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Occupational Health and Safety

May 22, 2012

Construction to start soon on Mission, British Columbia health centres

Construction is expected to get under way in July on an estimated $27 million project in Mission, British Columbia that includes a complex-care community residential centre as well as a community health centre. The building, about 70 kilometres east of downtown Vancouver, will be constructed almost entirely of wood products and built to LEED Gold standards.

May 22, 2012

Painting and sand blasting firm fined $70,000 in connection with workplace injury in Hamilton, Ontario

M & M Painting and Sand Blasting Ltd. of Cayuga, Ontario was fined $70,000 for a violation of the provincial Occupational Health and Safety Act in connection with an accident in which a worker was injured in Hamilton.

May 18, 2012

University of Windsor design competition winners announced

Newton Parking Structures Ltd. and MMMC Architects have won a design-build competition for the University of Windsor to build two new campus structures.

May 18, 2012

Safety training today builds safety leaders of the future, says IHSA

My heartfelt condolences go out to the families of those 73 workers who lost their lives in 2011. One workplace fatality is simply one too many.

May 17, 2012

PCL Constructors works on Humber River Regional Hospital in Toronto

Concrete work continues at the Humber River Regional Hospital’s new acute care complex in the Toronto neighbourhood of Downsview. Plenary Health Care Partnerships includes firms such as PCL Constructors Canada Inc.Johnson Controls LP, HDR Architects/C.F. Møller Architects (design) and RBC Capital Markets.

May 16, 2012

Worker hurt in dressing room ceiling collapse at Edmonton stadium

A tile setter was rushed to hospital recently after the ceiling of a steam room in the Edmonton Eskimos dressing room collapsed on him at Commonwealth Stadium.

May 16, 2012

Where does labour law stand on ladder safety?

The Ontario Ministry of Labour recently issued a new position paper on the use of ladders in construction, and workplace safety experts warn employers need to train their workers and assess their sites for risk.

May 16, 2012

Westray disaster 20th anniversary a call to safety action

As recent somber ceremonies marked the 20th anniversary of the Westray Mine explosion that killed 26 men, labour groups used May 9 as a renewed call to action to hold negligent employers criminally liable for worker deaths.

May 16, 2012

Ontario courts rule against owners rejecting low bids using undisclosed criteria

Owners do not enjoy an unfettered discretion when it comes to relying on privilege clauses to avoid awarding to the low bidder. In three cases, Ontario courts have found owners liable for bypassing the low bidders for construction projects based on undisclosed criteria, such as preferences for local contractors, preference for unionized firms or because an employee of a bidder had sued the owner.

May 15, 2012

Diamond Schmitt Architects awarded contract for Toronto St. Michael’s Hospital work

Infrastructure Ontario has selected Diamond Schmitt Architects Inc. to lead the planning, design and compliance work for a project to redevelop St. Michael’s Hospital in downtown Toronto. The firm will prepare key documents that will establish the guidelines and performance requirements before IO issues a request for qualifications for firms to design, build and finance the facility.

May 15, 2012

London and District Construction Association launches awards to recognize best in ICI

The London and District Construction Association (LDCA) has recognized the best in industrial, commercial and institutional (ICI) construction in the region in an inaugural awards program.

May 15, 2012

American construction organizations aim to create a drug- and alcohol-free industry

Five of the largest construction trade associations in the United States have teamed up to form the Construction Coalition for a Drug- and Alcohol-Free Workplace (CCDAFW). The coalition’s mission is to create a drug- and alcohol-free construction industry by providing companies and organizations with the resources necessary to implement drug- and alcohol-free policies into their business practices.

May 11, 2012

Occupational health and safety week across North America

American Occupational Safety and Health Week, led by Canadian Society of Safety Engineering aims to remind people that safer workplaces must remain a priority.

May 11, 2012

City of Ottawa declares May International Building Safety Month

The City of Ottawa announced last week it has proclaimed the month of May International Building Safety Month, which it is promoting, along with the Ontario Building Officials Association.

