The quarterly publication of Ontario Road Builders’ Association
2015 ORBA CONVENTION
MTO Rolling Out 72 Early Tender Calls for 2015
Blair McArthur Now at the Helm Highlights from Transportation Infratructure Day
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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE
A late thaw leads to a hectic spring
It took some time but spring finally arrived. The late thaw caused a slow start to the year, however MTO contractors have seen a lot more early tender calls this year and we would like to thank the MTO for this. We will be using this as an example to the municipalities we will be engaging with over the coming months, which have different policies on sharing information prebudget approval.
The CAA Worst Roads Campaign is another sign of spring and ORBA continues to be the technical partner in this program. ORBA started this program back in 2003 and transitioned it to the CAA a few years later. This year the CAA is expanding the worst roads voting to cover a series of regional Top 5 lists in order to move away from what has typically been worst roads dominated by the GTA. In May, the “reveal” will see a Top 10 list for Ontario and Top 5 lists in each of the regions. I would like to thank the contractors that have stepped up to provide technical evaluations of this year’s worst roads.
As part of our municipal affairs plan we will be meeting with municipalities and cities to discuss asset management planning, dedicated infrastructure investments, and fair, open and equitable procurement processes. We will also be working with municipal contractors on identifying municipalities and cities that have litigation provisions within an exclu-
sion clause to raise this with these owners. If you have any other issues and challenges at a municipal level please let us know. We have struck a Municipal Affairs Council that will be comprised of municipal contractors, and municipalities and cities will be able to attend to discuss key issues, concerns and opportunities.
Work has resumed on CFAAST and we would like to thank Minister Del Duca and the MTO for dropping the litigation provision within the exclusion clause. There has been a lot of work done on an alternative dispute resolution process, CPR review, claims tracking, infractions and reporting on claims, enhancements to the qualifications committee and liquidated damages. We hope to wrap up the remaining implementation over the next few months.
Although it’s difficult to talk about winter when it seems we have just gotten through another tough one, the cancellation and retendering (RFP) of the MTO Kenora AMC contract has caused quite a bit of discussion within the industry. At the time of writing this editorial the Auditor General has not yet released her report on winter maintenance, however we anticipate it will focus on the issues ORBA AMC contractors have been working to address over the past two years – specifically around problems with third generation contracts. ORBA has informed the MTO that our AMC contractors
and contractors that have done or have an interest in MTO AMC contracts should be involved in working collaboratively with the MTO on the next generation contracts.
Ashley De Souza will highlight some of our additional issues within his Around Queen’s Park column.
The ORBA Legacy Book Keeping Ontario Moving is now available for purchase. From the 1930s forward the early story of roads is told largely by the people who lived and made the history. Over 120 contractors, engineers, government officials, and others were interviewed and the last 80 years of the industry’s history unfolds in the way they remember it. Share their memories and stories –some hilarious and some tragic – as they talk about their projects, their businesses, their successes, and their hardships. Order forms are available on the orba.org website. A special thank you goes out to the Legacy Committee, Steve Cruickshank, Blair McArthur, Kelly Carrick, Nicole Gowlings, Art Van Camp, Regan Cox and especially Les Cruickshank whose initial idea took shape into an excellent story. I would also like to thank Rob Bradford for capturing the stories and compiling them into a captivating book.
As we approach summer don’t forget to mark your calendar for June 10 at 5:30 p.m. at Sarcoa Restaurant and Bar in Hamilton for the 2nd annual ORBA Summer Roundup.
AROUND QUEEN’S PARK Consultations,
Reviews and Written Submissions
The Legislature resumed routine proceedings on February 17 and has been filled with government-mandated reviews, stakeholder consultations on regulatory changes and legislative hearings. Keeping true to her word as being an activist Premier, the Government is pushing forward on many different policy fronts.
The following is only a snapshot of some of the government initiatives that directly affect ORBA members.
CVOR & Road Building Machines
The Ministry of Transportation held public consultations in March regarding its intent to change the definition of a traditional road building machine under the Highway Traffic Act. The measure, which was announced in last year’s budget, attempts to remove exemptions on what MTO deems as non-traditional road building machines. These machines, which include hydrovacs, mobile cranes and concrete pumps, would have to become licensed vehicles under the CVOR system which may create a significant financial burden on certain companies.
As many are well aware, the CVOR system is fraught with problems since being changed in 2007. The new system has created an extremely unlevel playing field for those who operate in a low kilometric, local environment. Local operators are penalized to a greater extent than long haulers which has also created the unintended consequences of increased risk of potential sanctions, higher insurance rates, and even potentially affecting a contractor’s ability to bid on contracts.
On a positive note, MTO has recently announced proposed changes to increase the reportable accident threshold from $1,000 to $2,000. While this is a great first step, which ORBA and other stakeholders have been advocating for, much more must be done. We are concerned with the potential impact of bringing additional machines onto this imperfect CVOR system will have on contractors and ultimately have on the competitive tendering process for MTO and municipal projects.
Bill 31, Making Ontario’s Roads Safer Act
Bill 31 is a comprehensive omnibus legislation that addresses a number of issues including distracted driving, cycling, paved highway shoulders, drunk driving, drugs and driving, pedestrians, school buses, and trucking.
by ASHLEY DE SOUZA Director, Government Relations
As of this writing, the Bill is currently at Committee. During the Committee consultation phase, ORBA made a submission to have slow down, move over provisions, which are being proposed to be extended to all tow trucks, expanded for all road service vehicles including crash trucks, patrol cars and snow plows.
Highway maintenance vehicles, such as crash trucks and patrol vehicles, are vital to the safety of our workers and the general motoring public, acting as first responder to accidents, closing lanes when safety hazards are present, and creating a security barrier to allow for vital maintenance work to be undertaken on busy thoroughfares, among many other duties. Workers in our industry perform work on Ontario’s highway network daily and ORBA has asked for equal consideration under the Highway Traffic Act to ensure the safety of our workers.
College of Trades
Tony Dean has begun consultations on his review of the operations of the College of Trades. As part of the OSTA, ORBA has participated in making a written submission to the review. Additionally, ORBA, alongside other construction associations, has commissioned a report by Dawson Strategic entitled, Modernizing Ontario’s Skilled Trades Apprenticeship and Training System
The report, which can be found on the ORBA website, examines how the College has performed to-date and finds that it can do better. The report charts a positive path forward that will allow all stakeholders to have more confidence in the future direction of training in the province by providing more apprenticeship opportunities and lowering barriers into the skilled trades.
Mandatory Entry Level Training
The CPO continues to engage stakeholders and seek advice on mandatory entry-level training for all construction workers. ORBA’s OH&S Committee was able to participate in a focus group listening session with the CPO to provide our thoughts and input on the program. One key issue that remains prevalent is having a proper implementation plan that recognizes that training capacity continues to be a challenge in the system particularly for those companies located in rural and Northern communities.
