Competitive financing available through Daimler Truck Financial. For the Freightliner Trucks Dealer nearest you, call 1-800-FTL-HELP. www.freightlinertrucks.com. FTL-MC-A-1052. Specifications are subject to change without notice. ©2011, Daimler Trucks North America, LLC. All rights reserved. Freightliner Trucks is a division of Daimler Trucks North America LLC, a Daimler company.

Notice something different? That’s called work. Real, gritty, put-your-back-into-it, work. Which is

exactly what the Severe Duty line-up was made for. These trucks are designed to easily maneuver

their way out of everything from a budget crunch to the trenches of a work site. And with a chassis

engineered for clear back of cab, body upfit is easy, no matter what sort of duty calls. There’s work.

And there’s SD work. Check out all the new work trucks at FreightlinerTrucks.com/WorkSmart

MEET THE ALL-NEW

SEVERE DUTY WORK TRUCK.

Fi

le N

ame:

FT

VOC

5466 L

aunch

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: 4cp

OFC2.indd 2 11-08-12 1:06 PM

http://www.freightlinertrucks.com

Competitive financing available through Daimler Truck Financial. For the Freightliner Trucks Dealer nearest you, call 1-800-FTL-HELP. www.freightlinertrucks.com. FTL-MC-A-1052. Specifications are subject to change without notice. ©2011, Daimler Trucks North America, LLC. All rights reserved. Freightliner Trucks is a division of Daimler Trucks North America LLC, a Daimler company.

Notice something different? That’s called work. Real, gritty, put-your-back-into-it, work. Which is

exactly what the Severe Duty line-up was made for. These trucks are designed to easily maneuver

their way out of everything from a budget crunch to the trenches of a work site. And with a chassis

engineered for clear back of cab, body upfit is easy, no matter what sort of duty calls. There’s work.

And there’s SD work. Check out all the new work trucks at FreightlinerTrucks.com/WorkSmart

MEET THE ALL-NEW

SEVERE DUTY WORK TRUCK.

Fi

le N

ame:

FT

VOC

5466 L

aunch

Spre

ad_On-s

ite

- m

1.indd

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Work

Has

A N

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OFC2.indd 3 11-08-12 1:06 PM

http://www.freightlinerTrucks.com/WorkSmart

Check out how the DD13 works for your business at DetroitDiesel.com.

PR

OFI

TAB

ILIT

Y

PRODUCTIVITY

Digging, hauling, dumping. Demand it all with the Detroit Diesel DD13® BlueTec®

engine. The high torque and power ratings of the DD13 take care of all your heavy

lifting. And with BlueTec SCR emissions technology you can lower your fuel costs

by up to 5%*. Not bad for a day’s work.

DDC-EMC-OTH-0068-0311. *Comparing a DD13 EPA 2010 engine with BlueTec emissions technology to a similarly spec’ed DD13 EPA 2007 with comparable engine ratings and load weights. Specifications are subject

to change without notice. Detroit Diesel Corporation is registered to ISO 9001:2008. Copyright © Detroit Diesel Corporation. All rights reserved. Detroit Diesel Corporation is a Daimler company.

Fi

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DDC

5045 C

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OFC2.indd 4 11-08-12 1:06 PM

July/August 2011 | On-Site 5

CONTENTS VOLUME 55, NO.5 July/August 2011

COLUMNS

DEPARTMENTS

48 SoftwareDo more with less

50 RiskWhat about after the project is complete?

52 Funny PhotoFunny Photo contest, Calendar of events

54 Contractors and the LawThe importance of timing

51 Index of Advertisers

7 CommentIt’s never too late

8 NewsIndustry news

16 Construction StatsValue of building permits, investment in non-residential construction and employment

SPECIAL FEATURE 18 SPECIAL REPORT

Tier 4 is coming. Will you be ready?

FEATURES 24 Telehandlers are on the rise

Telehandlers are being used in more applications than ever before, and in some jobs are a cost-effective alternative to other kinds of construction machinery.

30 Bigger, faster, strongerHave we gone as far as we should go with crane technology?

36 Taking safety to greater heightsPatience, staying alert and training are key when operating an aerial work platform (AWP).

39 All decked outPrecast deck panels help put Alberta bridge projects on the fast track.

43 Wheel loader vs. tool carrierPicking the right material handler saves time and improves productivity. But how do you know which one to choose?

24

43

30

54

ContentsNew_5.indd 5 11-08-11 12:16 PM

©2011 CNH America LLC. All rights reserved. Case is a registered trademark of CNH America LLC. www.casece.com

Introducing the Case N-Series. It’s everything we know. And everything we’ve heard. You said you wanted an easier way to load up the trucks, so we gave the joystick a thumb-activated integrated auxiliary control valve for effortless single control dumping. You demanded more control over your transmission, so we created the SmartClutch™ feature that allows customized modulation. And you asked for a stronger, more versatile hoe, so we gave the N-Series greater lift height combined with the lift capacity of an eight-ton excavator. And the industry’s best subterranean digging performance – perfect for breaking up ground; any type, any season. Ready to learn more? Go to caseNseries.com.

Introducing the Case N-Series. It’s everything we know. And everything we’ve heard. You said you wanted an easier way to load up the trucks, so we gave the joystick a thumb-activated integrated auxiliary control valve for effortless single control dumping. You demanded more control over your

ContentsNew_5.indd 6 11-08-11 12:16 PM

http://www.casece.com

W hen I was little more than 22, freshly

graduated from journalism school,

I had dreams of traveling

the world, hitch-hiking through Europe,

teaching English in Japan and working as a

reporter somewhere in the backwoods of New

Zealand. Then reality, that cruel mistress, sent

me a wakeup call in the form of a student loan

bill. A few weeks later I jumped at the chance to work as an

assistant editor on a Canadian engineering magazine.

Some 14 years later, I haven’t yet checked everything off that early

“to-do” list, but my work has given me the opportunity to travel, see

new products and meet some very interesting people along the way.

I bet a lot of you had similar “to-do” lists back when you were still

in school. Well, if you aren’t already realizing those early ambitions,

it’s never too late.

Earlier this month I stumbled across an interesting website that

had me reminiscing about those early travel ambitions. It’s called

www.constructionjobs.ie and it is part of Specialist Job Boards Ltd.,

a group of niche job boards focused on the construction and energy

sectors. The websites cater to construction, engineering and energy

professionals who are seeking work in Ireland, UK, Middle East,

Americas, Asia and New Zealand.

Visitors to the site can search construction jobs by sector, job

title and location. They can post their CV in the “Jobseeker Members”

section, and sign up to have relevant job posts emailed directly to

them as they come up.

The quick trial search I conducted under the “Construction Manage-

ment” category in the “Australia and New Zealand” region brought up

eight recent job postings. They included listings for a Construction

Foreman, Senior Bid Leader and Construction Manager. Some were

permanent positions, and others were contract projects for jobs lasting

anywhere from a few months up to a few years.

As fascinating and seemingly extensive as this website appeared at first,

I soon discovered that it’s not terribly unique. There are several sites out

there offering similar services, such as: construction-jobs-overseas.com;

www.go4constructionjobs.com; and www.globesterjobs.com, just to name

a few. Many of the big name job sites also offer international categories.

Most of us aren’t exactly college kids anymore, so picking up and

moving your business to the Middle East might not go over so well

with the family. That said, a three-month contract could be an exciting

change of pace.

Your construction skills and knowledge are invaluable on job sites

around the world. And the experience you gain while working abroad

will only give you greater perspective on how we run our businesses

here in Canada. We spend so much of our daily lives at work, it only

makes sense to find new and potentially exciting ways to broaden our

skills and experience.

So what do you think? Is it time to start packing?

COMMENTCorinne Lynds

It’s never too late

www.on-sitemag.com • Fax: 416-510-5140

PublIsher | Peter Leonard (416) 510-6847 [email protected]

edItor/edItorIal dIrector | Corinne Lynds(416) 510-6821 [email protected]

contrIbutIng edItor | James A. Barnes

art dIrector | Melissa Crook(416) 442-5600 x3260 [email protected]

account Manager | David Skene(416) 510-6884 [email protected]

account Manager | John Chiasson (416) 510-6791 [email protected]

sales & MarketIng coordInator | Kim Rossiter416-510-6794 [email protected]

ProductIon Manager | Karen Samuels416-510--5190 [email protected]

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Published by bIg Magazines lP, a division of glacier bIg holdings company ltd.80 Valleybrook Drive, North York, ON M3B 2S9

bIg Magazines lPVice-President of Canadian Publishing | Alex PapanouPresident of Business Information Group | Bruce Creighton

subscrIPtIon rates Canada $81.00 per year, Outside Canada US$139.00 per year, Single Copy Canada $13.00. On-Site is published 7 times per year except for occasional combined, expanded or premium issues, which count as two subscription issues.

PrIvacy notIce From time to time we make our subscription list available to select companies and organizations whose product or service may interest you. If you do not wish your contact information to be made available, please contact us via one of the following methods:

Phone: 1-800-668-2374 Fax: 416-442-2191e-mail: [email protected] to: Privacy Officer, 80 Valleybrook Drive, North York, ON M3B 2S9

Canadian Publications Mail Agreement No. 40070230

On-Site receives unsolicited materials (including letters to the editor, press releases, promotional items and images) from time to time. On-Site, its affiliates and assignees may use, reproduce, publish, re-publish, distribute, store and archive such unsolicited submissions in whole or in part in any form or medium whatsoever, without compensation of any sort.

dIsclaIMer This publication is for informational purposes only. The content and “expert” advice presented are not intended as a substitute for informed professional engineering advice. You should not act on information contained in this publication without seeking specific advice from qualified engineering professionals.

Canadian publications Mail Sales Product Agreement 40069240

Established in 1957, On-Site is published by BIG Magazines LP a division of Glacier BIG Holdings Company Ltd.

Inc. ISSN: 1910-118X

We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund (CPF) for our publishing activities.

Content copyright ©2011 by BIG Magazines LP, may not be reprinted without permission.

MEMBERS OF

CanadianAssociation

of Equipment Distributors

Canadian Construction Association

7_editorial.indd 7 11-08-15 12:19 PM

http://www.constructionjobs.ie

http://www.go4constructionjobs.com

http://www.globesterjobs.com


mailto:[email protected]









8 On-Site | July/August 2011

PCL gives $1M “hand up” to Habitat for Humanity PCL’s president and CEO Paul Douglas

presented a cheque for one million

dollars to Susan Green, chair of Habitat

for Humanity Edmonton (HFHE). Th e

donation is a strong community statement

as it will have a major impact on aff ordable

housing by supporting Habitat’s mission

throughout North America.

Th e announcement took place at

PCL’s North American Headquarters in

Edmonton since the local Habitat affi liate

will be the recipient of $100,000 toward

a one-home build. Th e PCL-sponsored

home will be located in Anderson Gardens,

which is the largest Habitat Built Green

site in Canada.

While $100,000 of PCL’s one-million-

dollar donation will go towards a one-

home build in Edmonton, the remainder

of the donation will be distributed to other

Habitat affi liates across Canada and the

United States over a two-year period.

Anderson Gardens is the biggest build

in HFHE’s history and the biggest Built

Green Project in Canada. Th e project will

be home to 47 families when completed.

In 2011, funds from PCL’s donation will

also go to support building projects in

Winnipeg, Seattle, Anchorage and Los

Angeles.

Industry News

New hospital project brings construction jobs to Oakville

Infrastructure Ontario and Halton Healthcare Services announced Hospital Infrastructure Partners has signed a fi xed-price contract to design, build, fi nance and maintain the new replacement Oakville Hospital.

The construction team, comprised of EllisDon Corporation, Fengate Capital Management and Carillion Canada Inc., will begin construction August 2011 with work on site services. The project is expected to be complete by summer 2015.

The hospital project is a signifi cant economic opportunity for suppliers and contractors in Halton Region and the Greater Toronto Area. At the peak of construction, Hospital Infrastructure Partners estimates more than 1,100 workers will be on site daily.

The hospital will be designed and built to meet the Canada Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system, with a goal of achieving LEED Silver certifi cation.

The value of the contract with Hospital Infrastructure Partners is approximately $2 billion. Over the 30-year life of the contract, when adjustments for anticipated infl ation are made, the contract value is $2.7 billion (nominal). The contract cost covers the design and construction of the facility, building maintenance, life-cycle repair and renewal, as well as project fi nancing.

Infrastructure Ontario and Halton Healthcare Services announced Hospital

Capital Management and Carillion Canada Inc., will begin construction

The Edmonton-based Habitat for Humanity affi liate will recieve $100,000 toward a one-home build to be located in Anderson Gardens.

photo: Habitat for Humanityphoto: Habitat for Humanity

8-15_news.indd 8 11-08-18 3:10 PM


INDUSTRY NEWS

Aecon awarded $64 million in highway contractsAecon Group Inc. has been awarded three contracts valued at $64

million for highway construction work in Ontario.

Under a $29-million contract with the Ontario Ministry of

Transportation, Aecon will upgrade the northbound lanes of Hwy

400 along a 16.2-km stretch, from Hwy 11 to Hwy 93 north of Barrie.

Work on the project includes earth grading, installing the granular

base and paving the roadway, as well as electrical work and the

installation of storm drains and culverts. In addition, four existing

highway structures will be rehabilitated. Construction is expected

to be complete by November 2013.

