Heat?” section to a pragmatic checklist in the “Are You Hydrated?” section.
Beyond that, the page provides in-depth discussions across a number of practical topics that workers can readily use and apply, including:
• What heat stress is and its signs, symptons and risks.
• Heat stress policies and procedures, including your OHS-required heat stress responsibilities.
• Guides on creating a heat stress control plan, with a pre-start job checklist before working in hot environments.
• What crane employers need to know about heat stress, and how to help workers adjust to hot environments.
• Engineering controls to heat stress.
“In some hot, humid conditions, sweating isn’t enough. If the body can’t cope, it could start to shut down.”
Everyone on the worksite has a role to play in protecting themselves and each other from heat stress and its risks. Factors that can cause heat stress include working in direct sunlight during the summer months, working in an environment with more than 50 per cent relative humidity and working in conditions that lack proper ventilation or air conditioning, which can create a greenhouse effect inside small, enclosed spaces such as crane cabs. Remember that heat may affect people in different ways, and its impacts are influenced by many factors. If you have a medical condition or are taking medication that can increase your sensitivity to the heat, get advice from your doctor about how to best protect yourself from heat stress.
Clinton Connell serves as the executive director for the BC Association for Crane Safety.
Follow this QR code to access BC Crane Safety’s heat stress resources, featuring ready-to-use tips and tools for safe work practices in high temperatures.
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