Bill 6, Infrastructure for Jobs and Prosperity Act
Bill 6 continues to make its way through the legislative process which among other things would compel government to table long-term infrastructure plans in the Legislature. While ORBA is generally supportive of the legislation, we have raised our concerns regarding the prescriptive, one-size-fits-all approach to the use of apprentices within all government construction projects.
ORBA has been working diligently with the Ministry of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure on ways in which the language in the Bill can be modified to achieve the objectives of the government without creating any unintended consequences. ORBA is hopeful that once the Bill is called to committee we will see some positive amendments made around this policy objective.
Permit to Take Water
The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MOECC) released a technical discussion paper regarding short-term water takings, currently subject to Permit to take Water (PTTW) requirements.
The technical discussion paper proposes a number of changes that could significantly benefit industry including:
• Clarification that in-stream diversion for construction purposes is not a water taking;
• Exemption from needing a PTTW for pumping behind a structure used for in-stream diversion if erosion and sedimentation measures are in place;
• Exemption from PTTW requirements for the restoration and maintenance of a wetland;
• Exemption from PTTW requirements for existing weirs;
• Move from PTTW requirements to EASR if eligible and operating rules followed for:
• Surface water takings used for road construction and maintenance purposes (e.g. dust suppression, compaction, etc.)
• Construction dewatering for construction purposes where taking is not more than 400,000L/day on any day
ORBA and other construction industry partners have been working very closely with the Ministry on the proposed changes and have been quite impressed with the work that has been undertaken to date. We are hopeful to hear more good news in the coming months to see these changes implemented.
Construction Lien Act
Bruce Reynolds has been selected as Counsel and Sharon Vogel as Co-Counsel to conduct expert review of the Construction Lien Act that will include the examination of payment issues within the construction sector. Mr Reynolds, who is familiar to many ORBA members, is a leading expert in construction law and a senior partner at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP. Reynolds authored, on behalf of ORBA, what has become known as “the BLG Report,” which was a catalyst for change through the joint ORBA-MTO CFAAST Implementation Committee.
It is anticipated that the review will be completed by December 2015 and will involve extensive consultations with the construction industry followed by a report to the Attorney General. ORBA has been very active participants in the prompt payment discussions at Queen’s Park and will continue to play an active role during this review.
To say the last few months at Queen’s Park have been a busy one for ORBA would be an understatement. ORBA will continue to keep members up to date on the legislative agenda at Queen’s Park and inform member companies of initiatives that may impact our industry.
Our government relations team hopes to be able to share positive news on these files and many more in the months to come. With all that is going on at Queen’s Park, if you ever need more information on a specific topic or issue, please don’t hesitate to contact me directly. As always, we’re here to help.
ORBA PAVES THE ROAD AHEAD
The movers, shakers, and trailblazers of Ontario’s road building industry met in Toronto this February for Ontario Road Builders Association (ORBA) for its 88th Convention & Annual General Meeting.
Themed The Road Ahead, the event was held February 9-10 at Toronto’s iconic Fairmont Royal York. Over 800 guests joined the association and its partners to trade industry stories, celebrate successes, and share insights into the most pressing challenges and issues affecting Ontario’s transportation infrastructure industry.
Evan Carter, a Second City instructor and Canadian television veteran, assumed the role of Master of Ceremonies, guiding attendees through two full days of expert presentations, interactive panels, product and service showcases, and networking events.
Day 1, Big Picture Day, was highlighted with Dr. Thierry Goger’s Forever Open Roads presentation, an inspiring vision for how roads will be built in the 21st century. Lauren
Hasegawa, Co-founder of Bridget, enlightened members with construction technology trends for 2015.
Day 2, Transportation Infrastructure Day, featured capital projects from MTO’s five regions. For the first time, Ontario’s six regional municipalities along with the cities of Toronto, Hamilton, London, Kingston and Windsor, detailed their transportation infrastructure projects for 2015 and beyond.
“Our goal with this year’s conference was to provide members with tangible concepts, solutions, and
information to help grow and manage their business,” said Richard Stamper, ORBA’s Manager of Member Services. “We also wanted to enhance the overall presentation of the event, which we believe we accomplished through consistent imaging, banners, graphics, and –for the first time in the conference’s history – a mobile event app that was made available to delegates.”
“Feedback from attendees has been very positive so we feel pleased we delivered on our value proposition to members,” said Geoff Wilkinson, ORBA Executive Director.
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President Blair McArthur presenting donation to Belinda’s Place Board of Directors.
FORMER INDUSTRY TITAN REMEMBERED CALDWELL
KERR 2015 HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE ONTARIO ROAD BUILDING HALL OF
ORBA’s President’s Dinner allowed attendees to unite in anticipation for the future, but it was not without a few well-deserved nods to its past. As is tradition, the evening included the Ontario Road Building Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Caldwell (Cal) Kerr, a former senior executive with Portec Pioneer Crushers, was honoured posthumously.
“Cal was a wonderful man,” said Blair McArthur, ORBA’s newly elected president and Senior Vice President with The Miller Group. “I am fortunate to have known Cal and to call him a friend. It is fitting that Cal is now recognized as one of our industry titans, an honour well-earned and deserved.”
Born in Varney, Ontario in May 1919, Kerr began his career with a small trucking company, before joining General Supply Company in 1946 as a field service representative. Moving through the ranks, he later became a top salesman with Portec Pioneer Crushers, and developed a reputation industry for being the “go-to” expert for aggregated machinery, and a specialist in crushing and screening equipment.
“Cal touched just about every ORBA member over the span of his 60-year career,” said Bob Hunter, Construction Manager, Steed and Evans. “He was active with ORBA, annually attending the convention, and always available to assist or advise. When the work was done, Cal’s familiar “let’s have a pull” motto came into play.”
2015-16
ORBA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Back row, left to right – Jason Lang, Rocky Coco, Ted Arscott, Brady Dunlop, Bill Powell Jr., Alfredo Maggio, Steve Cruickshank, Jim Hurst, Scott Zeilstra, Steve Smith, Peter Gamble, Martin Gran
Front row, left to right – Tom O’Callaghan, Scott Taylor, Mario Villeneuve, Geoff Wilkinson, Geoffrey Stephens, Blair McArthur, Allan West, Ron Tomlinson, James McVeety, Marlene Yakabuski, John Blake
BLAIR MCARTHUR NOW AT THE HELM
Blair McArthur has enjoyed an eclectic career. From his work in the U.K. and the United States to his current tenure as Senior Vice President with The Miller Group, he’s collected insights and experience from across the industry which he now aims to bring to his newest role as president of the Ontario Road Builders Association.
“I’m fortunate in the fact I have had opportunities to work abroad and learn the construction business throughout North America and overseas,” he told Road Builder magazine. “It’s given me very good insights into the issues the construction industry is facing both here and abroad.”
A graduate of Waterloo University’s Civil Engineering program, Blair obtained his MBA at Laurier University before entering management training with George Wimpey PCL in the U.K. He represented George Wimpey’s operations within the U.K. and in the U.S. for nearly 12 years before leaving to work for the family business at the Miller Group in 1989.