This award follows two other highway projects totaling $35

million awarded to Aecon for the upgrade of Highway 407 ETR

near Toronto. Under these contracts, Aecon will widen the Hwy

407 median along a 10-km stretch from Hwy 401 to Trafalgar

Road and add sewers, install overhead signs and raise the con-

crete base grade of the high mast lighting on an 18-km stretch of

Hwy 407 from Hwy 400 to Hwy 404. Work on these projects has

begun and is scheduled for completion by early fall of this year.

Bird Construction Inc. to acquire H.J. O’ConnellToronto-based Bird Construction Inc.

has signed an agreement to acquire all of

the outstanding shares of H.J. O’Connell,

Limited.

The $77.5-million purchase price will

be funded with approximately $33.5 mil-

lion of existing working

capital, $30 million through equipment fi-

nancing and $15 million by way of vendor

take back financing.

H.J. O’Connell has been involved in

the heavy construction, civil construction

and contract surface mining sectors since

1931 with operations in Newfoundland &

Labrador, Northern Quebec and Mani-

toba. There is no geographic market sector

overlap between the current operations

of Bird and H.J. O’Connell. Its diversi-

fied business includes mining, energy,

industrial and infrastructure construction

markets, with specialization in northern

and remote—site related projects.

Key members of H.J. O’Connell’s exec-

utive and management teams have agreed

to remain as employees and to assist Bird

in the management of H.J. O’Connell’s

ongoing operations.

The acquisition is to be complete by

the end of August.

www.smsequip.com

Western region 1.866.458.0101 1.800.881.9828eAstern

region

SM

SP

RT

11_4

9

SMS Equipment holds a unique position in the industry as a one-stop supplier of the most complete range of equipment. We offer only world-renowned equipment that meets your standards of reliability and productivity. With over 40 locations to serve you across Canada, SMS Equipment is your local equipment and solutions provider.

Rehabilitation of the Huron Central Railway beginsBryan Hayes, Member of Parliament for Sault Ste. Marie, David Orazietti, Member of Provincial Parliament for Sault Ste. Marie and Mario Brault, president of Huron Central Railway (HCR), have marked the start of construction for the railway rehabilitation of portions of the 288km rail line from Sudbury to Sault Ste. Marie, including a branch from McKerrow to Espanola.

The capital rehabilitation of the Huron Central Railway will ensure its long-term safety, efficiency and capacity by upgrading it to North-American standards. The rail line connecting Sudbury to Sault Ste. Marie is a significant component of the transportation network in Northern Ontario. It provides direct freight rail access to at least 26 communities and First Nations and indirect rail access to numerous other Northeastern Ontario communities.

This investment will offer an opportunity for industrial growth and new jobs and establish the foundation for the expansion of industries and the development of new ones. Improving this rail line will also ensure long-term environmental benefits by reduc-ing truck traffic as well as long-term safety on the existing line.

The total cost of the project is approximately $33.3 million. The Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario will each contribute up to $15 million. The Huron Central Railway will provide the remaining funding.

8-15_news.indd 9 11-08-18 3:10 PM

http://www.smsequip.com


INDUSTRY NEWS

MaRS Centre Phase 2 set for completion Fall 2013MaRS Discovery District has announced that construction of

MaRS Centre Phase 2 (www.marsdd.com/phase2) will proceed.

According to the company, the 20-storey state-of-the-art

convergence centre, a substantial expansion of the facility, will

enable MaRS to accelerate its role as a catalyst of innovation in the

launching and growth of new science and technology businesses.

To complete the development

of MaRS Centre Phase 2, MaRS

is partnering with the Province

of Ontario and continuing its

relationship with Alexandria,

a life science developer

and owner.

Th e current MaRS Centre is

at full occupancy, and cannot

meet the increasing demand

for space from both institution-

al and business tenants. MaRS Centre Phase 2, directly

adjacent to the existing facility, will off er tenants co-located tech-

nologically advanced laboratory and offi ce space; award-winning

communications and information technology capabilities; access

to a large multi-function conference centre; and collaboration

opportunities with other MaRS tenants and partners across

Canada and around the globe.

Strongco begins construction on Orillia BranchStrongco has begun construction on a new branch in

Orillia,Ont.

Site work commenced this month on a 1.5-acre parcel of

land in Progress Park on the outskirts of Orillia. Th e property

is strategically located between Strongco outlets in Sudbury to

the north and Mississauga to the south.

Th e new branch will be branded as Volvo and will carry

other complementary brands in support of end user markets

in the area.

“Orillia is an ideal location for a new branch in south-central

Ontario to enable us to improve service to key customers and

enhance our market position,” said Bob Dryburgh, president and

chief executive offi cer. “We have a large quarry and aggregates

industry customer base within a 50-mile radius of the city,

particularly on the east side of Lake Simcoe.”

Strongco expects to open the new 10,500 square-foot

branch in October.

of MaRS Centre Phase 2, MaRS

is partnering with the Province

of Ontario and continuing its

relationship with Alexandria,

a life science developer

and owner.

at full occupancy, and cannot

al and business tenants. MaRS Centre Phase 2, directly

Why invest the time to get to know our clients?Because we care to fully understand what you’re up against and where you want to go. We gain insight and real understanding so we can help you achieve your ambitions.

it all starts with building a great relationship.Strong relationships with over 7,000 real estate and construction clients across Canada have proven our commitment.

BDO. MORE THAN YOU THINK.

Assurance | Accounting | Tax | Advisorywww.bdo.ca

BDO Canada LLP, a Canadian limited liability partnership, is a member of BDO International Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, and forms part of the international BDO network of independent member firms. BDO is the brand name for the BDO network and for each of the BDO Member Firms.

8-15_news.indd 10 11-08-18 3:10 PM

http://www.marsdd.com/phase2

http://www.bdo.ca


IN BRIEFGraham Group Ltd. was recently named a CIO 100 honouree.

Each year, the CIO 100 Awards honour 100 companies that

demonstrate excellence and achievement in Information

Technology. Th e process for choosing honourees is systematic

and highly competitive. A team of 42 judges reviews applica-

tions and look for companies that are using IT in innovative

ways to deliver competitive advantage to the enterprise and

enable growth.

For the fi rst time, Graham has been named to this list,

due in large part to Toolbox, an in-house, integrated suite

of applications tailored specifi cally for construction

operations and project delivery.

Strongco Corporation has entered into an agreement with

Ormet SpA of Italy to be the exclusive dealer for Ormet Jekko

minicrane products for Canada. Jekko minicranes are compact

crawler cranes equipped with outriggers that provide lifting

and material handling capabilities for confi ned working areas.

Th ese versatile machines have lifting capacities ranging from

1.2 to 4.0 tonnes. Applications include mechanical contract-

ing, glass handling and installation, steel erection, HVAC and

landscaping. Strongco will market and support the products

through its Canadian branch network.

SNC-Lavalin is reinforcing its environmental expertise with

the acquisition of MDH Engineered Solutions, an engineer-

ing consulting & research fi rm based in Saskatoon, Sask. In

business since 1980, MDH Engineered Solutions provides

geo-environmental, geotechnical, hydrogeological and envi-

ronmental engineering consulting services to the mining, oil &

gas, transportation, utility and government sectors. Th e fi rm has

approximately 175 permanent employees working in offi ces in

Saskatoon, Regina, Prince Albert and Esterhazy, Sask., and in

Edmonton and Fort McMurray, Alta.

Mississauga, Ont.-based Ammann Canada has appointed

Michael (Mike) Byron as the company’s fi rst product support

manager — North America.

Byron has represented some of

the world’s top brand names

in compaction rollers and light

compaction equipment through

a career in the equipment

industry that spans more than 30

years. Well-grounded in equip-

ment maintenance and paving

applications, he also brings a

sound foundation in parts and

service management to his

new position.

manager — North America.

Byron has represented some of

the world’s top brand names

in compaction rollers and light

compaction equipment through

a career in the equipment

industry that spans more than 30

years. Well-grounded in equip-

ment maintenance and paving

applications, he also brings a

sound foundation in parts and

service management to his Mike Byron, Ammann’s Product Support Manager—North America.

8-15_news.indd 11 11-08-18 3:10 PM

http://viewpointcs.com


INDUSTRY NEWS

At Weber MT, our soil compactors

come with an available five-year warranty.

For quality you can trust,

think blue.

Is this your warranty?

www.webermt.us 1-800-70 -3237

Construction begins on Ripley Aquarium next to CN TowerMayor Rob Ford and Michael Chan, Ontario’s Minister of Tourism, announced at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in August that construction has begun on Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada. To be built at the base of the CN Tower, the aquarium will be home to more than 10,000 different species of marine animals and will include a large underwater tunnel from which visitors will be able to view the sea life.

Building an aquarium is no small challenge, according to Jim Pattison Jr., Ripley’s Orlando-based president. “The closest equivalent is a nuclear plant. We’ve got these huge tanks, we have to quarantine and prepare the animals, we make our own salt water and recycle most of our water. It’s very complex.”

City of Toronto offi cials and Ripley’s has been relatively tight-lipped about the fi nancials, but industry sources have pegged the company’s contribution at about $110 million. The city, by compari-son, is expected to provide roughly $10 million in tax breaks, with millions more from the provincial and possibly federal governments.

Despite being located on a relatively small plot of land, the Toronto aquarium, at about 150,000 square feet, it will be bigger than the Ripley’s aquariums in Gatlinburg and Myrtle Beach, S.C. The new aquarium will include crowd-pleasing sharks, rays and colourful marine life, but it also plans to have a signifi cant focus on fi sh of the Great Lakes and other parts of Canada.

Construction on the aquarium is expected to be complete in the summer of 2013.

8-15_news.indd 12 11-08-18 3:10 PM

http://www.webermt.us

http://www.adriansteel.com


SAFETY NEWS

Associations partner on program as Dean Panel delivers reportBy Jim Barnes

C onstruction safety in Ontario has had its share of the

spotlight, recently. Th e Dean Panel on Occupational

Health and Safety delivered its proposals on OHS to the

Ontario government late last year. At the same time, two industry

associations—the Infrastructure Health and Safety Association

(IHSA) and Ontario General Contractors Association (OGCA)—

began collaborating on a Certifi cate of Recognition Program

(COR) for Ontario contractors that is now just being launched.

Early in 2010, the Minister of Labour appointed an Advisory

Panel on Occupational Health and Safety, chaired by Tony Dean,

a retired senior civil servant and a professor at the University

of Toronto. Th e panel included health and safety experts from

labour and employers, as well as academics. It was asked to

recommend structural, operational and policy improvements

to Ontario’s OHS system.

While its recommendations were wide-ranging and touched

every aspect of the OHS system, the development of an accreditation

program for the industry was seen as a priority.

Th e program developed by the two associations was a proac-

tive move. “We’re in a continual period of change with respect to

health and safety delivery. Once everything was sorted out, we

wanted our members to have something in place, to be ready and

to be proactive,” notes Michael Burke, vice president of Client

Services at IHSA.

IHSA was founded in January 2010, when the Construction

Safety Association of Ontario (CSAO), the Electrical & Utilities

Safety Association of Ontario and the Transportation Health and

Safety Association of Ontario amalgamated.

“Having some sort of COR (Certifi cate of Recognition)

program had long been a recommendation of CSAO,” says Burke,

and IHSA’s Provincial Labour/Management Section 21 Commit-

tee included advocacy for such a program in its submission to

the Dean Panel.

COR is a certifi cation-type program that follows the National

Audit Standard set out by the Canadian Federation of Construction

Safety Associations. Th e template is used across Canada and is

adapted to provincial requirements.

Th ere was a sense of urgency in developing a program. “…

We believe it would be most helpful, and ultimately contribute

to their maximum eff ectiveness in this sector, for the construction

industry to have experience with piloting and implementing a

Certifi cate of Recognition program right away,” noted IHSA CEO

Al Beattie.

OGCA, too, was eager to see movement on accreditation.

Its Safety Committee recommended changes to the Workplace

Safety and Insurance Board Safety Group program for 2011 that

would allow member fi rms to participate in a COR program.

Th e members had asked for a replacement for the Safety

Group program, says David Frame, director of Government

Relations. Th e Veterans Program in the Safety Group was closing

down, and companies that wanted to cooperate on health and

safety excellence were left without a program.

Th e collaboration with IHSA, also pursuing COR, began

early in 2011, says Frame.

Th e development of an accreditation/certifi cation program

had been under discussion since before the Dean Panel report.

Th e two associations partnered on a sector-specifi c audit

program for a workplace health and safety management system.

Th e resulting program was taken to the COR national body to be

approved. Th at program is now being rolled out as a pilot project;

COR values: Ontario moves forward on safety

The Certifi cation of Recognition safety program began as a pilot project in July.

8-15_news.indd 13 11-08-18 3:10 PM


SAFETY NEWS

the fi rst training rolled out in July and continues through August

and September.

“We thought, let’s off er this as a pilot program, and see how it

works,” says Burke. Experience with this program will be used to

refi ne the concept. Frame expects a review of the program by the

end of the year. “Changes will be made,” he says. “Hopefully, it

will be more widely available as a full program.”

Registration is open to all applicable IHSA member fi rms.

Some 21 fi rms registered soon after the program launched and

there are many more now. “We have had a good response from

the public,” says Burke.

To enter the program, a fi rm must be registered with a WSIB

construction rate number and have a WSIB clearance certifi cate

in good standing.

Th ere are four elements to the mandatory training:

• Concepts of Health and Safety Management: to be taken by

a senior manager and one full-time employee (half day).