May 11, 2012

Waterloo, Ontario settles lawsuits over recreation centre lease financing

The City of Waterloo, Ontario expects to get $3 million in settlements it reached in lawsuits it launched over the past 11 years on the financing of RIM Park and Manulife Financial Sportsplex. Originally politicians understood the city would pay $100 million over 31 years, but they learned nine months later they would actually owe $227 million. The city will receive $2.5 million from MFP Financial Services Ltd. and $500,000 from former treasurer John Ford and/or his insurance providers.

May 11, 2012

Revenue up for Montreal engineering firm Genivar

Montreal engineering firm Genivar Inc. released its first-quarter financial results Wednesday, reporting revenues of $163.736 million, up 9.7 per cent from the first quarter of 2011. New contracts awarded since January include an impact study for the railway interconnection between Labrador and the St. Lawrence River port of Sept-Iles, as part of the Plan Nord in Quebec.

May 10, 2012

Canada Mortgage and Housing honours Willowdale Passive Solar House in Toronto

SUSTAINABLE.TO Architecture + Building and Greenbilt Homes were recently honoured by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s (CMHC) Healthy Housing Recognition Program for their efforts in building healthier homes.

May 10, 2012

Seminars aim to improve Ontario hot mix asphalt

As the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (MTO) has downloaded responsibilities for various roads onto municipalities, they the Ontario Hot Mix Producers Association (OHMPA) has become involved in the seminars for the past three years, aimed at improving the quality of hot mix asphalt.

May 10, 2012

The best in mining construction to be recognized with new award

The Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy, and Petroleum (CIM), and Hatch Ltd., a global engineering, procurement and construction management company, have announced the establishment of the Hatch-CIM Mining and Minerals Project Construction Safety Award, which will annually honour best construction safety practices and project management results.

May 9, 2012

Inquest to be held into Patrick Doucette death

An inquest will be held into the death of construction worker Patrick Doucette, announced Dr. Jack Stanborough, Regional Supervising Coroner for West Region, Hamilton Office recently.

May 9, 2012

Cap Concrete Structure Ltd. fined $70,000 after worker injured

Cap Concrete Structure Ltd. of Vaughan, Ontario has been fined $70,000 after a worker was injured after falling from a ladder. A Ministry of Labour investigation found that Cap Concrete Structures Ltd. failed as an employer to ensure that material or equipment at a project shall be stored and moved in a manner that does not endanger the worker, as per the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

May 9, 2012

Owner can bypass low bidder when appropriate

While the duty to award to the low bid remains an implied rule of the tendering process, the courts have recognized circumstances where owners can legitimately bypass the low bidder.

May 9, 2012

20th anniversary of Nova Scotia Westray disaster

Today marks the 20th anniversary of the Nova Scotia Westray mine disaster, which killed 26 workers in an underground methane explosion.

May 8, 2012

City of Toronto fined $60,000 for construction safety violation

The City of Toronto was fined $60,000 by an Ontario court after pleading guilty to a charge under the Occupational Health and Safety Act for failing to provide a copy of a report on the presence of asbestos-containing material to a constructor.

May 8, 2012

Witmer nominated as next Workplace Safety and Insurance Board chair for Ontario

Various construction industry stakeholders are pleased but astonished that former Progressive Conservative MPP Elizabeth Witmer has been nominated to chair the Ontario Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB). Merit Ontario, the Council of Ontario Construction Associations and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Construction Council of Ontario (CCO) react.

May 8, 2012

Bell launches push-to-talk network for construction

Bell Canada Enterprises Inc. (TSX:BCE) is targeting the construction industry with new push-to-talk (PTT) handsets, including the XP5520 Bolt from Sonim Technologies, which is designed to work after being dropped on concrete from a height of two metres. Bell Mobility claims its PTT network, which works on High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) technology, has more than twice the coverage of Telus Corp.’s (TSX:T) Mike service

May 7, 2012

Municipal procurement needs strategic focus

When we talk about the subject of municipal procurement it is one which ought to be of interest to all Canadians.