Here, he rose through the ranks under the leadership of his father and past ORBA president Leo McArthur.
“Leo is a well-recognized contractor in Ontario, so the ability to work and learn from him gives me a solid foundation of knowledge and viewpoints to bring to ORBA’s board who also bring a very diverse range of experiences to the table,” he noted.
Blair has served on ORBA’s Board of Directors for nearly six years, building upon Miller’s long-running partnership with the association. Reflecting on the value of that relationship, he said, “Miller has always been supportive of ORBA both in terms of providing our employees to be on the board or being involved in the committees. We believe quite strongly that industry associations are very important to the health of our industry and our business as a whole.”
Outside of the office, Blair enjoys spending time with his wife Brenda at their home in King City, and catching up with son Dylan and
daughter Rachael, both of whom are pursuing their own careers overseas. Additionally, he is an active hockey player, serves on the board of directors for both the York Region Crime Stoppers and the Markham Stouffville Hospital Foundation, and plays an active role on the Police Appreciation Committee for Durham Region, which he co-founded.
“I get a kick out of being involved in activities that bring some benefit back to the community where I live and work,” he said.
This February, Blair outlined his core objectives during the President’s Dinner at ORBA’s 88th Annual Convention and Annual General Meeting. They include raising awareness for infrastructure spending, addressing key road maintenance issues such as winter maintenance contracts, continuing ORBA’s work concerning CFAAST recommendations, and strengthening the relationship between ORBA and its partners at the Ministry of Transportation.
Looking ahead, he added he is eager to play an influential role in ORBA’s growth and build upon its successes, noting, “ORBA is an organization that has 88 years of history behind it, and with that history comes a lot of goodwill and tradition. Of course, the sands are always shifting, so my goal is to carry that reputation forward. I look forward to the challenge.”
HIGHLIGHTS FROM TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE DAY
Transportation Infrastructure Day was held on the final day of its 88th Convention and Annual General Meeting. It presented guests with the latest projects, initiatives, and issues occurring across the province. The following are highlights from each presentation.
MTO Shares Big News at the ORBA Convention Exclusion Clause
The Hon. Steven Del Duca, Minister of Transportation, announced the MTO’s removal of the exclusion clause for legal proceedings.
This is a significant win for ORBA members and will pave the way for ORBA working with municipalities with similar exclusion clauses. It is hoped the decision will resonate across other municipalities and public owners throughout Ontario and Canada.
With this change to the exclusion clause ORBA will be in a position to resume collaborative efforts with the MTO to address procurement process improvements, including the implementation of a new, streamlined, third party referee dispute resolution process.
Over the coming months ORBA members will be provided with updates on the joint ORBA / MTO CFAAST Implementation Committee’s work.
Early Tender Calls
Also announced at the 88th ORBA Convention, MTO is rolling out 72 early tender calls for 2015.
The approximate value of these early tender calls is $785 million. The complete list of tenders is available on the ORBA website.
ORBA’s Board of Directors had identified early tender calls as a
priority issue for 2015 and is pleased to see this commitment from the MTO. They will continue to advocate for and work with MTO to see more early tender calls each and every year.
Utilizing more early tender calls can ensure public sector owners are maximizing the amount of projects out to the tender during the
construction season which can ultimately eliminate inefficiencies in the delivery of projects, improve quality and subsequently lower the cost of construction services for taxpayers.
MTO Central Region
Key projects shaping Ontario’s central region include the Highway 407 East extension; the Highway 427 extension, the widening of Highways
401, 406, 410, and 427; and other road and highway rehabilitations. The region is also pursuing a new 400-series highway to service the GTA across York, Peel, and Halton Region; as well as numerous bridge replacements and rehabilitations.
MTO West Region
Numerous infrastructure projects are on the books for Ontario’s western region over the next five years. These include a new four-lane highway from Kitchener to Guelph, the widening of Highway 8, and extensive Highway 401 reconstructions in ChathamKent and Elgin County.
Bridge and pavement renewal is also a focus. Over the coming years, projects will be delivered through bundled consultant assignments (MEGA EA, MEGA Culverts, MEGA 4, and MEGA 5).
MTO East Region
Ontario’s east region is exploring a number of road building inno-
vations, and shared a comprehensive list of road and bridge rehabilitation projects. Highlights include the widening of Ottawa’s Burnham Road, interchange improvements on Bronson and Parkdale Avenue, and numerous bridge rehabilitations, resurfacing work, and noise barrier installations.
MTO Northeastern Region
A number of projects are slated for Ontario’s northeastern region throughout 2015. These include over 300 kilometres of road resurfacing, over 20 bridge rehabilitations, two bridge replacements, and numerous culvert rehabilitations and replacements.
2016-18 will see a continued focus on bridge and pavement work, with plans for over 700 kilometres in road resurfacing, over 30 bridge rehabilitations, over 20 bridge replacements, and 70-plus culvert rehabilitations and replacements.
MTO Northwestern Region
Ontario’s northwestern region is aiming to undergo road rehabilitation and preservation work for 200 kilometres of road per year, as well as a heavy investment in the sustainability of all structures through 2022. Additionally, the MTO listed a number of road, bridge, and culvert projects for 2015-18.
The region is also exploring conventional and design-build contracts, and is looking to bundle bridge/culvert projects with the possibility of presenting 2-3-year contracts.
Regional Municipality of Durham
The widening of Brock Road, Harmony Road, and the Bayly / Victoria / Bloor corridor are among Durham’s top priorities. These will coincide with many road rehabilitation and structure projects between 2015 and 2018, funded annually at $28 million and $38 million, respectively.
HUTCHESON QUARRY
The region is also involved in Highway 407 East projects, and is working with Metrolinx to fund and build a Bus Rapid Transit system along Kingston Road. Related projects will be tendered over the next two years.
Region of Peel
A $1.31 billion transportation plan is in place for 2014-2023. Major capital projects include enhancements to Queen Street, Dixie Road, and the Bolton Arterial Roadway. The region is also investing time into extensive contractor evaluations designed to “help measure and improve contractor performance.” Over 250 evaluations have been completed to date.
Region of Waterloo
Priorities for the Region of Waterloo include its pavement and bridge maintenance program, safety related projects, addressing capacity deficiencies, and developing its Transportation Capital Program.
Planned road reconstruction projects include RR.6 (Highland Road), Reg. Rd. 20 (Bloomingdale Road), and multiple projects along Reg. Rd. 15 (King Street). Additionally, road widening and expansion projects are slated along major corridors such as Erb Street, King Street, and Franklin Boulevard. Waterloo’s $818 million ION rapid transit system is also a key focus.
Niagara Region
Top projects within Niagara Region’s Capital budget include an expansion of Thorold Stone Road, construction of the RR 81 Greenlane roundabout, construction of the Central Avenue bridge replacement, and region-wide road resurfacing
From 2016-2018, an additional $41.9 million has also been earmarked for network expansions and $107.6 million for road rehabilitations. Equal investments are being made to the region’s other infrastructure programs.