• Internal Auditor Training: one full-time employee (two days).

• Health and Safety Reps Program: one full-time employee (fi ve

days).

• Principles of Eff ective Training: one full-time employee

(three days).

Th e program is being delivered at the Centre for Health and

Safety Innovation in Mississauga, Ont.

Jim Barnes is On-Site’s contributing editor. Send comments to [email protected].

Dean proposalsThe Dean Panel proposals called for closer integration among all prevention activities, more clearly defi ned roles and stronger lines of accountability to a chief executive responsible for prevention. The chief executive would report directly to the Minister of Labour and would work with the Deputy Minister of Labour and a Prevention Council to develop an inte-grated OHS strategy.The panel also recommended that an implementation team and an interim Prevention Council be established as soon as possible, to work closely with labour and employer stakeholders to implement the critical, early priorities.

The panel put some priority on cost-effectiveness: it says that its recommendations can be fully funded within the current spending allocation. Further regula-tory requirements should be focused on fi lling gaps and tackling demonstrated risks. In summary, the panels’ specifi c proposals were:• Better methods of gathering and sharing information

to track performance and identify current and emerg-ing risk factors—including those in the underground economy.

• Recognition and incentives for high-performing em-ployers and shared best practices, with a focus on the needs of smaller employers.

• More involvement from workplace parties in decisions about OHS system priorities.

• Training to improve knowledge of the rights and responsibilities of workers and supervisors.

• Rigorous training that sets minimum standards for high-risk activities, such as working at heights—with tougher penalties for non-compliance.

• Addressing the needs of vulnerable workers who may face challenges in understanding and exercising their rights and responsibilities.

• More collaboration and integration between agencies delivering health and safety services and a more fl exible range of enforcement tools for inspectors.

• Extending senior management’s leadership in build-ing a culture of health and safety and worker involve-ment. This includes an effective health and safety management system and Joint Health and Safety Committees and Health and Safety Representatives.

• Improved accountability for spending and results, to facilitate performance measurement and transparent reporting on progress.

The COR program is being delivered at the Centre for Health and Safety Innovation in Mississauga Ont.

8-15_news.indd 14 11-08-18 3:10 PM


8-15_news.indd 15 11-08-18 3:10 PM

16 On-Site | July/August 201116 On-Site | July/August 2011

Source: Statistics Canada

$ billions

Total value of permits

2008 2009 2010 2011J J JJJ

7.47.06.66.25.85.45.04.64.23.83.43.0

thousands

Employment

2008 2009 2010 2011J J JJJ

17,600

17,400

17,200

17,000

16,800

16,600

$ billions

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

12

11

10

9

8

7

seasonally adjusted

Investment in non-residential building construction

II IIIII IIII IIIIIIIV IVIV III III IV III IIIIII IV

CONSTRUCTION STATS

A SELECTION OF DATA REFLECTING TRENDS IN THE CANADIAN CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

Building permits up again in JuneMunicipalities issued building permits worth $6.6 billion in June, up 2.1 per cent from May, when growth was 20.9 per cent. The increase in June was largely attributable to higher construction intentions for industrial and institutional buildings in Ontario and multi-family dwellings in British Columbia. The value of permits in the non-residential sector rose 3.0 per cent to $2.8 billion in June, following a 51.1 per cent increase in May. Industrial and institutional buildings in Ontario and Quebec were behind much of the advance in the non-residential sector.

Employment up in JuneEmployment rose for the third consecutive month, up 28,000 in June. The unemployment rate was unchanged at 7.4 per cent as the number of people participating in the labour market increased. For the third consecutive month, employment in construction was little changed. However, the number of people working in this industry has increased by 3.2 per cent (+39,000) since June 2010.

Investment in non-residential building construction edges upInvestment in commercial building construction reached $6.5 billion in the second quarter, up 0.8 per cent from the previous quarter. This was the sixth consecutive quarterly increase and re� ected higher spending in the construction of o� ce, transportation buildings, and retail and wholesale outlets in several provinces.

CAT, CATERPILLAR, their respective logos, “Caterpillar Yellow” and the “Power Edge” trade dress, as well as corporate and product identity herein, are trademarks of Caterpillar and may not be used without permission. © 2011 Caterpillar. All Rights Reserved.

INTRODUCING THE NEW CAT® B SERIESThe next generation of Cat® Articulated Trucks, the 735B, 740B and 740B EJ, are built to deliver more. More versatility. More cycles. More profit. They’re loaded with new features and enhancements that maximize jobsite productivity.

• Advanced, fully automatic traction control improves ease of operation

• Proven suspension system provides unparalleled ride quality

• Improved transmission control enhances fuel economy and reduces cycle times

• Innovative cab enhancements improve operator environment

Learn more about the B Series by scanning the box below with your smart phone, or visit www.CatAllDay.com/articulatedtrucks.

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CAT, CATERPILLAR, their respective logos, “Caterpillar Yellow” and the “Power Edge” trade dress, as well as corporate and product identity herein, are trademarks of Caterpillar and may not be used without permission. © 2011 Caterpillar. All Rights Reserved.

INTRODUCING THE NEW CAT® B SERIESThe next generation of Cat® Articulated Trucks, the 735B, 740B and 740B EJ, are built to deliver more. More versatility. More cycles. More profit. They’re loaded with new features and enhancements that maximize jobsite productivity.

• Advanced, fully automatic traction control improves ease of operation

• Proven suspension system provides unparalleled ride quality

• Improved transmission control enhances fuel economy and reduces cycle times

• Innovative cab enhancements improve operator environment

Learn more about the B Series by scanning the box below with your smart phone, or visit www.CatAllDay.com/articulatedtrucks.

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Special RepORt / tieR 4

WHAT EVERY CONTRACTOR SHOULD KNOW ABOUT tieR 4

We’ve been hearing a lot about Tier 4 Interim (Tier

4i) and Tier 4 Final (Tier 4f) emission regulations

over the past year, but what does it really mean

for your construction business?

Realistically, the impact on machine operators will be relatively

transparent at fi rst. Th ere’s no pressure to run out tomorrow and

replace all your equipment. Th e onus is on manufacturers to build

new Tier 4i-compliant equipment to meet U.S. Environmental

Protection Agency (EPA) emissions regulations. Canada will begin

its transition to Tier 4i in 2012 in order to align itself with the U.S.

At this juncture, you may be thinking: “If I don’t need to run

out and buy new equipment, why should I care about these new

regulations?” Don’t fl ip the page just yet!

Th is new engine technology might not be important to you

today, but next year when you’re looking to buy a new machine,

things are going to be diff erent. Sticker prices are likely to be

signifi cantly higher, and the lingo surrounding the equipment

itself is becoming much more complex. Acronyms such as CEGR,

SCR, DEF and DPF are becoming regular industry terms. In order

to make an informed buying decision, you need to understand

EMISSIONS REGULATIONS SHOULD WEIGH HEAVILY IN YOUR EQUIPMENT PURCHASE DECISIONS

By Corinne Lynds

SPECIAL

REPORT

The Volvo EC480D excavator is Tier 4i-certifi ed.

18-23_Tier4.indd 18 11-08-15 10:38 AM



WHAT EVERY CONTRACTOR SHOULD KNOW ABOUT tieR 4

what Tier 4i emissions regulations are all about, why they’re im-

portant and how they’ll change the way you operate and maintain

your equipment.

a little hiStORYl

Th e construction equipment industry has been developing emis-

sions-related product innovations since 1996 when off -highway

diesels fi rst became subject to EPA emissions regulations.

Each successive tier change has introduced new technologies

to achieve reductions in harmful exhaust emissions—particulate

matter (PM) or soot and oxides of nitrogen or “NOx”, which is the

primary contributor to the formation of smog.

Th e current Tier 3 emissions standard is transitioning to Tier

4i this year in the U.S. for engines >75 hp. Th e transition to Tier

4i represents the most signifi cant reduction in emissions to date:

50 per cent reduction in NOx emissions vs. Tier 3, and 90 per cent

reduction in PM emissions vs. Tier 3.

Th e Tier 4i emissions standard will be replaced by the Tier 4f

standards starting in 2013 for engines <75 hp and phasing in for

all engines <1,200 hp by 2015. Tier 4f regulations require an ad-

ditional 80 per cent reduction in NOx emissions from Tier 4i. Tier

4f engines will ultimately produce “near zero” emissions levels—

which means in many locations cleaner exhaust air will be coming

out of the engine than what went in!

unDeRStanDing the technOlOgYl

Th ere are two main paths equipment manufacturers are taking to

achieve regulatory compliance. Th ese complex and often costly

technologies are: Cooled Exhaust Gas Recirculation (CEGR) and

Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR).

CEGR uses a valve and a control system

to recirculate cooled, inert gases from the

exhaust manifold back into the intake

manifold, resulting in lower combus-

tion temperatures and reduced NOx.

In use on both gasoline and diesel en-

gines for quite some time, CEGR is very

eff ective at controlling NOx. However,

when used in diesel engines to comply

with Tier 4i limits, it requires a Diesel

Particulate Filter (DPF) in the exhaust

system to capture the particulates that

increase due to the lower combustion

temperatures.

DPF regeneration means cleaning the

fi lter by way of burning off soot that has accumu-

lated in the fi lter during operation—a process need-

ed to ensure proper engine and machine performance.

Under normal operating conditions, regeneration will

occur every eight to 10 hours and take between 20 and 60 minutes.

Th ere’s no loss of machine performance and it will not interfere

with the normal operation of the machine. Th e operator, however,

will be fully aware of the status of regeneration due to safety and

service criteria through electronic monitoring.

It is this regeneration process that is critical for machine opera-

tors to understand, and the focus of most Tier 4i operator train-

ing, according to Bruce Lough, training specialist at Strongco in

Mississauga, Ont. “Th e biggest concern that we need to educate

customers about is that when a piece of

equipment is going through its regenera-

tion process, there’s an elevated tempera-

ture out of the exhaust, and the operator

needs to be aware of his environment;

such as if he’s at a transfer station or

working on woodchips or something

like that. Th ere is a risk there.”

Th e regeneration process works

one of two ways (it depends on how

the equipment manager has set up

the system). In scenario No. 1 a ma-

chine operator is happily working

away and an icon lights up on their

dashboard saying “it’s time to regen-

erate,” and if the operator deems he’s in

a safe location, he can go ahead and push the

button and keep on working while the equipment

takes care of cleaning itself.

Warning for contractors doing work in the U.S.A special operational consideration for Canadian contractors is the different implementation schedules for Tier 4i compliance in Canada and the U.S. Effective January 1, 2011, the U.S. began requiring new machines with more than 174 hp to comply with Tier 4i standards, while the Canadian government is expected to enforce Tier 4i compliance sometime in early 2012. Canadian contractors who have pur-chased or will purchase new Tier 3-compliant machines in Canada anytime after January 1, 2011, may be prevented from using those machines in the U.S. Likewise, U.S. contractors operating in Canada who buy new Tier 3-certifi ed machines in Canada this year may not be permitted to use those machine in the U.S.

Source: Tim O’Brien, product manager, Case Construction Equipment

John Deere PSX 13.5L Tier 4i engine

18-23_Tier4.indd 19 11-08-15 10:38 AM



In scenario No. 2, some equipment

manufacturers have opted to have

the machine automatically begin

regeneration. In this scenario the

machine operator also gets a “lit-

up” icon on his dashboard, but it is

up to him to turn off the regenera-

tion process if he’s not currently in a

safe location. Th e process is the same in both

situations, but it’s key that operators under-

stand what is happening so they can continue

operating the equipment safely.

“Th e question I am most often asked when

doing customer training is: What happens if I don’t push

the button?” says Lough. He explains: “the regeneration pro-

cess is essentially a fi lter on the muffl er that collects soot. As soot

levels increase they need to be burned off so the machine doesn’t

get plugged up. Th at burning converts the soot to ash, which stays

in the muffl er,” explains Lough. Th e EPA rules dictate that the fi lter

has to last 4,500 machine hours before it needs replacing.

In a SCR system, on the other

hand, the engine is tuned for max-

imum effi ciency. Th e higher com-

bustion temperatures reduce PM

levels (less unburned fuel makes

for less PM/soot) but increase

NOx levels. SCR is an after-treat-

ment-only system that creates

a chemical reaction by adding

diesel exhaust fl uid (DEF). Th is

transforms the NOx into nitrogen

and water, which occur naturally in

the atmosphere. No particulate fi lter

is required because PM levels are low

due to the higher combustion temperatures.

SCR allows for a passive system that’s sep-

arate from the main engine function and does not

compromise horsepower or torque. It doesn’t interfere with en-

gine performance, and actually improves it, because it allows the

engine to breathe more freely.

What’s next for your business? What new opportunities are ripe for the seizing? What could you do with more knowledge and certification? How far could you go with the right suppliers, the right connections, the right tools and timing? Spend time at World of Concrete and get what you need to build a stronger, more competitive business. Get here—Get it done.

SOURCE CODE: OS

January 24 - 27, 2012 • SEMInarS: January 23 - 27 • LaS VEgaS ConVEntIon CEntEr • LaS VEgaS, nEVada

www.worldofconcrete.comA selected participant in the International Buyer Program

Volvo Tier 4i engine

Mobile Off Highway Emissions Schedule

The above is the mobile off-highway emissions schedule for the U.S. Canadian dates will be one year later before they are aligned.