York Region
York Region is committed to a $1.5billion, 10-Year Roads Capital Construction Program. Work will include partial reconstruction of Bathurst Street, the widening of sections along Bayview Avenue and Highway 7. Additionally, Major Mackenzie Drive will see significant reconstruction and widening over the next years. Further roads and bridge rehabilitations, as well as culvert replacements and other infrastructure projects, are also slated.
City of Toronto
Top 2015 transportation projects include road work on Yorkville/ Bellair, Six Points Interchange, Eastern Avenue; bridge work on the Gardiner Expressway west deck replacement; and Prince Edward Viaduct substructure repairs. Future
projects consist of the Gardiner Expressway Rehabilitation Plan, Six Point Interchange Reconfiguration Project, Ingram Drive Extension Project, and Dufferin Street Bridge Replacement Project.
City of London
Highlights include phase 2 of the Hyde Park road widening, the widening of Commissioners Road West, the rehabilitation of Highbury Ave / CNR Bridge, VMP south extension and interchange improvements, and other road rehabilitation projects.
Over the next five years, six road widening projects, seven arterial road upgrades, two new alignments, and three major intersection reconfigurations are in planning. Its London Rapid Transit initiative, entitled Shift, is also on the city’s radar. (www.shiftlondon.ca).
City of Windsor
Roads, bridges, and support structures comprise $150 million of the City of Windsor’s $386 million infrastructure deficit. $267 million of its total $495 million 2015-2019 capital budget will be spent on roads ($96M), sewers ($126M), and transportation infrastructure ($45M).
The city’s upcoming projects include roadwork on the provincial / divisional corridor, Walker Road, E.C Row Expressway, and University Avenue; as well as city-wide road and sewer rehab programs.
City
of Kingston
A number of projects were outlined in regards to the City of Kingston’s $127 million, Multi-Year Infrastructure Program. In addition to extensive water projects, the city will engage in the reconstruction of Yonge Street and Johnson Street; the extension of Cataraqui Woods Drive and Centennial Drive; the widening of Highway 15 and John Counter Boulevard, and phase 3 of its Princess Street reconstruction.
Full presentations can be viewed online at www.orba.org/transportation-infrastructure-day-presentations.
FP4c Sitech Mid -Canada
2015 ORBA AWARDS
Director of the Year
This year, ORBA named Alfredo Maggio, President of Graham Bros. Construction Limited, as its Director of the Year in recognition of his extensive work for the association and its members.
Maggio has been a volunteer with ORBA since 2000. In 2002, he was elected to the Board of Directors and served in numerous roles in the years that followed. Highlights of his experience include representing the Structures Committee as co-chairman with the MTO since 2006, leading the General Conditions Review Committee in 2007, leading the Single Lift Overlays and Padding Task Force in 2008, and playing a key role in ORBA’s CFAAST recommendations over numerous years. In 2009, he was elected 2nd vice president of ORBA, and in 2011 assumed the role of ORBA president.
“Although I am proud of all the committees I have and continue to take part in, my proudest achievement on the board was the presidency,” he recalls. “It is very satisfying to be part of the association and a Board of Directors comprised of some of the most successful and talented leaders in our industry. Having the opportunity to lead this group was personally fulfilling and helped me appreciate the complexities of our industry and the personalities that lead it.”
Distinguished Service Award
ORBA’s Distinguished Service Award recognizes individuals within the industry who have donated their time and skills towards the enhancement of ORBA and the road building community. This year, the award went to Richard King, President and General Manager of Owen King Limited.
King has been with the Structures Committee since 1979 and has served as ORBA’s representative on the Ontario Provincial Standards (OPS) Structures Committee since 1994.
King said he was surprised and honoured to be recognized for his contributions, and appreciative for the support he’s received throughout the years, noting, “I’ve learned a lot from the people I work with on the committees, and I’m thankful for the opportunity.”
ORBA Civil Technology and Engineering Scholarships
ORBA awards four post-secondary scholarships to deserving students working towards a career in civil engineering and technology.
The Joe Bunting Civil Technology Scholarship ($3,000): This scholarship is awarded to a student entering their final year of civil technology at an Ontario college. This year, it was presented to Robert Wheeler, who is attending his third year of the Civil Engineering Technology program at Conestoga College in Kitchener.
The J.D. Chick Civil Engineering Scholarship ($3,000): This scholarship is awarded to a student entering their final year of civil engineering at an Ontario university. It was presented to Mehrzad Zonji, a fourth year student of the Civil Engineering program at McMaster University in Hamilton.
The ORBA Civil Technology Scholarship ($2,000): This scholarship is awarded to a graduating high school student entering their first year in civil technology at an Ontario College. It was presented to Thayer O’Neill, who is entering the Civil Engineering Technology program at Georgian College in Barrie.
The ORBA Civil Engineering Scholarship: This scholarship is awarded to a graduating high school student entering their first year in civil engineering at an Ontario university. It was presented to Eric St. Pierre, who is entering the Civil Engineering program at Western University in London.
Routly Safety Awards
The Routly Safety Awards recognize member companies that have worked the greatest number of consecutive man-hours without a lost-time injury. The awards cover man-hours recorded up until the end of 2013, which is the latest time for which statistics for this award are available.
Duncor Enterprises Inc. was awarded the Routly Safety Award in Category I, which recognizes contractors that have worked 100,000 average man-hours or less without a lost-time injury.
Pioneer Construction Inc. received the Routly Safety Award for Category II, which recognizes contractors that have worked over 100,000 average man-hours without a lost-time injury.
Dagmar Construction Inc., Capital Paving Inc., and Pioneer Construction Inc. all received the Milestone Award, which celebrates companies that have reached 500,000 or 1,000,000 consecutive man-hours without a lost-time injury. Dagmar Construction recorded 763,762 hours, Capital Paving reached 679,275, and Pioneer Construction logged 1,999,484.
ORBA congratulates this year’s Routly Safety Award winners and thanks all road builders who invest their time, resources, and training towards keeping Ontario’s roads safe.
Cruickshank Construction Awarded
MTO PAVER OF THE YEAR
Cruickshank Construction Ltd. received the MTO 2014 Paver of the Year Award for its work on both sides of Highway 401 between Napanee and Camden East Road.
Delivered under contract 2013-4005, the project tasked crews with repairing 6-kilometres of cracks, as well as milling and placing two lifts of asphalt. Crews faced challenging weather conditions throughout the duration of the project, which affected production schedules. However, the use of warm mix (McLquid AC supplied by McAsphalt Industries Ltd.) helped the team stay on pace and achieve performance bonuses.
“The decision to use warm mix certainly helped to achieve the bonuses for compaction and we might not have done so if we had not used McAsphalt’s warm mix,” said Steve Cruickshank, CEO of Cruickshank Construction Ltd.
Cruickshank further attributed the success of the contract to its team, which included project manager Roger Coulas and superintendents Peter Barnett and
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Cory McNish. Additionally, he thanked Tim Bilton for his work on quality control and the entirety of the crew and truck drivers for their significant contributions.