18-23_Tier4.indd 20 11-08-15 10:38 AM


What’s next for your business? What new opportunities are ripe for the seizing? What could you do with more knowledge and certification? How far could you go with the right suppliers, the right connections, the right tools and timing? Spend time at World of Concrete and get what you need to build a stronger, more competitive business. Get here—Get it done.

SOURCE CODE: OS

January 24 - 27, 2012 • SEMInarS: January 23 - 27 • LaS VEgaS ConVEntIon CEntEr • LaS VEgaS, nEVada

www.worldofconcrete.comA selected participant in the International Buyer Program

18-23_Tier4.indd 21 11-08-15 10:38 AM

http://www.worldofconcrete.com



“With the SCR system the only thing that

you have to maintain is the DEF fluid,” explains

Gino DiBenedetto, a heavy equipment product

specialist with Case Construction Equipment

in PEI. “There’s a gauge inside the machine, you

fill it up like you would washer fluid in your car. It’s

about 2.5 tanks of fuel to one tank of DEF.”

SO whO’S uSing what?l

Manufacturers are somewhat divided in the technology

that they’re using to meet Tier 4i and Tier 4f requirements. In

fact, some manufacturers are currently using both technologies in

a variety of applications.

“We are applying the technology that achieves the lowest op-

erating costs, depending on each model’s engineering character-

istics and application requirements,” says Tim O’Brien, marketing

manager at Case Construction Equipment. “Our Tier 4 technology

solutions integrate each model’s engine, hydraulic and electronic

systems to achieve the most efficient and powerful performance.”

Caterpillar, Cummins, Volvo Construction Equipment and

Deere have been proponents of using CEGR to reach Tier 4i com-

pliance without adopting SCR, but the companies have indicated

that adding some level of SCR may be necessary to reach final

Tier 4 compliance.

Equipment manufacturers have liter-

ally spent years researching and de-

veloping their equipment to design

machines that will meet these strin-

gent emissions standards without com-

promising power and energy efficiency

at the same time. All that research hasn’t

come without a price.

When the EPA developed the Tier 4 regulations, it es-

timated the cost increase would be one to three per cent

of the total equipment price. This, for example, would mean

a $13,000 piece of equipment would rise by $760 and the cost of a

$235,000 piece would rise by $2,590. Caterpillar announced late

last year that prices on its equipment would increase by roughly

two to six per cent in order to pay for the development and pro-

duction of the new emissions technologies.

This increase is in line with what other manufacturers have

publicly stated. “We’ve been told it’s about a $10,000 add-on

to a piece of equipment 175 horsepower and up,” says Strongco’s

Lough.

Todd Howe, global generator product manager at Doosan

Infracore Portable Power in Charlotte, NC, points out the in-

crease in cost in the compressor and generator category will be

much more significant. “The engine in a compressor or genera-

tor is easily the single most expensive thing in the package and

Benefits of Selective Catalytic Reduction• Reduced fuel consumption

The very efficient combustion process reduces fuel consumption.

• Simple designThe inherently simple design lowers long-term maintenance expenses.

• High performanceThe engine can do what it does best—generate power—because SCR is an after-treatment system.

Diesel exhaust Fluid• Easy to use

Diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) tank fill point is easily accessible and a warning light indicates when it needs refilling.

• Easy to findDEF will be readily available through your local dealer.

Benefits of Cooled Exhaust Gas Recirculation• Familiar technology

The basic engine technology does not change dramatically from Tier 3, so service and maintenance measures remain familiar.

• No additive requiredThere are no extra steps—nothing to add, no special measures for cold weather.

• No special instructionsCEGR requires no change in the way you operate your equipment.

• The Diesel Particulate FilterThe diesel particulate filter (DPF) collects the PM and needs to be changed at regular intervals.

Source: Case CE

Cummins Tier 4i engine

18-23_Tier4.indd 22 11-08-15 10:38 AM



typically runs 35 to 50 per cent of the cost of the overall package.

We think that going to Tier 4 moves the needle on the complete

machine price by 35 to 40 per cent potentially. It’s a huge thing

for the industry to stomach, which is also why we have been try-

ing very hard to get out in front of our customers and explain the

technology so they won’t be surprised when this hits the market.”

Howe adds that increased efficiencies are being built into the

new machines to improve productivity, but it will not be enough

to off-set the significant price increase.

cOllecting inFORmatiOnl

Contractor knowledge of Tier 4 emissions regulations is growing

steadily, and those firms that do business in the U.S. regulations

are taking a much keener interest in the new technology. “As soon

as you hear of these new tiers coming out as it relates to the en-

gines, everybody runs around and is concerned about whether or

not they should buy inventory now so they don’t have to deal with

the unknowns,” says Kevin Dowhaniuk, equipment operations

manager for PCL Construction Resources, North America. “But, if

I’m not mistaken, California is the only place that has Tier 4i at the

moment. So we will likely take a somewhat regional approach to

the transition. We will react in areas where we need to.”

Although most small- and medium-sized contractors in Canada

don’t need to be too concerned with compliance at this point, it

is a real concern for larger contractors such as PCL, which has a

significant fleet of equipment throughout the U.S. and Canada.

“We’ve got our service folks out in the industry to find out, implica-

tion wise, what this means to our fleets,” says Dowhaniuk. “In our

minds a Tier 4 engine is not even going to be available until 2014 in

off-road equipment. So we’re still working on the Tier 3 and we’re

still waiting to see what’s going on with Tier 4i.”

When those Tier 4i machines do arrive, contractors shouldn’t

expect them to look, feel or operate that much differently than

before. Aside from a new “regeneration” notification light on the

dashboard, the equipment will look and feel like it always has. That

said, even if the machine doesn’t appear outwardly different, it is

still key to understand how the technology works. The most

significant area of concern with the new models will sur-

round maintenance issues and the regular regeneration of

the DPF in CEGR models.

In all this “tech talk” it’s easy to lose sight of why the

regulations were proposed in the first place—to clean up

our environment. So, when you’re staring in dismay at the

latest sticker price, keep in mind that you’re paying for a

piece of equipment that will emit 90 per cent less PM and

NOx than the equipment we are using today. This invest-

ment in our planet will keep all of us digging, grading and

building for many generations to come.

With files from Case Construction, Caterpillar, Cummins, Deere, Doosan Infracore Portable Power, and Volvo/Strongco. Corinne Lynds is Editor of On-Site. Send comments to [email protected].

Market Impacts of Tier 4i Technology• Increased purchase price of new equipment.

• Operators will need training to properly use and understand regeneration strategies.

• New package designs to incorporate space for larger cooling systems, DPF systems, and potential future technologies needed for Tier 4f

• Dealers will need to make bigger investments in service capabilities (technician training, service tools), to support these products

• Fleet management will become a critical issue.

Source: Doosan Infracore Portable Products

Credit: Association of Equipment Manufacturers

Emmissions standards have been systematically reducing levels of particulate matter and oxides of nitrogen since 1996 when the first standards went into effect.

9.2Tier 1/Stage 1 (1996)

Tier 2/Stage II (2001)

Tier 3/Stage IIIA (2005)

Tier 4 Interim/Stage IIIB (2011)

Tier 4 Final/Stage IV (2014)

6.4

4.0

2.0

0.4

0 0.02 0.2

PM g/kW-hr

NO

x g/

kW-h

r

0.54

18-23_Tier4.indd 23 11-08-15 10:38 AM


TelehandlersCover sTory / Financing

Telehandlers are on The rise

emerging applicaTions,

versaTiliTy boosT usage

by Jim barnes

24 on-site | July/August 2011

24-29_Telehandler.indd 24 11-08-11 3:20 PM

July/August 2011 | on-site 25

like most construction equip-

ment, telehandler sales de-

creased markedly in the re-

cession as levels of residential

building in the U.S declined.

While the residential market

continues to be soft, the telehandler sup-

pliers we surveyed for this article indi-

cated that sales are strengthening once

again. Telehandlers are being used in

more applications than ever before, and

in some jobs are supplying a cost-effec-

tive alternative to other kinds of con-

struction machinery.

In movemenTThe situation on new applications is a dy-

namic one: “It’s all in movement—there is

nothing fixed yet,” says Jonathan Ledoux,

national marketing director, Manulift

EMI Ltd., Varennes, QC.

Growth areas for telehandler use

include:

• non-residential construction

• condos

• oil and gas developments

• pipe handling

• alternative energy developments,

such as solar arrays and wind farms

• infrastructure work including bridges

• waste management

• recycling

• industrial applications.

Telehandlers have become a common

sight in oil and gas applications. “It is the

staple for moving anything around on a

drilling jobsite,” says Scott Krieger, senior product manager, Tele-

handlers, at Genie Industries of Redmond, Wash.

Government subsidies and fast-tracking are driving growth in

alternative energy projects, too. These projects tend to be large,

cover a lot of ground and involve a lot of movement and a lot of

material, a natural environment for telehandlers.

Telehandlers are proving popular in solar installations, notes

Ledoux. “With one machine, you can do two jobs—unloading the

truck and then installing the solar panels on the top of the building.”

Slewing machines, which offer a wide radius of movement, are often

used in solar installations because of their versatility in lifting panels

to the roof.

They are also key machines for wind farms, playing an im-

portant role in connecting material with cranes—starting with

unloading the trucks. While the major components of a wind

turbine are too heavy to be moved by a telehandler, they can move

smaller components, like anchoring bolts and rebar.

Even though a telehandler cannot replace a crane in this appli-

cation, they are used to feed cranes and keep them productive. “To

the extent that you can avoid repositioning a crane and minimize

its movement, you will improve its productivity,” notes Ledoux.

Telehandlers also have a role to play in bridge work. Ledoux

points out that they serve well in situations where some traffic

lanes must be kept open on a site, since they tend to occupy rel-

atively little space. “When you park your machine in the middle

although telehandlers don’t typically replace cranes, they are often used to

feed cranes and keep them productive.



Telehandlers

of the highway, you can work on both sides of the bridge,” he notes,

adding that they provide versatility in being able to lift workers or

heavy equipment up to bridge level. Not only are you improving

productivity, he notes, “You’re improving safety on the work site.”

hIgh CapaCITyThese jobs all have one thing in common: a need for heavy-duty

machines. They are more demanding applications than residen-

tial and involve moving heavier materials and components, faster,

over larger pieces of ground.

“The 6,000 to 8,000-lb. machines were the big ones, not that

long ago,” says James Blower, product marketing manager at JCB

North America in Pooler, Ga. In the North American market as a

whole, the 10,000- to 12,000-lb. machines are considered to be the

heavyweights today, he says.

“The heart and soul of the telehandler business remains in the

eight- to 10-K range,” says Krieger. “We’re seeing some increase in

the demand for larger machines, in the 12,000-lb. capacity range.

But it’s not a huge increase.”

There is a slow trend towards higher capacities. Building designs

are not getting any smaller. Instead of single-family houses, apart-

ment buildings and condos are being built. “They need something

that goes higher,” says Ledoux.

The 10,000-lb. machine is becoming a standard for applica-

tions like masonry, according to Ledoux, and the appetite for even

larger machines is there. “If you go over that—say up to 12,000 lb.

or even more—that is a growing market, the high-lifting capacity

market,” he says.

Telehandlers bring versatility to these job sites. They offer the

ability to traverse the site quickly, reach over obstacles and employ

a variety of attachments. They bring the Swiss-Army-knife charac-

teristics of telehandlers to bigger and more demanding jobs.

Telehandlers’ compact design make them ideal for jobsites where space constraints are an issue.


July/August 2011 | on-site 27

Telehandlers

Machine size in North America is also determined by the rental

market. Simple economics are pushing rental companies toward

larger machines. They can keep a smaller variety of machines in

stock, the machines are more versatile and durable, and they can

charge them out at higher rates.

maChIne subsTITuTIonIn some cases, telehandlers have replaced other machines, includ-

ing excavators, backhoe loaders and wheel loaders, depending on

the application. Cost savings come from a simplified equipment

fleet, decreased scope of maintenance, lower fuel consumption

and reduced training requirements.

“The telehandler, with attachments like pallet forks, buckets,

or even man baskets, is a universal tool that can be used for many

things,” notes Krieger.

Does that mean that telehandlers will take over the work-

place? While they can give you flexibility and reach, all our experts

emphasized that telehandlers have their proper place on the site.

They can handle some ground-engaging tasks on loose mate-

rials, but they won’t replace your wheel loaders. And while they

can lift increasingly heavy loads to greater heights, you still need

a crane.

“We are not going to tell you the telehandler should be used for

loading tightly banked material into trucks. That’s not what it was

designed and built for. But with loose material—with the right-

sized bucket—it can be used for that purpose,” says Krieger.

And though a telehandler is a relatively easy machine to operate,

caution is in order. You have to keep an eye on the load chart, you

have to be sensitive to the balance of the machine and you have

to be aware of the terrain. “Like any other machine, a telehan-

dler is a piece of construction equipment and people have to be

well-trained, they have to be careful. People have to mind what

they’re doing,” says Krieger.

The stresses need to be understood. “Bucket work puts a lot of

pressure on the anchorage point of the boom. That has to be very

solid. The boom extension system has to be solid, too, so there is

no twisting,” says Ledoux.

“On a telehandler with forks, when you raise the boom, the

forks level themselves. When you lift a bucket, you usually want

to tilt it down. That creates extra stress on the hydraulic system,”

notes Ledoux. The machine has to be designed for this. “Long

usage for this task could wear an inappropriately designed ma-

chine out quickly,” he says.