As for receiving the MTO Paver of the Year Award for 2014, he noted, “We are extremely proud and happy with the accomplishment. There are many great paving companies in the province, and to win the award was a combination of hard work and determination of many people.”
Equipment Used:
Caterpillar AP1055E paver
Caterpillar CB64 breakdown roller,
Caterpillar PS360C rubber tire roller, Caterpillar CB54 finish roller
Materials Used:
Superpave 19.0mm cat E (20% RAP and warm mix)
Superpave 12.5mm FC2 cat E (20% RAP and warm mix)
Capital Paving Inc. PAVER OF THE YEAR FINALIST
Capital Paving’s work on MTO contract 2014-2017 earned it a spot among the 2014 Paver of the Year finalists.
The job included milling and paving along Highway 5 (east of Highway 8 easterly to Highway 6) and Highway 6 (north of Maddaugh Road to south of Concession East), as well as guide rail repair and replacement, and traffic signal work at Brock Road.
Traffic from the nearby casino and local residents along Highway 5 was a top concern throughout the project. Nevertheless, crews maintained a high level of safety and quality through consistent communication, attention to detail, and traffic assistance from local OPP.
Special attention was also paid to ensure the project’s materials and mixing process were also kept to high standards.
MTO Paver of the Year finalists
Cruickshank crew using a shoulder paver to strike off joint to echelon pave.
Photo provided by Cruickshank Construction.
COCO PAVING
PAVER OF THE YEAR FINALIST
Coco Paving Inc., a division of the Coco Group, earned its Paver of the Year Finalist spot for its work on Highway 404 under contract 2014-2000. It was responsible for milling and resurfacing 6.9km of the highway from Aurora Road to Davis Road while adhering to a limited work schedule.
Crews paved the base course immediately behind the grinding operation to ensure there was no exposed ground surface at the end of the nightly operation. Additionally, the surface paving was performed under a full closure and under echelon paving.
Villeneuve Construction Co. Ltd.
PAVER OF THE YEAR FINALIST
Villeneuve Construction Co. Ltd. earned its Paver of the Year finalist spot for its work on contract 2014-5110. The project involved partial depth milling, crack repair, culvert replacements, asphalt pavement and shoulder rehabilitation on Highway 11 from Smooth Rock Falls to Driftwood, Ontario.
Excessive rain proved to be one of the most significant challenges on the job. Crews were also tasked with developing an effective method of implementing the MTO’s new crack repair method which used a membrane installed over the top of the cracks prior to paving. Realizing labourers alone would not be able to install the rolls given their weight, Villeneuve designed and fabricated special buggies to handle the weight of the rolls which eased installation.
Green
Leadership and Sustainability Award
The Green Leadership and Sustainability Award was created by ORBA and the Ontario Good Roads
Association (OGRA) to recognize organizations that have demonstrated environmental stewardship in the Ontario road building industry. For 2014, the award was given to Norjohn Contracting and Paving Limited, a division of Walker Industries.
The award celebrates Norjohn’s use of cold recycled mix (CRM) during its road conversion and resurfacing work in Haldimand County and in other rural regions. The process includes using reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) from existing stockpiles, crushing and sizing the material to spec, and then blending the processed RAP with an HF 150M mixing grade emulsion to create the final CRM mix.
“The end result is a blended material that behaves like a traditional hot mix base asphalt, but with no steam, minimal fumes, and it’s all performed at ambient temperature,” explains Derek Nunn, Norjohn’s division manager of asphalt emulsions. “It looks, feels, smells – and probably even tastes – a little different than hot mix, but the performance is comparable.”
Norjohn has been using CRM to convert gravel roads into structurally sound pavements for a number of years. And according to Nunn, the process has been mutually beneficial. “Our customers have recognized the immediate and long-term economic benefits of using this technique, and we have recognized this technique significantly reduces fossil fuel consumption and conserves aggregate resources.”
Reflecting on the Green Leadership and Sustainability Award, he adds, “We’re pleasantly surprised to be recognized by the Association, and must thank the folks at Haldimand County, who have embraced this technology as well as Becky Oehler from Walker Industries who transformed some mundane data into a wonderful story.”
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MEMBER CORNER
ORBA WELCOMES NEW MEMBERS
Associate Members
Bell Mobility
Bell offers business customers across Canada blazing fast speeds, high quality coast-to-coast coverage and global roaming to more than 200 countries on a full range of wireless voice and data communications products. Those services are delivered across the most extensive wireless networks in the Canadian industry.
Greg Foran, 800-667-0123 Bell.ca
B2W Software
B2W Software, Inc. is a premier provider of enterprise-class construction software, services, and solutions that is redefining the future for streamlined operations. B2W Software solutions effectively leverage the latest technologies into a unified system approach for estimating and bidding, field tracking and analysis, resource planning and dispatching, and asset maintenance.
Jeremy Waller, 800-336-3808
B2wsoftware.com
Excel Thru Learning
At Excel Thru Learning we are flexible, people-centric, and passionate about building a supportive relationship with our clients. As collaborators, we offer customized, current, and relevant learning solutions that align with your corporate strategy and vision. ETL’s mission is to inspire others to achieve!
Evan Badura, 905-789-1467
Excelthrulearning.com
Platform Insurance Management Inc.
Platform prides itself on being expert brokers in the area of construction insurance, surety and performance security; working exclusively with contractors. At our core we focus on delivering solutions to our clients which provide protection, reliability, opportunities for growth and a strategic advantage, all while building lasting relationships.
Charles Quenneville, 416-434-4322
Platforminsurance.com
Wirtgen Group
Wirtgen America Inc., Nashville, is the North American arm of the Wirtgen Group, the single-source marketer of the world’s most technologically advanced lines of asphalt reclaiming/recycling, concrete slipform, and surface mining equipment from Wirtgen, asphalt and soil compactors from Hamm, asphalt pavers from Vögele, and construction materials processing equipment from Kleemann.
Daulta O’Hanlon, 519-212-7192
Wirtgenamerica.com
Contractor Members
Amico Infrastructures Inc.
Amico Infrastructures Inc. brings over 25 years of experience as a heavy civil contractor with broad expertise in excavation, sewers, underground services, road and bridge rehabilitation/construction. Utilizing state-of-the-art techniques and technology makes Amico an innovative and efficient service provider for all infrastructure projects.
Jamie Dilaudo, 519-737-1577
Amicoaffiliates.com
Blackrock Foundation Solutions Inc.
Blackrock Foundations Solutions Inc. is a foundation company which specializes in providing design, supply and installation of shoring and foundation systems. Our Mission is to provide cost effective foundation solution and exceptional service to developers and general contractors in the Ontario market.
Gaetan Mondoux, 905-864-9980
Blackrockfoundations.ca
Empire Paving Limited
Empire Paving Limited is a family-run paving company, which was commenced in 1976 by Anthony Petrozza in Toronto, Ontario. Our main area of expertise is in managing and performing asphalt and concrete paving projects in the industrial and commercial sector. We have worked with many large corporations including Home Depot, Lowes, Target, Pan Am Games and IBM.
Anthony Petrozza, 416-644-1444
Empirepaving.ca
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OMTO BRINGS ORBA UP TO SPEED
8 The Big Move Regional Transportation Plan
ntario’s Ministry of Transportation (MTO) was well represented at this year’s ORBA convention. Deputy Minister Carol Layton, Assistant Deputy Minister Gerry Chaput, and Investment Strategies Branch Director Shael Gwartz took convention attendees through a review of the Ministry’s recent progress and its outlook for the years ahead.
Layton spearheaded the MTO presentation with a thank you to ORBA and its membership for its long-standing partnership, saying, “We strongly value the relationship that the Ministry of Transportation and the Ontario government has with ORBA ... We’ve been working together since before the great depression and because of that partnership we’ve been able to build our roads and highways across the province.”
Gerry Chaput reiterated the importance of ORBA’s work during his time at the podium. Building on the ORBA Convention’s theme of “The Road Ahead,” he shared a personal travel story that mirrored the challenges and opportunities facing the transportation industry.
“On the road ahead you have to be prepared for closures, detours, and people that don’t follow the directions. You need to have a destination. You need to have confidence in others, and a trust that they can provide you info in a timely manner, and that this information will be accurate and correct,” he said.
MTO’s Investment Strategies Branch Director Shael Gwartz continued MTO’s presentation with an overview of the Ministry’s $3.113 billion 2014/15 capitol budget, tender profile, projected accomplishments, and early tenders strategy.
In the 2014/15 year, the capitol budget will split between Ontario’s Central region (34 per cent), Eastern (15 per cent), West (14 per cent), Northeastern (19 per cent) and Northwestern (18 per cent). It will also include 72 early tenders, which Gwartz attributed to ORBA’s consultations.
“When you combine those with the 34 tenders we already initiated between October and December, that equals 106 tenders that will be issued within the next couple months for construction starting in 2015. So we’ve listened,” he announced.
Gwartz added there is room for additional tenders if the budget allows, but said ORBA members can do its part to help the ministry stay current with its available funds by keeping the lines of communication open with the MTO.
Closing MTO’s time on stage, Gwartz underlined the ministry’s commitment to maintaining and improving
upon Ontario’s transportation infrastructure; as well as that of the partnerships between stakeholders like ORBA and its member contractors.
Infrastructure Ontario Report Jeffrey Plant with Infrastructure Ontario discussed the organization’s track record and its initiatives through the Ministry of Transportation (MTO), Metrolinx, and other municipalities. To date, 37 Alternative Finance and Procurement projects have reached substantial completion, totalling approximately $10 billion in value.
Plant said many ORBA members have already worked on IO projects, and that there is still plenty of opportunity to get involved. As for the need to find an effective balance between local and foreign participation, he noted, “We want to see Ontario contractors working on our projects, but we also recognize that we work in a global environment and subject to trade agreements with other countries and provinces. We’re trying to find the right balance without being restrictive, but we recognize the benefits of local knowledge and experience, and will continue to encourage that in our procurement process.”
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The Big Move Regional Transportation Plan
METROLINX’S “BIG MOVE” GAINING MOMENTUM
Metrolinx has a major role to play in the evolution of Ontario’s transportation network. Its multi-billion dollar regional plan, entitled The Big Move, aims to dramatically expand and improve upon the province’s transportation network over the coming years through a large slate of transit projects.
It’s an ambitious plan, and one that relies on support from all its regional partners. That includes ORBA and its members, who welcomed Metrolinx President Bruce McCuaig back to its annual conference to discuss The Big Move’s progress and begin laying the groundwork for its next wave of projects.
“I’ve been here for the last four conferences to talk about The Big Move, and I think that’s in recognition to the significant changes and expansion underway in terms of the transit component we have going on in the transportation sector right now,” he told the audience, adding, “It simply makes sense to continue building the strong partnership we have between ORBA and Metrolinx. We both understand the crucial role transportation plays in terms of how we live and work, and we are
committed to working together in a number of concrete ways.”
“There are many large-scale projects that are underway right now that will transform the transportation system in this region. These carry a big responsibility; a responsibility to build it and leave behind a better future, a higher quality of life, and more opportunities for generations to come,” he added.
Additionally, Metrolinx is exploring the creation of an electronic online bidding system. Born out of
talks with its Joint Trade Contractors Council, of which ORBA is a member, the system is being pitched as a way to improve its tendering and procurement process.
“I am not sure exactly when the online bidding system will be implemented, but we are working very closely with ORBA, CEO (Consulting Engineers of Ontario), and other organizations to develop the methodology,” he reported.
All combined, Metrolinx’s initiatives aim to ease congestion within the city, which is estimated to cost the regional economy $6 billion per year. The agency is hopeful its current and future plans will accomplish just that, noting a strong investment strategy and partner network is vital to that goal.
“One of our most important stakeholders is the infrastructure building industry, of which ORBA is a significant player,” stated McCuaig. “Metrolinx could not achieve its mandate without you and it is very important to us that we pursue continuous improvement in how we work together.”
FOREVER OPEN ROADS
DR. THIERRY GOGER’S KEYNOTE ADDRESS
The road ahead requires experience, global insights, and an affinity for innovation. With this in mind, ORBA welcomed Dr. Thierry Goger, secretary general of the Forum of European National Highway Research Laboratories (FEHRL), to open its 88th Annual Convention with a look at Europe’s forward-future-minded approach to transportation infrastructure.
“Roads and transportation infrastructure are the backbones of the economy and social cohesion, and this is the same in Europe as it is all over the world,” he said, opening his keynote address.
Where roads were once a symbol of power, wealth, and freedom, Goger suggested they have now become symbols of pollution, congestion, cost, and fatalities. The reasons for this are many, and include an ever-widening infrastructure deficit compounded by aging infrastructure and inadequate investments.
It’s a grim prognosis, to be sure. However, it’s also one that U.K.’s road building stakeholders hope to turn around through a long-term infrastructure investment strategy that will see the development of a smart, sustainable, and integrated transportation network over the coming decades.
That entails roads that will be adaptable, automated, and resilient to climate change. They will incorporate technologies that will sense and communicate changes in traffic and weather conditions to drivers, and be embedded with nanotechnologies that will facilitate self-cleaning and self-repair.
“A road that can assess its condition at any time by itself will have a major impact in operations and maintenance operations,” predicted Goger.
Furthermore, the roads of tomorrow will be more resilient to climate conditions. They will incorporate geothermal and solar energy tech-
nologies, de-icing systems, and sensors that will read real-time weather conditions and respond to that data in meaningful ways.
Far from science fiction, Goger said many of the concepts outlined in his presentation are already being tested on sites across Europe Noted Goger: “All these changes may look very futuristic and I’m sure many of you are wondering if these will ever happen. What I’d like to say to that is if you are the early adopters of this innovation, you’re going to make the greater difference.”