Some substitutions make sense. “You see a lot of industries

working with wheel loaders with forks on them. All those ma-

chines can be replaced with telehandlers. You’ll have longer reach

and better visibility,” says Ledoux.

Between a telehandler and a wheel loader, you might be able

to save about 55 per cent of the fuel, according to Ledoux. “That’s

pretty significant, when you have a machine that runs 8, 10 or 12

hours a day,” he says. “It’s safer, you have better visibility, there is

less maintenance and better longevity.”

european Trends“As the European style of machine, the low-boom machine, becomes

more accepted and people realize what telehandlers can actually

do besides serving as forklifts, you’ll see more and more of them

out there,” says Blower.

“In Europe, telehandlers seem to be used a little more widely

and in more applications than they are here. In North America,

the telehandler remains a pick-and-place, load-and-carry machine,”

says Krieger.

European telehandlers are used somewhat more aggressively

than they tend to be in North America. It is not uncommon to see

them used in ground-engaging applications or even to tow trailers.

Why this different attitude?

For one thing, historically, telehandlers caught on in many ap-

plications in Europe where skid steers would have been specified

in North America, requiring more flexible use.

In Europe, due to traditional job site constraints, smaller, more

versatile machines are in demand.

The machines were first used in agriculture in Europe, notes

Blower. “On the farm, it was often grapple work, pushing stuff

around, rather than just lifting something... That’s why that style

of machine in Europe came about; it came from more of a ground-

engaging, grapple-bucket kind of style of machine. Then it crossed

over to construction. North America, it was the opposite situation,”

he says. Here, the construction industry adopted the machines

first for material-handling purposes.

Another factor is a higher level of ownership in Europe. The

North American market is largely rental. When the user is the tele-

handler’s owner, he tends to be more knowledgeable about the

machine and more comfortable with unconventional applications.

It’s in his best interest to keep his investment working all the time.

Design is also a differentiator. The European machines are

mostly low-boom. That facilitates ground-engaging work, heavier

“The telehandler, with attachments like pallet forks, buckets, or even man baskets, is a universal tool that can be used for many things.”



Telehandlers

loads and towing. “The design of the machine allows it. With some

North American models, towing is inappropriate. The transmission

is not designed for that,” says Ledoux.

A good example of the difference in attitude can be seen in the

Manihoe telehandler/backhoe hybrid, sold in Europe but not cur-

rently available in Canada. The front end is a telehandler, coupled

with a conventional backhoe on the back.

meeTIng regsMeeting the new engine emissions regulations has been a primary

design objective for construction machinery suppliers over the

past few years. Substantial resources have been applied to this task

by every telehandler supplier. This challenge led them to reevalu-

ate their product offerings in terms of user needs.

As an array of new engine electronics was introduced to the

machines, a corresponding opportunity existed to implement

electronic enhancements in terms of diagnostics, telematics and

so on.

Many designs had to be reconfigured somewhat to support the

new technologies. “That brings the opportunity to do some other

things to improve the machines in various ways,” says Krieger.

“We could see hydrostatic transmissions coming into the coun-

try. They have not been popular in North America, but they are

very popular overseas,” says Krieger. However, he notes, “The main

focus will continue to be ergonomics.”

Ergonomics is important from both a safety standpoint and

from an operational and service standpoint, Krieger points out.

Control placement, visibility, operator comfort, and ease of ser-

vice all contribute significantly to productivity and safety.

new eraAre telehandlers on the verge of evolving into a new breed of ma-

chine? That’s unlikely for the next four to five years. However, the

experts we talked to were confident that telehandlers were on the

rebound and that usage was growing. The recovery in construction

south of the border is “definitely fragile, but it isn’t the downward

spiral we’ve been experiencing for the past couple of years,” says

Blower.

For customers who are happy with renting a machine to pick-

and-place, that technology remains widely available. For users

who want to push a little harder in the interests of productiv-

ity and profitability, new models and alternatives are already on

the scene.

“Each customer has his own take on what’s the right machine,”

notes Blower.

Jim barnes is on-site’s contributing editor. send comments to [email protected]

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COver StOry / Cranes

Cranes Have we gone as far as we sHould?By DaviD GoDkin

Back at the end of World War ll when British crane manufacturer F.

Taylor & Sons produced the world’s first hydraulic crane few could

have imagined where developments in crane design would lead.

Today, cranes are bigger with greater capacity. They’re taller and

can reach higher. With the introduction of complex on-board and remote

electronics, they’re a lot smarter, too—helping contractors lift heavier loads

faster and more efficiently without compromising the integrity of machine

and structure or worker safety.

But bigger loads and greater complexity also place pressure on manufac-

turers to keep pace with their competitors, with some suggesting perhaps

things are getting too big, too complicated, and that in some instances equip-

ment that worked well 20 or 30 years ago continues to do the job today. The

clearest illustration of a crane industry pressing the limits, say manufacturers,

is load size and increased capacity.

“Several of the major crane manufacturers are now starting to design and

build very heavy lift cranes whereas in the past, they have produced more

production line cranes of lesser capacities,” says Kate Lampson director of

PR and marketing for Lampson International. “Loads are becoming heavier,”

agrees Doyle Bryant, Director of Product Marketing for Manitowoc Cranes “as

many construction processes are evolving from a piece-by-piece process—

lifting individual beams into place, for instance to…lifting an entire wall

into place that was first assembled on the ground.” Everything, says Linden

Comansa America’s Eddie Sidenstricker “is bigger, faster, stronger.”

“As the years have gone by customers have asked for increased capacity,”

says LCA’s sales director. “Rather than a one yard bucket they’ll want a three

yard bucket because that reduces the amount of time the project will take. So

our tower sections, counterweights and the steel itself have become stronger

and more capable of handling those weights.”

To make his point, Sidenstricker cites LCA’s 30 LC 1450 metric tonne

tower crane, dwarfing the 400 tonne capacity cranes he says represented the

industry’s heaviest tower crane capacity 10 years ago.

Like others, he believes the demand for these heavier,

larger capacity cranes will continue, particularly in a

weakened North American economy that is shifting

away from residential and commercial construction

to heavier industrial applications such as oil and gas,

utilities, commodities and nuclear.

Leaping taLL BuiLdingS in a SingLe BOund Etched against the urban horizon the undeniable

superhero in the crane industry continues to be the

30-35_Cranes.indd 30 11-08-11 3:15 PM


COver StOry / Financing

location of the boom. In most cases these are limited to where they will not

exceed their capacity. It has resulted in a tremendous boost in safety, and

increased both the efficiency and accuracy of cranes.”

The Liebherr Group’s contribution to advanced tower technology is

Litronics, providing infinite variable speed or “stepless” operation of the

tower crane’s swing, trolley and hoist drives. It means a hoist, for example,

can be moved from zero to maximum speed without the jarring motion that

can occur when you change gears. This allows the operator to completely

engage the controls and move the load up to, but not in excess, of its maximum

capacity. “It won’t overload the machinery and it won’t overload the struc-

ture,” says Carbeau.

Another major crane manufacturer, Linden Comansa America (LCA).

LCA has shipped more than 15,000 tower cranes from its manufacturing site

in Pamplona, Spain to construction sites across five continents. LCA was also

the first to develop the flat top modular tower crane that has seen its maxi-

mum capacity rise from five to 65 metric tonnes—an “amazing” feat for a flat

top, says Eddie Sidenstricker. But what makes the flat top especially valuable

is the ability of crews to erect several cranes at once in tight quarters.

“The flat-top design allows for multiple tower cranes to be on congested

jobsites without the risk of pendant lines interfering. The modular design

is safer, lowers the overall cost of erecting the crane and also allows our

customers to maintain much fewer spare parts in their warehouses, because

multiple tower and jib components can be used for different series cranes.”

CrawLer CraneS: the grOund warriOrS Kate Lampson comes by her fascination with cranes honestly. In 1978 her

grandfather Neil F. Lampson set out to combine the higher load capacity of

the crawler crane with the maneuverability of a mobile crane. She explains

tower crane. Rising as high as 750 feet and reaching

deeper than ever into the bellies of high rise buildings,

the tower crane has benefited recently from advances

in electronic-aided design and operations. Engineers

are not only designing tower cranes taller with greater

reach and load capacity, says Bill Carbeau, general

manager of business development for Liebherr Tower

Cranes, electronics are giving crane operators a better

read on a crane’s working capability.

“All cranes today have electronic measuring de-

vices which measure the load, radius, wind speed and

demand for larger, heavy-capacity cranes continues to grow in north america to meet demand.

all cranes today have electronic measuring devices which measure the load, radius, wind

speed and location of the boom.

30-35_Cranes.indd 31 11-08-11 3:15 PM


range in capacity from 8t to 450t (8.5 USt to 550 USt)

Grove cranes

Grove all-terrain, rough-terrain and truck cranes are designed to be long-lasting and hard-working; executing even the most challenging lifting jobs every day with ease, precision and control.

Featuring low-maintenance qualities, high-performance features and cutting-edge technology, they work efficiently to improve productivity. Our cranes offer the versatility to tackle most any project, with capacities ranging from 8t to 450t (8.5 USt to 550 USt).

Built to performGrove mobile telescopic cranes

Contact your dealer or visit www.manitowoc.com/cranesdealer

that most counterweighted cranes can pick and drop a load within a 360

degree track; the problem is these cranes are stationery and take up a lot of

room in cramped job sites. The Transi-Lift patented by her grandfather is not

only “a great mousetrap” because of its much smaller footprint, it’s more mobile.

“The forward-to-backward, side-to-side movement of the two drive trains

and our ability to pick and carry a load within a small confined space like a

refinery allows us to stay ahead of the competition. With the Translift you can

virtually pick from one area and travel with it and set it in another location on

that same site.”

Much of Lampson’s business is also renting out Manitowoc crawler

cranes. Manitowoc is presently in the final stages of testing and manufactur-

ing a high- capacity crawler crane, the Model 31000 with a capacity of 2300

metric tons, featuring a patented counterweight system called the Variable

Position Counterweight (VPC). The system, says marketing director Doyle

Bryant hangs off the back of the crane and automatically extends as the crane

needs more counterweight.

“The alternative would be a counterweight wagon, which would require

extensive ground preparation in order to use. So the VPC saves significant

time and money in terms of site preparation.”

Not to be outdone is Terex’s CC8800 Twin boom crawler crane, at a proven

capacity of 3200 metric tonne “the highest capacity crawler crane in the world”,

says Terex marketing associate Agustin Dominguez, and a real workhorse on

refinery and nuclear reactor sites.

“Reactors and refineries and their components are getting larger and larger.

Today, there are only a couple of cranes that can perform the necessary lifts

and one of them is the CC880 Twin...With this higher capacity crane you can

also minimize assembly costs by carrying and placing

the reactor in one piece instead of assembling more

than one piece.”

SmaLL But mighty Don’t let their size fool you, says Andrew Rooke,

President of Manitex International. Mobile boom

trucks may be smaller than tower and crawler cranes

but they still pack a punch. In fact, Manitex was the

first to take the capacity of the mobile boom truck

crane from approximately 22 up to 50 tonnes and

Rooke expects industry to take that even higher. But

the Manitex 155S is not just about weight. In an ef-

fort to gain share in the utilities sector Manitex high-

lighted its boom truck’s reach, i.e. the ability to get

line maintenance staff 209 feet into the air on a power

boom with only a single jib.

“In order to reach the two hundred foot barrier, our

competition must utilize a two-piece jib. That requires

extra effort and the manual movement of a heavy sec-

tion relative to another. As such, it is inherently less safe.

That also must be performed every time the vehicle is

moved.”

Like Manitex, Altec manufactures cranes mounted

onto commercial carriers such as a Peterbilt, Ken-

worth or Volvo. Customers choose non-specialized


30-35_Cranes.indd 32 11-08-11 3:15 PM

range in capacity from 8t to 450t (8.5 USt to 550 USt)

Grove cranes

Grove all-terrain, rough-terrain and truck cranes are designed to be long-lasting and hard-working; executing even the most challenging lifting jobs every day with ease, precision and control.

Featuring low-maintenance qualities, high-performance features and cutting-edge technology, they work efficiently to improve productivity. Our cranes offer the versatility to tackle most any project, with capacities ranging from 8t to 450t (8.5 USt to 550 USt).

Built to performGrove mobile telescopic cranes

Contact your dealer or visit www.manitowoc.com/cranesdealer

30-35_Cranes.indd 33 11-08-11 3:15 PM

http://www.manitowoc.com/cranesdealer


CaGBC’s Canada House PavilionOctober 4th-6th 2011Steam Whistle Brewery RoundhouseToronto, Ontario

PATIO SPONSOR

LAUNCH PARTY SPONOSR

INTERNATIONAL RECEPTION SPONSOR

SUPPORTING SPONSORS

Join the Canada Green Building Council at Canada House!Conveniently located at the Steam Whistle Brewery Roundhouse (adjacent to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre).

Experience Canadian hospitality as you explore the Canadian technologies, products, services and knowhow that are driving our green building industry.

Admission to Canada House is free of charge for most activities to all Greenbuild delegates.

Sponsorship & display opportunities are available online at www.cagbc.org.

For more information, email [email protected] or call 613-288-8072.

crane carriers, says Altec Cranes market manager Matt Trefz, because they

can get the after-sale servicing and support at more locations for a commer-

cial truck than for specialized boom truck crane. The same can be said for

rough-terrain and all-terrain cranes.