While many of these innovations are still in their infancy, early test results have motivated FEHRL to begin sharing its research and findings with a number of industry groups. They are also the foundational concepts behind the organization’s ambitious FORx4 transportation initiative, dubbed Forever Open Road, which envisions a cross-modal transport system for Europe that incorporates modern roads, rails, rivers and runways.
In closing, Goger said the key to FEHRL’s vision – if not the key to infrastructure innovations across the globe – is to remain open to new ideas and become early adopters of tomorrow’s innovations.
“There’s a quote from Niccolo Machiavelli which says there is nothing more difficult, dangerous, or more doubtful of success than an attempt to introduce a new order of things. And obviously, it would be foolish to imagine that resistance will hold it back,” he said, adding, “It’s time to act and my recommendation to you is to be ahead of these changes and to make maximum benefit of them.”
For more on Forever Open Road and FEHRL, visit www.fehrl.org.
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TECHNOLOGY
EMBRACING INDUSTRY INNOVATIONS
If the industry is to seize the opportunities of tomorrow, it must first take advantage of today’s innovations. This is as true for road builders as it is for all construction sectors, wherein game-changing technologies and ideas are shaping the way transportation infrastructure is designed, built, and maintained.
The first step is identifying these innovations and understanding their practical use. For years, Lauren Hasegawa, co-founder of Bridgit, and Gregg Schoppman, Principal with FMI Corp, have been dedicated to doing just that, and this February they joined ORBA’s Convention to share their results.
“Its clear technology is evolving at a very exponential rate. It took over 40 years to go from the first PC to the first iPad and then only four years to go from that iPad to Google Glass, which is really one of the first steps into virtual reality,” said Hasegawa, launching her presentation, Construction Technology Trends for 2015 “As an industry, we need to pay attention to emerging trends because they are happening so quickly. We need to do this because if we lag behind, as soon as we get caught up we can be miles behind again.”
As co-founder of Bridgit, a developer of mobile-first solutions for construction worksites, Hasegawa is at the forefront of technological trends. Speaking to the inspiration behind Bridgit and its digital services, she said she was inspired to find an alternative to pen and paper solutions after recognizing the need for technological alternatives when she first entered construction.
“I was working for a contractor out west doing concrete restoration a
couple years ago, and I noticed time and time again that no matter what site I was on, I was always using pen and paper,” she recalled. “Whether it was preparing an efficiency list or safety checklist, I always found myself writing things down on paper, going back to my computer at the end of the day, entering that information, and sending it off by email. I was so used to using my phone and computer for everything else in my life, so I started to think about technology and where the technological gaps existed.”
This motivated Hasegawa to join with Bridgit co-founder Mallorie Brodie and develop construction apps under the Bridgit umbrella. It also motivated her to begin speaking with construction stakeholders across Canada about how emerging technologies such as hers can bring greater accuracy and convenience to all aspects of construction, including safety checklists, material and equipment tracking, timesheets, inspection checklists, deficiency reporting, and other aspects.
Smartphone technologies are just the tip of the innovation iceberg. Throughout her presentation, Hasegawa profiled a number of new technologies available to contractors, some of which are being used in different industries altogether.
One technology on the rise is unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), aka drones. On a jobsite, drones can be used to dramatically improve site photography by making it easier to take large aerial images and stitch images together using specialized software. Drone photography can also work hand and hand with 4D imaging software, which enables users to overlay current site photography with project plans and renders to get a better view into the past, present, and future status of a project.
Elsewhere, the “Internet of Things” (IoT) is a technology trend that can benefit construction jobs. The term describes the ability for everyday objects and materials to “speak” with one another and transmit situational data to contractors. Commercially, this trend is demonstrated
in products such as the Nest home thermostat, which can track and predict user habits and heat or cool interior spaces accordingly; and the Roomba Vacuum, which can create its own cleaning schedule and path according to its location.
In the construction world, IoT will begin taking the form of embedded intelligence in bridge materials to enable real-time testing; the SeeControl system which monitors and analyzes equipment production and output data while detecting possible failure events; and roads that can communicate traffic patterns and weather patterns to drivers.
Considering these and other incoming innovations on a whole, Hasegawa said it’s time to begin discussing how road building can make the most of the technologies in the pipeline. “There are a lot of people out there who see these technologies coming and they’re going to say why? I really encourage these people to talk about them at work and discuss how they can be used onsite or in the industry.”
Innovation in the Workforce Innovation isn’t limited to drones, software, and IoT advances alone. Indeed, while becoming knowledgeable about the tools available to the industry is essential, so too is encouraging innovation from within a company’s workforce.
“Innovation doesn’t have to be defined by technology,” said Gregg Schoppman in his presentation, Innovation: The World of Construction 2.0. “Do you need an iPad? Augmented realty? Drones? Those are great things, but what can we also do at that ground level? Let’s start small. Let’s start with sustainable innovation; the pieces we can add to help our supervisors, our workers, our foremen operate more effectively.”
Picking up on the themes outlined in Hasegawa’s presentation, Schoppman stressed the need to over-
come complacency within one’s company; that is, to foster new ideas throughout all levels and continually look for ways to improve one’s operations. “When you think about complacency, I also think of the word evolution. And when I think of evolution in construction, the one challenge I see is we maybe haven’t evolved as much as we should have, or we haven’t made a lot of the changes and kept up with our peers maybe as much as we should have.”
Change comes when companies make innovation a priority and truly believe in constantly growing through new processes and ideas, said Schoppman. After all, he says, it’s not the big that eat the small, it’s the fast that eat the slow.
“Evolution requires action – the actual changing of our business. And I’ll be blunt with you: change does not come easy,” he said.
HEALTH & SAFETY
LABOUR MINISTER CALLS FOR RENEWED HEALTH AND SAFETY FOCUS
Workplace health and safety remains a key focus in jobsites and contractor offices throughout the construction industry. It was also the focus of Labour Minister Kevin Flynn’s presentation during ORBA’s 2015 Convention, where he emphasized the need for greater workplace due-diligence and detailed the provincial government’s intent to make sure every worker in Ontario makes it home at the end of the day.
“This is a group I’ve come to respect since I was appointed minister last year. The interactions I’ve had with your group have always been very civil, they’ve always been very constructive, and they’ve always led to some very good things,” he said.
While workplace injuries and fatalities remain low in the province (declining by 30 per cent over the past few decades), Flynn insisted there is still room for improvement. From 2009 to 2013, the province recorded over 400 traumatic work-related fatalities, 126 of which occurred in the construction sector. Moreover, from 2013 to 2014 alone, the construction sector recorded an average of 134 critical injuries. According to the latest WSIB data, the top causes of those injuries included accidents caused by machinery, electrocution, and motor vehicle collisions.
“We at the ministry of labour work 12 months of the year to reduce these numbers and improve worker health and safety in the province, and we need your help,” Flynn said, adding, “Everyone in this room has a shared responsibility in bringing these numbers down, so I would really appreciate your organization’s continued support and efforts in doing so.”
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As for his role, Flynn said he is drafting a new construction health and safety action plan in collaboration with government partners, construction stakeholders, and associations like ORBA. The goal of the plan will be to decrease the number of injuries, illnesses, and fatalities in the construction sector by building upon the industry’s training and education efforts and supporting accident prevention strategies at all levels.
Work on the plan is already underway. To date, it has involved stakeholder workshops wherein construction industry leaders have had the opportunity to share their ideas and perspectives for improving jobsite safety.
“What came out of those discussions are clearer priorities. We already know what we think we should do, and you told us what we should do,” Flynn reported.
Among those priorities include engaging youth across the province to help build a culture of health and safety within schools and homes, as well as using social marketing to influence behaviours and help all workers understand their rights, responsibilities, and roles when it comes to promoting safety in construction.
Reflecting on the need to bring everyone together on these initiatives, Flynn noted, “We need to increase participation by all workplace parties, that would be management, employees, health and safety reps, organized labour, everybody who is involved in the sector.”
The next steps towards building the revised construction health and safety plan will be to hold further stakeholder meetings in spring 2015 and work with all of its partners to create a plan that will bring greater safety awareness, training, and oversight to jobsites across the province.
Flynn noted it is vital that everyone play an active role in contributing to these standards, and in building a culture of health and safety within all trades, explaining, “I love my job, but if there’s one thing I don’t like it’s that phone call or email I get once a week telling me that somebody who left for work one day isn’t going home at night. It’s something I don’t ever want to get used to, because I really believe if we continue to work to build a healthy, safe, and respectful workplace that those phone calls will either stop or get a lot less.”
Leaving ORBA with a final call to action, Flynn added, “It’s going to take all of us, not just the ministry, to create that culture. And together I know we will do that, and we must do that,” he added.
HEALTH & SAFETY
WORKPLACE HEALTH AND SAFETY: THE LEGAL PERSPECTIVE
Protecting the health and safety of Canada’s workforce is a responsibility shared by every employer. Yet not only is incident prevention key to preventing needless injuries and fatalities, it’s also critical to protecting a company’s well-being in the case of litigation.
Understanding this, ORBA dedicated part of its conference to discussing the legal implications of workplace injuries. In her presentation, Occupational Health and Safety: Does your program have what it takes?, Carissa Tanzola of Sherrard Kuzz LLP led attendees through the ins-and-outs of workplace safety liabilities and the consequences of failing to uphold them.
“We like to think that every employer, every company, and every contractor has a culture of health and safety, but as we actually know, sometimes budget and other considerations get in the way of that,” she said.
Tanzola added that road building is considered a “high risk” sector. As such, it’s important both employees and employers understand the role they play in making workplace health and safety an ongoing priority. It’s also important to recognize the potential penalties one faces if found to be negligent in those duties. These include individual fines of $24,000 and 12 months jail time for individuals, and $500,000
and possible criminal charge per corporation, as well as an additional 25 per cent victim surcharge.
With fines increasing, and employers being held more accountable for the well-being of their workers, Tanzola urged road builders to practice due diligence in all aspects of their health and safety practices. This requires up-to-date policies and procedures; proper training and education; competent supervisors; flawless documentation; and consistent monitoring, enforcement, and reporting.
Beyond this, employers must make health and safety awareness an integral part of their corporate culture. And that, said Tanzola, beginswith asking the right questions: “Does your program pass? It’s about asking the right questions, like do you have a health and safety policy? Is it updated? Are your workers trained on your policy? How is it discussed in your workplace, and do your supervisors and sub-trades take it seriously? These are the things you need to be discussing.”
In closing, she added that while investing in safety training and due diligence comes at a cost, that price-tag will always be preferable to the financial and human costs incurred in the event of an injury or death, suggesting, “Think of the money you can spend now, versus the money you may have to spend on lawyer fees and fines down the road.”
EDUCATION & TRAINING
HIGHER LEARNING ANNUAL ROAD BUILDING ACADEMY BOOSTS
PARTICIPATION
It may not have the same glamour as the Academy Awards, but ORBA’s Road Building Academy has earned top honours in supporting roles — namely by providing participants with an industry-relevant learning environment. The annual week-long series of courses — held during the last week of February this year — included exclusive content developed with input from industry experts. And that’s just one of the changes that organizers think helped create a substantial boost in attendance this year.
Richard Stamper, ORBA’s manager of member services, says, “Our group felt strongly that participants benefited by having the academy held at an institution of higher learning — which is why we went back to Georgian College in Barrie as the host location again. Instructors and participants have told us they enjoyed the venue, so we stayed with it. We did put a renewed effort into promoting each Academy course.”
Geoff Stephens, president of Capital Paving in Guelph and co-chair of ORBA’s education planning committee says, “An important factor in the academy’s success this year was the commitment to research and adding courses that were relevant to our industry. We not only targeted our members but branched out to our associate members — aggregate associations, hot mix, sewer, water main and municipal contractors.”
ORBA built their marketing approach from the ground up, beginning with a new visual identity for the academy itself — distinct from ORBA’s own logo. Stamper says, “Experience has shown me that little things, such as positioning and a consistent graphic design, make a big difference in the way people feel about the products they’re consuming.”
Stamper says organizers also separated the academy’s content into three principle areas in order to attract a broader cross-section of participants: Leadership, Business Management and Technical. “We found that we’d been targeting the same people over and over again — project managers, superintendents and foremen,” says Stamper. “The broader course structure meant we could attract a broader cross-section of people. We also contacted previous participants and explained that there would be advanced courses for their area of expertise to continue their learning experience.”
The course selection included several new sessions, such as Construction Disputes and Claims, Advanced Practical Environmental Training and Fleet Management, which proved very popular.
In the end, the extra time and effort put into the new marketing approach clearly helped because recruitment was up by 52 per cent this year — from 172 in 2014 to 262 in 2015. Non-member participation was also up — from 15 to 35. A total of 36 organizations enrolled staff
members and 31 member companies participated at the academy — of which 28 were contractor and three were associates.
“I took the Construction Disputes and Claims course as well as the Advanced Construction Law and Contracts,” said Kristina Gordonio from Facca Incorporated. “It was great to see these new courses added. I was incredibly pleased with both. The content, as well as the engaging personalities of the instructors, made for really interesting classes. I look forward to attending the academy in the future.”
“Clearly, the more tactical approach paid off but we’re not resting on our laurels,” says Stamper. “Feedback from the instructors and participants was very positive with many saying the same thing about a huge benefit being the interaction with fellow participants and comparing industry note. It’s all about continuous improvement so we expect to digest the data from the participants this year and analyze what we did right and where we could improve, going forward.”
Stephens concludes, “The academy does two main things. Most importantly it’s a way for members and companies in our associate industries to train their employees in industry specific courses that can’t be found elsewhere. And secondly, it’s also a way for the association to receive financial support to continually perform great work and educate our members in an industry that is always changing.”
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