“Additionally, non-specialized crane carriers tend to travel at higher

speeds than a specialized carrier, with arguably a little more comfort and

sometimes more fuel efficiency than a specialized carrier.”

Trefz says Altec’s customers typically know what they want in a boom

truck crane (e.g. boom length, lift capacity). What is

sometimes overlooked, however, are the smaller things.

On most mobile cranes, for example, the operator does

his ground work, climbs up into the cab to pay out the

hoist, then leaves the cab to disconnect the hook from

the stow point. Altec’s boom truck crane features a

lower winch control at ground level so the operator can

do all of his ground work, enter the cab and begin work

immediately.

“The benefit of that lower winch control is that the operator avoids climb-

ing to the ground and back to disconnect the hook after lowering the winch,

during setup. We limit that slip, trip and fall hazard by 50 per cent by putting

that switch at the ground.”

tOO Big tO SuCCeed?No question, says Bill Carbeau: technology in the past 10 years has improved

crane design and operation “at least a hundred fold.” And most agree with

him the resulting ease and simplicity of operation have been real pluses. The

downside, says Kate Lampson, is a tendency for the skilled or unskilled crane

operator to rely on technically advanced machinery “as opposed to their own

operator skills and talent. In essence, a huge amount of trust is going into the

advanced technology of equipment.”

Another concern of Lampson’s is the increasing size of cranes. “There seems

to be a trend toward trying to build the biggest cranes in the hopes that there

is a demand, thereby creating an oversupply of heavy lift equipment.” Doyle

Bryant agrees there likely is an upper limit in capacity,

but he argues increased capacity is linked to the reali-

ties out in the field. Take a very large capacity crawler

crane, for example, which requires a very large amount

of counterweight to operate effectively and safely.

“When you are talking several hundreds of thou-

sands of pounds of counterweight that means crane cus-

tomers have to prepare the ground with matting or other

soil engineering solutions to support that much weight

without sinking into the ground. This adds time and cost

to the project. Looking ahead to the future, crane manu-

facturers will need to think outside the typical design

package in order to produce effective solutions.”

For his part, Andrew Rooke thinks “problems need

appropriate solutions.” Your ROI on any new machine

must include the original cost, ongoing operating

cost, training, safety, speed and efficiency. Get that

formula right, come up with alternative solutions and

technologies, he says, and you’ll be the manufacturer

other companies yearn to do business with.

david godkin is a B.C.-based freelance writer. send comments to [email protected].

“There seems to be a trend toward trying to build the biggest cranes in the hopes that there

is a demand...”


30-35_Cranes.indd 34 11-08-11 3:15 PM


CaGBC’s Canada House PavilionOctober 4th-6th 2011Steam Whistle Brewery RoundhouseToronto, Ontario

PATIO SPONSOR

LAUNCH PARTY SPONOSR

INTERNATIONAL RECEPTION SPONSOR

SUPPORTING SPONSORS

Join the Canada Green Building Council at Canada House!Conveniently located at the Steam Whistle Brewery Roundhouse (adjacent to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre).

Experience Canadian hospitality as you explore the Canadian technologies, products, services and knowhow that are driving our green building industry.

Admission to Canada House is free of charge for most activities to all Greenbuild delegates.

Sponsorship & display opportunities are available online at www.cagbc.org.

For more information, email [email protected] or call 613-288-8072.

30-35_Cranes.indd 35 11-08-11 3:15 PM

http://www.cagbc.org



COver StOry / Financing

Taking safeTy To greaTer heights

Patience and attention critical when operating aWPs

By Kim Laudrum

36-38_Awps.indd 36 11-08-10 4:31 PM


AWPs

Taking safeTy To greaTer heights

“a void hazards.”

That’s the most important advice Luke Webber,

product safety engineer at Terex, has for contrac-

tors operating aerial work platforms (AWP), also

known as elevating work platforms (EWP).

“It’s actually quite easy to accomplish this by using good safe

work practices in a common sense way,” says Webber.

Webber advises:

• Only use the right machine for the application.

• Only allow trained and authorized personnel to operate the

equipment selected.

• Always wear proper personal fall protection equipment (PFPE)

when required.

• Always read, understand and obey the operators’ manual,

including performing a complete pre-operation inspection

and function test.

• Always inspect the workplace for hazards just before moving

the machine into the workplace. Continuously monitor the

workplace for changes that could create new hazards.

“There are so many different AWP designs—scissors, booms,

manually-propelled or trailer-mounted—for a wide range of ap-

plications that it’s difficult to generalize what operations can be

applied to all AWP’s,” notes Webber.

However, at a minimum the operator needs to understand how

to use the equipment safely to avoid hazards, including: electrocu-

tion, tip-over, fall, collisions and crushing.

The two main types of aerial work platforms most commonly

used by contractors are self-propelled boom and scissor lift.

“Some people call the self-propelled boom the snorkel because

it has the long arm that extends with a basket. It’s articulating. It

can turn right around in a circle and take you any place you want

to go,” explains Fort Erie, Ont.-based construction safety consul-

tant Fred Broughton. “Whereas the scissor lift just goes straight up

or straight down.”

Both types of AWPs come in on-slab models for use on smooth

hard surfaces such as concrete or pavement, and rough terrain

models for use on firm level surfaces such as graded and com-

pacted soil or gravel.

Scissor-type units must be used on level, stable surfaces only,

as a slight imbalance will be amplified when the machine is raised.

Rough-terrain units are built to handle rigorous environments,

have wider wheel bases, and pneumatic tires. They are usually

powered by internal combustion engines.

Self-propelled boom-supported platforms are normally fitted

with undercarriages suited to rough terrain. These come in tele-

scopic or articulating arms or both. They can reach well beyond

the wheel base—up to 45 metres and beyond.

Non-self propelled or push-around units are designed for

smooth, level, or hard surfaces or on-slab conditions. These can

fold up to pass through a standard door and so can be transported

by pick-up truck. Some of these devices have a capacity of less

than 500 lb. and are not recommended for construction.

Selecting the right machine for the job is paramount.

Don’t:• Use an on-slab machine on rough terrain.

• Use a unit undersized with respect to height, reach, and lifting

capacity.

• Lift large materials that overhang the platform.

• Use a scissor-lift where the reach of a boom-type machine is

needed.

• Extend the platform with planks, ladders, or other devices

because the machine can’t reach the required height.

Do:• Ensure the machine has sufficient lifting capacity, reach

and height to meet the task.

• Examine the surface conditions to determine what type of

machine to use.

• Determine what equipment to use to meet any space

restrictions.

• Ask what kind of mobility will be needed to complete the task.

• Assess what obstructions there might be at the site that could

restrict accessibility.

TrainingBefore a worker can operate an aerial work platform, they must have received proper training. Most AWP manufacturers offer training through their dealer net-works. Equipment rental companies often offer such pro-grams as well. Safety Training Canada provides a half-day or full-day course in AWP operating training. Check with the training program provider to see if the courses can be offered at your workplace.

www.safetytrainingcanada.ca

“Be patient and do what you’re supposed to do. Don’t be in a hurry to get the job done faster if it means compromising safety.”

—Fred Broughton

36-38_Awps.indd 37 11-08-10 4:31 PM

http://www.safetytrainingcanada.ca


• Employ only properly trained workers on site to operate the

equipment.

• Use electrically powered machinery indoors where ventilation

is an issue.

The operator should also be aware of any other operational

considerations based on worksite, local, federal rules, standards

and regulations as it applies to the machine and their work.

In Canada, regulations covering safe operation of EWPs vary

somewhat from province to province, but not a lot, says Broughton.

In Ontario the construction regulation (Ontario Regulation

213/91) includes the following requirements:

• Elevating work platforms must be engineered and tested to

meet the relevant standard for that equipment. Standards

include CSA B354, which covers non-self-propelled and

self-propelled elevating work platforms, as well as boom-

type EWPs.

• The devices must be checked each day before use by a

trained worker.

• The owner or inspector must keep a log of all inspections, tests,

repairs, modifications, and maintenance.

• The log must be kept up to date and include names of the

people who performed inspections and other work.

• A maintenance and inspection tag must be attached near the

operator’s station and include the date of the last maintenance

and inspection and the name and signature of the person who

performed the work.

• Workers must be given verbal and written instruction before

using the platform for the first time. Instruction must include

items to be checked daily before use.

• All workers on the platform must wear a full-body harness or a

safety belt attached to the platform while it is being moved.

Broughton believes this last point is crucial to ensure operator

safety. In fact, if workers operating at a height over six feet at his

sites do not wear proper gear, they are fired on the spot.

Often elevating work platforms are rented from equipment

suppliers. So, it’s important to know who is responsible for what.

The equipment owner or supplier is responsible for ensur-

ing the machine is in good working order and maintained that

way, that it complies with regulations, meets CSA Standards, and

includes the correct load rating.

The employer and supervisor must ensure the operator is

competent and that all workers involved in the project wear

appropriate personal protective gear, and have been properly

trained on each class of equipment to be used. The employer

must also ensure the machine has the correct load rating for the

job, that the equipment is properly maintained and all main-

tenance work is logged. The manufacturer’s operating manual

must also be kept on site.

The worker or operator of the equipment must receive ade-

quate training to be considered competent and can only operate

the equipment once sufficient training is completed. The worker

is expected to operate the machine in a safe manner as described

in the company’s health and safety policies and according to the

manufacturer’s safety rules. The operator must inspect the equip-

ment and perform function tests each day before use. Any defects

must be reported to the supervisor.

To stay safe on the job when using AWPs, Broughton offers these

last tips: “Make sure everyone is paying attention all the time. Be

patient and do what you’re supposed to do. Don’t be in a hurry to

get the job done faster, if it means compromising safety.”

kim Laudrum is a Toronto-based freelance writer and editor. send comments to [email protected].

36-38_Awps.indd 38 11-08-10 4:31 PM



COnCrete

P recast bridge deck panels are being used to help fast track

construction on Edmonton’s massive interchange project at

Anthony Henday Drive and Stony Plain Road.

Although a design/build/procurement process that was spe-

cially developed for the ring road project is being credited with

helping to speed things up, the precast panels that are being in-

stalled on the $170-million project’s seven bridge structures are

also making a diff erence.

“If we used cast-in-place, we would have needed more time, as

it would have been more dependent on the weather,” says Aamer

Shakoor, a senior construction engineer with Alberta Transporta-

tion. “Th e timeline could have been an extra year or more. Th is is a

fast-track project and we need to have it completed by October 14.”

Th e project replaces the current intersections, which include

traffi c lights at (westbound) Stony Plain Road and at (eastbound)

100 Avenue. Th e traffi c lights, which have been in place at these

intersections on Anthony Henday Drive since 1990, are a source of

major bottlenecks during rush hour.

Construction on the project began in the spring of 2009, and in-

cludes the repaving and widening of three lanes in both directions

of 5.6 kilometres of Anthony Henday Drive, repaving of about two

kilometres of both 100 Avenue and Stony Plain Road, along with

PRECAST DECK PANELS HELP PUT BRIDGE PROJECTS ON THE FAST TRACK

by godfrey budd

Phot

os b

y: A

aron

Par

ker

ALLALLALLALLALLALLALLALLALLALLALLALLALLALLALLDECKED DECKED DECKED DECKED DECKED DECKED DECKED DECKED DECKED DECKED DECKED DECKED DECKED DECKED DECKED OUTOUTOUTOUTOUTOUTOUTOUTOUTOUTOUTOUTOUTOUTOUTOUTOUTOUTOUTOUTOUTOUTOUTOUTOUTOUTOUTOUTOUTOUT

39-42_Concrete.indd 39 11-08-18 3:17 PM


COnCrete

the seven new bridge structures—all while continuing to accom-

modate traffic flows.

Intersections at other locations along the ring road, including

Callingwood, Lessard and Cameron Heights, are also expected

to be free of traffic lights by the October deadline. These intersec-

tions are all being converted to free-flow interchanges, but, on

these, all the bridge deck sections used cast-in-place concrete,

Shakoor says.

FavOured in the united StateSAlthough precast bridge deck panels have rarely been used in

Alberta, they are used often in the United States, especially for

bridge repair and rehabilitation projects. “They minimize traffic

disruption, which can be minimized even further by doing much

of the work at night,” Shakoor says.

Precast deck panels were also used for upgrades on the Whistler

Highway shortly before the Vancouver Winter Olympics. More

recently, they have been used for interchanges around the Port

Mann Bridge. “Precast deck panels are often used in B.C.,” says Jay

Manton, construction manager for the Kiewit Management Co.

and PCL Construction Management Inc. joint venture.

There are two main ways to build with precast bridge deck panels.

One, sometimes called total precast, is to use fairly thick panels

with plenty of structural heft, typically with asphalt paving on top,

and a waterproof membrane between the precast panels and the

asphalt.

The other involves using thinner panels in conjunction with

a cast-in-place poured concrete overlay. The bridge deck pan-

els used on the Anthony Henday/Stony Plain Road interchange

bridges are of the latter type. They measure three metres by 2.5

metres by 90 millimetres, Manton says.

For this project, he says, the cast-in-place concrete is poured to

a thickness of 200 to 250 millimetres onto the precast panels. Next,

the waterproof membrane is applied, and the deck is then paved

with about 80-millimetres’ depth of asphalt.

Both systems have the advantage of reduced dependency on

good weather, reduced site time, work hazards and numbers of

“Although the geometry And deck slopes for drAinAge cAn be complicAted, A full precAst system could potentiAlly

deliver more efficiency And durAbility.”

39-42_Concrete.indd 40 11-08-18 3:17 PM


inFraStruCture

workers on site, and, perhaps most important of all, no need for

extensive bridge formwork structures.

Lafarge manufactured the precast concrete girders for the project.

“The slabs or bridge deck panels can be seen as primarily a

stay-in-place forming system,” says Don Zakariasen, director of

marketing at Lafarge Canada Inc. “Although the geometry and

deck slopes for drainage can be complicated, a full precast system

could potentially deliver more efficiency and durability.”

He says that Lafarge’s Ductal, which has a super-high strength-

to-weight ratio, could likely be used successfully for re-decking

steel bridges. “It would avoid a huge amount of extra dead

weight,” he says.

The total precast approach was used recently for Dunvegan

Bridge, which spans the Peace River in northern Alberta. “It had

been a very old cast-in-place with a crown in the middle. When

precast was used to refurbish the bridge, the precast was joined

in the middle, with a crown in the middle,” says Bill LeBlanc, a

senior engineer with Armtec Ltd., which provided the precast

panels for the Anthony Henday/Stony Plain Road interchange.

a lOt OF pOtentialA total precast bridge deck panel system was also used at a Glen-

more Trail interchange in Calgary. “The precast panels were a full

nine inches in thickness, and spanned the width of the bridge,

about 40 or 50 feet. There’s a lot of potential in future for total pre-

cast,” says LeBlanc, who adds, “A total precast approach can get

the job done faster.”

The method with thin bridge deck panels and a cast-in-place

concrete overlay that is being used on the Stony Plain Road inter-

change does not come entirely without risk. One of the benefits

of using the method, it is hoped, is that Alberta Transportation

will have a chance to assess how well the system performs under

Alberta’s climate conditions, Shakoor says.

One concern about using cast-in-place concrete above the pre-

cast deck panels is the risk of cracks reflecting through the cast-in-

place above joints between precast panels. “It could lead to water

and salt getting into the cast-in-place that’s been reinforced with

steel,” LeBlanc says.

Reg Ball, senior project manager for AECOM

Canada Ltd., is philosophical about the lack of

literature on how well the precast deck panel

system will hold up over time in Edmonton’s

harsh climate. Noting that precast deck panel

systems have a relatively short history—only

10 to 15 years—in the warmer United States,

he says: “Whenever you use innovative tech-

niques, you’re extending the boundary. You

have a good idea how well it will perform, but

you don’t know for sure.”

Article was originally published in our sister-publication Alberta Construction. Send comments to [email protected]

39-42_Concrete.indd 41 11-08-18 3:17 PM


The comfortable, well-designed cab in the Doosan® wheel loader is packed with comfort features you can see, hearand feel. A wide-open view of the work area. Tinted glass. Low noise levels. Air suspension seat and ergonomiccontrols in line with your natural movements. That’s enough to put anyone in a good mood. Of course, performanceand productivity is key, and your Doosan loader delivers the digging power and torque to penetrate hard materials. Superior lift height and lift capacity increase effi ciency. Operators can see and feel the diff erence. Doosan Delivers.

No other manufacturer delivers quite like Doosan.Find a dealer at www.DoosanEquipment.com/raise 1.877.613.7970

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WHEEL LOADERS VS. TOOL CARRIERS

PICKING THE RIGHT MATERIAL HANDLER SAVES TIME AND IMPROVES PRODUCTIVITY

M oving materials around a rough, muddy jobsite is a

daily challenge for many contractors. Pallets come in

on trucks and must be unloaded as quickly and effi -

ciently as possible in order to get drivers on their way. Pipe and

other odd-shaped items need to be moved from storage areas to

work areas. Material handling delays can slow an entire project

and may result in crews and other equipment waiting around for

materials to be delivered.

BY DOUG ZOERB

43-47_ToolCarrier.indd 43 11-08-11 2:59 PM


A telescopic tool carrier can lift and place loads on a multi-story building.

Adding a tool carrier to your equipment fleet is one way to

improve your ability to unload, load and move palletized supplies,

piping and other materials. A tool carrier is a specialized type of

wheel loader that uses parallel-lift linkage system instead of the

Z-bar linkage system found on standard wheel loaders. While

tool carriers and a wheel loaders are fairly interchangeable, a

tool carrier does have some distinct advantages when it comes to

material handling.

Of course, as with every equipment acquisition decision, evalu-

ating and understanding the nature of the work to be done is the

primary factor in deciding which machine will do the best job.

When it comes to choosing a tool carrier versus a standard wheel

loader, the situation is no different. So before you begin your next

project, spend some time thinking about your material handling

needs.

Will you be primarily digging, moving and loading granular

materials such as sand, gravel and crushed stone? Or, will the

machine you acquire be used mostly to unload, load and move

pallets of material such as brick, block, precast concrete or even

rolls of sod?

What are your other needs? Does your project involve moving

large amounts of piping or other odd-shaped materials? Will you

be using a grapple or a clamp to handle any of these materials?

And don’t forget about visibility. How important will it be for

the operator to see the load and the area in which he (or she) is

placing it? Does he (or she) need a clear view of the pallet forks

when unloading trucks?

Once you have considered all aspects of the project, attempt

to quantify the time spent on each activity in order to make a

decision.

If you are digging into piles and loading trucks more than 50 per

cent of the time, then a standard wheel loader with a Z-bar linkage

system is probably your best choice. The Z-bar linkage on a wheel

loader generally provides more power and reach for digging and

loading high-sided trucks.

On the other hand, if you are loading and unloading pallets and

moving them around the jobsite 60 to 70 per cent of the time, then

a tool carrier is just the thing.

The design of the parallel-lift linkage system on a tool carrier

provides additional visibility to the work area. The operator can

easily see the pallet forks, the load and the truck bed or work area

where the pallet is being placed.

PrOS and cOnS Tool carriers are generally specific, factory-built versions of wheel

loaders. While the same model may be available in both a wheel

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If you are digging into piles and loading trucks more than 50 per cent of the time,

then a standard wheel loader with a Z-bar linkage system is probably your

best choice.


TO MOVE YOU FORWARD EVEN IN REVERSE

WITH THE INDUSTRY’S ONLY SHIFTABLE, MULTI-SPEED REVERSE

TRANSMISSION, THE MACK®

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TOOl carrier

The Volvo L120G wheel loader with forks is a good example of how the equipment is used for material handling.

loader and a tool carrier version, it is not generally feasible to

convert a wheel loader to a tool carrier or vice versa once it leaves

the factory.

The in-line, parallel-lift linkage used on most tool carriers

provides the operator with great visibility down the centre of the

lift arms. By contrast, the Z-bar linkage on a wheel loader places

the hydraulic cylinder directly in the centre of the operator’s field

of vision.

In addition, when the operator picks the work tool off the

ground with the tool carrier’s parallel-lift linkage system, it rises

flat rather than rolling back as it would on a wheel loader. This

time-saving feature is extremely helpful when loading or unloading

pallets or anything else that you want to keep level.

The Z-bar linkage on a standard wheel loader has some advan-

tages, however. One of them is greater bucket breakout force due

to the mechanical advantage provided by the Z-configuration of

the wheel loader’s hydraulic cylinder and links. The Z-bar design

also has fewer moving parts to maintain compared with the parallel-

lift linkage system.

However, specifications for reach and lifting height on tool

carriers are nearly equal to those of wheel loaders, and durabil-

ity of the tool carrier lift arms are much improved over past de-

signs. As a result, tool carrier configurations are now approaching

standard wheel loaders in terms of all-around performance.

OPeraTing TrendSTool carriers typically fall into the 125- to 200-horsepower

range. Along with road building, typical applications include

utility construction and pipe laying, metal and scrap recycling and

landscaping.

Nearly 90 per cent of all tool carriers are ordered with optional

Nearly 90 per cent of all tool carriers are ordered with optional quick couplers, which make it easy to

change work tools.



TOOl carrier

quick couplers, which make it easy to change work tools. Another

“must have” option is a load isolation system, which dampens

the up-and-down movement of the load while traversing rough,

rutted jobsites. A load isolation system makes operation much

more comfortable and less fatiguing for the operator.

While auxiliary hydraulics were common on tool carriers in the

past, today they are ordered no more frequently than on a stan-

dard wheel loader. Pallet forks and general purpose buckets head

the list of most popular tool carrier work tools.

TeleScOPic TOOl carrierSA third option that is growing in popularity is the telescopic tool

carrier. Designed for contractors who need to lift and place mate-

rials above ground level, the telescopic tool carrier off ers excellent

maneuverability, extended reach and the ability to handle a variety

of attachments.

Th ese versatile machines can not only pick and carry loads,

but can also reach up and over obstacles and place loads atop a

multi-story building or other structure. Telescopic tool carriers

generally have telescoping two- or three-section booms similar to

a hydraulic crane.

In addition to pallet forks, telescoping tool carriers can also be

fi tted with buckets, clamps, grapples and even lifting jibs. In many

cases, the same attachments that are available for large skid-steer

and compact track loaders can be used on telescoping tool car-

riers. Most off er three steering modes (all-wheel, front-only, and

crab) that make them ideal for navigating congested jobsites.

This article was written by Doug Zoerb, marketing manager at Two Rivers Marketing on behalf of Doosan Infracore Construction Equipment America West Fargo, N.D. Send comment to [email protected]

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SOFTWAREBy Jacob Stoller

M ost people have experienced the frustration of searching

for an urgently needed tool, or finding a required tool in a

nonfunctional state. With a project on the line, the consequences—

delays, idle work crews, unexpected costs—greatly outweigh the

aggravation.

As economic conditions force construction companies to

do more with fewer resources, managing assets to ensure timely

availability and efficient use has become a key to profitability. For

many companies, Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) software

is playing an essential role in such efforts.

EAM technology, often provided in conjunction with com-

puterized maintenance management systems (CMMS), is fairly

straightforward—databases store various pieces of information

pertaining to an asset, such as purchase price and date, location,

current job assignment and, in the case of a vehicle or a complex

machine, specifics pertaining to service scheduling, wear on parts,

fuel efficiency and other areas. When this data is collected consis-

tently, companies gain a high level of visibility around their assets

from both availability and cost perspectives.

The challenge for contractors is that the assets are mobile, and

may be associated with a number of projects. “You’ve got a ton of

expensive equipment sitting around a construction site, so how do

we protect it, how do we keep track of it?” says David Berger P.Eng.

of Toronto Western Management Consultants.

The good news is that it is getting easier to achieve this. EAM

software has matured in the past decade, meaning proven technol-

ogy and a highly competitive market for software vendors—a situa-

tion where customers receive excellent value.

Software trendSNew developments have made the technology more attractive:

Implementation: As with many other areas of IT, software

as a service (SaaS) is transforming the way EAM is implemented.

Rather than buying hardware and software and then implement-

ing and supporting it, companies can rent the technology on a

monthly basis and access it through a web browser. “We’ve really

eliminated the necessity for an IT support group,” says Jeff Funder-

burk, director of sales at ToolWatch, a Denver-based provider of

asset management software.

Integration: In the past, aspects of asset management were

handled separately, and companies had separate databases for

calibration, lifecycle management, job costing and maintenance.

Today, software companies have gotten much better at allowing data

to flow between these applications, saving time and effort. “With

integration, you’re freeing up more resources for what the company

is in business to do, which is to build things,” says Funderburk.

This also helps management get a high level view. “Integration

is really about making data transparent across the organization,”

says Steve McGough, chief operating officer of Houston-based

HCSS, which provides software to the construction industry.

Specialization: Software companies focused on the construc-

tion industry now offer features that make it easier to associate an

asset with project planning, scheduling, job costing and mainte-

nance. This might make it easier, for example, to bid projects more

accurately based on real equipment costs.

Mobile devices: With mobile versions readily available, EAM

software can be used in the field. This means timely access to

information on job sites, and better reporting.

Maintenance: EAM also reduces the cost of operating a large

or complex piece of equipment by improving the scheduling of

maintenance and repairs. “If something comes into the workshop

because it’s broken down, you want to know immediately what oth-

er plant maintenance we might be doing on that vehicle,” explains

Grahame Done, global marketing director at software vendor Infor.

Another area is predictive maintenance that not only improves

the efficiency of maintenance, but prevents downtime. The soft-

ware could detect, an uncharacteristic drop in oil pressure on a

hauling truck, which may warn of an impending shutdown.

automatic equipment location: Barcodes and RFID tags

make it easier to quickly capture the location of a device into a data-

base. For larger pieces of mobile equipment, GPS tracking devices

are seeing a growing use.

MakIng It happenAlthough the IT side of implementation has been all but elimi-

nated with SaaS, processes have to be changed in order to achieve

the benefits, and this takes careful planning. “Too many people go

straight to, ‘show me how to click through the software,’” says Mc-

Gough. “In reality, that’s usually the easy part.”

He recommends companies look carefully at their existing asset

management processes, and identify where the software will make

desired improvements. “A good plan is always going to involve

the people in the trenches, getting them involved in the decision-

making process.” Focusing on how the software will make their

jobs easier and less stressful is a good place to start.

Jacob Stoller is a principal of Toronto-based consultancy Stoller Strategies. Contact [email protected].

Do more with less

48-49_Software.indd 48 11-08-11 4:14 PM


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If Yes, please indicate which products 25 Earth moving equipment 26 Compact Equipment 38 Safety Equipment 27 Paving Equipment 28 Dump Trucks 37 Used Equipment 07 Pick-Up Trucks 29 Trailers 30 Generators 31 Attachments 34 Hand Tools 32 Compressors 33 Lifting Equipment 35 Power Tools 39 Welding Tools

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49_subpage.indd 49 11-08-11 2:29 PM

RISKBy David Bowcott


What about after the project is complete?

S o much attention is focused on risks that manifest during the

construction phase of a project that we often lose sight of the

risk issues that can manifest post substantial completion. With the

connection between design-build and operations inching closer

then ever in some of the new delivery models, more attention

is being paid to risks that arise due to improper practices in the

design-build stage of the project. Integrity of the asset over its life

is what all owners and financiers are looking for and that is the

reason more and more deals seem to be delivered using lifecycle

(or asset management) project delivery models. If the asset oper-

ates as expected post substantial completion then the equity and

debt make their returns and everyone is happy.

So, from an insurance standpoint, what are the policies that

come into play post substantial completion and how do they

interact to give the project necessary indemnification to keep the

financial model of the asset in tact? Well, several of the policies

procured prior to construction beginning have tail coverage and

what each policy intends to cover should be well known to all proj-

ect participants. Let’s look at the key policies that might come into

play in the event of a post substantial completion loss:

1. General Liability (contractor’s practice policy and/or project specific wrap-up general liability)—General liabil-

ity insurance, whether practice or project specific provides

potential coverage for liabilities arising from bodily injury or

property damage suffered by third parties for projects that

the contractor has completed. The wrap-up general liability

coverage in the post completion phase is called Completed

Operations (Comp Ops) coverage. This coverage is often for

24 months after project completion but can be purchased for

periods beyond five years. Of note, it is not intended to provide

coverage for the specific faulty workmanship of the contractor

and the specific faulty design issues that may have caused the

third party claims.

2. Professional Liability (design firm’s practice policy and project specific professional liability)—Coverage for design

defects causing third party damage can be found under the

professional liability coverage available to the project. Under

the project specific professional liability policy the coverage

afforded after project completion is known as the Extended

Reporting Period (ERP). This coverage is often for a period of

24 months from project completion but can be purchased for

periods that are much longer. Once again it is not intended to

cover faulty workmanship, nor is it intended to cover risks oth-

erwise covered under the general liability coverage associated

with the project (resultant damage).

3. Surety Bonds—Both the prime contractor and subcontractors

may provide performance bonds that guarantee the underlying

contract they have entered into. If the contract has a warranty

period and the contractor not warrantying the work has a term

of default, then the surety bond should provide coverage for

such events. Remember, the traditional surety bond is triggered

by a default occurring and the surety acknowledging a default

has occurred. Often the default in post completion phase is as-

sociated with faulty workmanship and thus the performance

bond may provide the owner or lenders coverage for faulty

workmanship, whereas the above referenced policies specifi-

cally exclude such coverage.

4. Subcontractor Default Insurance—Much like a surety bond,

this policy provides coverage for warranty work guaranteed

through the subcontract, provided the subcontract is properly

enrolled. Once again, default is the trigger of the policy, how-

ever, the default under subcontractor default insurance does

not have to be acknowledged by the insurer to respond (thus

carrying a degree of certainty of response that may be of interest

to owners and lenders).

5. Inherent Defect Insurance—This coverage incepts at project

completion and will cover virtually all defects associated in

the operations phase. A key underwriting requirement of this

policy requires a third-party monitor the contract execution to

ensure the build is being done in compliance with the design.

If the insurer feels the build has not been done in compliance

with design they have the right not to incept the coverage at

project completion. If they do incept coverage, however, it

can provide owners and lenders a greater degree of certainty

around the assets operations. This coverage can be purchased

for periods of 10 years and in some cases longer.

The above policies are typically the focal risk transfer solutions

that are used to manage risk in the operations phase of a proj-

ect. Knowing how each policy works, how each policy is claimed

upon, and the duration of each policy’s coverage, are vital pieces

of information any owner, lender or contractor should be aware

of once the project has been completed. The more you know, the

quicker an unforeseen event can be rectified, sparing the project

unexpected deviations from its original financial model.

David Bowcott is senior vice-president, national director of large/strategic accounts, AON Reed Stenhouse Inc. Send comments to [email protected].

50_Risk.indd 50 11-08-10 5:02 PM



ADRIAN STEELwww.adriansteel.com ........................................................................................ 12

BDOwww.bdo.ca ........................................................................................................... 6

CANADA HOUSE 2011www.cagbc.org ................................................................................................... 35

CASEwww.caseNseries.com ....................................................................................... 6

CATERPILLARwww.CatAllDay.com/articulatedtruckswww.DriveCat.com ....................................................................................... 17, 56

CHEVROLETwww.chevrolet.ca .............................................................................................. 29

DETROIT DIESELwww.detroitdiesel.com ........................................................................................ 4

DOOSANwww.DoosanEquipment.com/raise ................................................................. 53

ENERPACwww.Precision-SURELOCK.com ...................................................................... 47

FREIGHTLINERwww.FreightlinerTrucks.com ........................................................................... 2,3

GREENBUILD 2011www.greenbuildexpo.org .................................................................................. 55

KUBOTA CEwww.kubota.ca ................................................................................................... 15

MACK CANADAwww.mackcanada.com ..................................................................................... 45

MANITOWOCwww.manitowoc.com/cranesdealer ............................................................... 33

SMS EQUIPMENTwww.smsequip.com ............................................................................................. 9

VIEWPOINT CONSTRUCTION SOFTWAREwww.viewpointcs.com ...................................................................................... 11

WAJAXwww.wajax.ca ..................................................................................................... 42

WEBER MTwww.webermt.us ................................................................................................ 12

WORLD OF CONCRETE www.worldofconcrete.com .............................................................................. 21

ADVERTISERS’ INDEX & WEBSITES

THE ADVERTISERS’ INDEX IS PROVIDED AS A FREE SERVICE TO OUR ADVERTISERS.

Now you can follow On-Site on Twitter @OnSiteMag to get the

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51_index.indd 51 11-08-18 3:09 PM

http://www.adriansteel.com

http://www.bdo.ca

http://www.cagbc.org

http://www.caseNseries.com

http://www.CatAllDay.com/articulatedtrucks

http://www.DriveCat.com

http://www.chevrolet.ca

http://www.detroitdiesel.com

http://www.DoosanEquipment.com/raise

http://www.Precision-SURELOCK.com

http://www.FreightlinerTrucks.com

http://www.greenbuildexpo.org

http://www.kubota.ca

http://www.mackcanada.com

http://www.manitowoc.com/cranesdealer

http://www.smsequip.com

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Got a Funny Photo? Send it in so our readers can exercise their senses of humour!

CALENDARAugust 21 to 24: 2011 Annual Association of Municipalities of Ontario Conference The AMO Annual Conference is a gathering of municipal government of� cials and each year offers a program theme related to current and emerging issues. A wide range of sessions provide delegates with the opportunity to learn and network to then take back to their respective communities new ideas and solutions. www.amo.on.ca

September 25 and 26: Construction Industry Leaders Forum—Stimulating Excellence Organized by the Canadian Construction Association (CCA), this event will host panel and roundtable discussions and include a keynote speech by Robert Herjavec, a recognized leader from CBC’s Dragon’s Den. www.cca-acc.com

September 24 and 25: CCA Fall Board Meeting Hosted by the Canadian Construction Association, it will be held at the Hilton Hotel, Quebec, QC. www.cca-acc.com

October 3 and 4: Water and Land Management Summit To be hosted at the TELUS Convention Centre in Calgary, this event will look at urban and rural watershed challenges, sustainable water management in oil sands, land use planning for the future and more. www.insightinfo.com/landandwater

October 4 to 7: GreenBuild 2011 To be held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, this event allows attendees to meet with green building colleagues, network with leading industry professionals and learn from international representatives from around the world. www.greenbuildexpo.org

SEND YOUR FUNNY PHOTO CAPTIONS to us and if we think you’re the funniest, you will be the winner of a limited-edition die-cast model of a Mack Truck.

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toll-free: 877-469-2529www.wajax.ca

CAN AN EXCAVATOR LIVE FOREVER?The closer it gets, the better your return on investment, so the

formula’s simple: get the best equipment you can, right up front,

and service it properly — keep it working for as long as possible.

Improve your bottom line. Call us and we’ll provide a complete

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52_FunnyPhoto.indd 53 11-08-18 3:17 PM

http://www.wajax.ca


CONTRACTORS & THE LAWBy Chris Eagles and Brad Woods

The importance of timing

I n a previous column, we discussed the issue of material non-

compliances in procurement responses. To briefly summarize, a

material non-compliance results when there is a failure to respond

to, or comply with, an important or mandatory requirement of the

procurement process, and will generally result in the materially

non-compliant bid being deemed incapable of acceptance.

One procurement requirement, which will almost always be

treated as mandatory is the obligation to submit bids on time.

While this requirement may appear straight forward, there

are at least a few cases in Canada that have had to con-

sider what constitutes timely submission of a bid.

In Smith Bros. and Wilson (B.C.) Ltd. vs. Brit-

ish Columbia Hydro and Power Authority, a 1997

decision of the B.C. Supreme Court, a bidder

submitted its bid at 11:01 a.m. in response to a

tender that included a deadline of 11:00 a.m.

The owner initially decided that the bid was

late, then decided to consider the bid, and

finally, after receiving a protest from a com-

pliant bidder, concluded that the bid was

late and would not be considered. As a result,

the “late” bidder brought an action against

the owner and argued that its bid ought to be

accepted.

The procurement documents did not specify

which clock would be determinative for the purpose of the

deadline, but instead specified only “local time.” The court found

that, if no clock is specified as being authoritative, the clock of

the party receiving the bid will generally govern. However, absent

express language to the contrary, the time on that clock would not

prevail where it is inaccurate. In this case, the court concluded, on

the basis of expert evidence, that the clock in use by the owner was

running fast, such that while the bid was stamped 11:01 a.m., it

was actually received after 11:00 a.m., but before 11:01 a.m.

Given that the procurement documents specified an 11:00

a.m. deadline, the court had to consider whether 11:00 a.m.

meant 11:00.00 a.m. or any time before 11:01 a.m. After review-

ing the terms of the procurement documents, the court concluded

that 11:00 a.m. is a point in time, meaning that a bid delivered

between 11:00 a.m. and 11:01 a.m. was late and therefore materially

non-compliant.

By way of contrast, in Bradscot (MCL) Ltd. vs. Hamilton-Went-

worth Catholic School Board, the Ontario Court of Appeal upheld

the trial judge’s decision that where the procurement documents

specified a closing time of 1:00 p.m., bids received prior to 1:01 p.m.

should be considered to have been received on-time. In upholding

the trial court’s decision, the Court of Appeal noted that neither of

the interpretations given to the closing time requirements in the

Smith Bros. and Bradscot decisions was incorrect as there is no

“…one “right” interpretation of the words “at,” “only until” or “not

later than” in the instructions to tenderers.” As a result of the poten-

tial for uncertainty as to the applicable closing time, owners

should consider stipulating the closing time in

their procurement documents as being either,

11:00.00 or 11:00.59, and where possible, bid-

ders should endeavour not to wait until the

literal last minute to submit their bids.

In NAC Constructors Ltd. vs. Alberta Capital

Region Wastewater Commission, the Alberta

Court of Appeal had to consider whether

the relevant privilege clause permitted the

owner to accept a bid that was non-com-

pliant by virtue of having been submitted

late. After considering the language of the

applicable procurement documents, the

court concluded the privilege clause did not

permit the owner to accept a late bid, as a right

to accept late bids was not specified.

Another potential source of closing time un-

certainty is created by daylight savings time. In some cases, in an

effort to denote the applicable time zone, closing times are stated

as being in standard time, (i.e. E.S.T. or P.S.T.) without accounting

for the application of daylight savings time. In most of Canada,

during the months of March to November, 2:00 p.m. standard time

would actually be 3:00 p.m. daylight time. Though it is likely that

this would only lead to a bid being submitted an hour early, any

confusion can be eliminated by simply stipulating the closing time

as being “local time” at the required place of bid delivery.

While the timing issues described in this article may appear

trivial, uncertainties as to procurement closing time requirements

do result in disputes and have produced a number of reported

court decisions. Accordingly, they serve as another reminder of

the importance of clear bid instructions.

This column is provided for general information only and may not be relied upon as legal advice. Send comments [email protected].

GREENBUILD 2011 celebrates what's NEXT for green building.

The world's largest conference and expo dedicated to green building, Greenbuild is where the world’s innovators and pioneers will lead the way

into what’s next – for the green building movement, for the new green economy and for our global community. Learn more at greenbuildexpo.org.

GREENBUILDEXPO.ORGTORONTO OCT. 4–7, 2011

54_Law.indd 54 11-08-10 5:09 PM


The importance of timing

GREENBUILD 2011 celebrates what's NEXT for green building.

The world's largest conference and expo dedicated to green building, Greenbuild is where the world’s innovators and pioneers will lead the way

into what’s next – for the green building movement, for the new green economy and for our global community. Learn more at greenbuildexpo.org.

GREENBUILDEXPO.ORGTORONTO OCT. 4–7, 2011

54_Law.indd 55 11-08-10 5:09 PM

http://greenbuildexpo.org

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