May 4, 2012

Ontario government releases Arthurs review of workplace safety and insurance

“Funding Fairness” is written by the former Dean of Osgoode Hall Law School, Harry Arthurs and is a comprehensive review and contains a series of recommendations designed to put Ontario's workplace safety and insurance system on solid financial footing. The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) currently has an estimated $14 billion in unfunded liability.

May 4, 2012

Ontario Labour official reveals details of enforcement blitzes targetting construction sites

At the Partners in Progress conference and exposition hosted by Health and Safety Ontario in Mississauga, the Ontario Ministry of Labour plans several enforcement blitzes over the next year, where inspectors will be sent to workplaces in target industries, including construction.

May 3, 2012

Witmer nominated to chair Ontario Workplace Safety and Insurance Board

Elizabeth Witmer has been nominated to chair the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB). Witmer, the former Progressive Conservative MPP from Kitchener-Waterloo, takes over from outgoing Chair Steve Mahoney, who announced his retirement in March.

May 3, 2012

Sealing the world’s longest immersed tunnel in China

In 2009, construction began on a project to link Hong Kong with Macau and the mainland Chinese city of Zhuhai. The link will be one of the region’s most technically complex engineering projects ever.

May 2, 2012

U.S. highway work-zone crashes a major concern

Sixty-eight per cent of highway contractors in the United States had motor vehicles crash into their construction work zones during the past year, according to the results of a new highway work-zone study conducted by the Associated General Contractors of America.

May 1, 2012

Osgoode Hall Law School transformed after renovation at York University in Toronto

A newly transformed Osgoode Hall Law School has officially opened at York University in Toronto following an extensive renovation and expansion of the 43-year-old facility that adds study and administrative space and brings an infusion of natural light to the building. The project was undertaken by a team that included construction manager Bird Construction.

May 1, 2012

Electricity distributor Westario fined over fatal safety violation

Westario Power Inc. was fined $110,000 over an incident in September, 2010 in which a worker was killed due to electrocution. The utility pleaded guilty to failing to provide the information, instruction and supervision required to protect the health and safety of a worker in accordance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

April 30, 2012

Das Demo: Edmonton submarines dismantled

Vancouver-based All-Sea Enterprises Ltd. started a project dismantling submarines used at the Deep Sea Adventure Lake at West Edmonton Mall.

April 30, 2012

Diamond Schmitt, Sunnybrook hospital get Green Toronto awards

The Centre for Green Cities at Evergreen Brick Works in the Don Valley of Toronto has garnered Diamond Schmitt Architects the green design award in the 2012 Green Toronto Awards. Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre was awarded for reducing its dependence on non-renewable energy and reducing waste while heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) control vendor ecobee got an energy conservation award.

April 27, 2012

Day of Mourning a call to workplace safety action

The nationwide annual Day of Mourning is not just about attending a ceremony this Saturday but also about taking action and addressing workplace safety, says George Gritziotis, Ontario’s Chief Prevention Officer. It was launched by the Canadian Labour Congress.

April 27, 2012

Take a step or two for workplace safety

The annual Steps for Life walk will be held in more than 30 Canadian communities on May 6. The event raises funds and awareness about the importance of workplace health and safety for all Canadians.

April 26, 2012

Stantec recognized in design showcase

Stantec has won an honourable mention in Behavioral Healthcare magazine’s 2012 design showcase for an addition to the Lutherwood Children’s Mental Health Centre in Waterloo, Ontario. The $7-million project, which included $4 million in new construction, was substantially completed last May. Construction manager was Van-Del Contracting Ltd.

April 25, 2012

Burlington, Ontario politicians consider hospital redevelopment plan

The City of Burlington, Ontario announced its budget and corporate services committee approved a plan on managing funding for its share of the Joseph Brant Memorial Hospital redevelopment. The plan, which is subject to approval April 30 by full council, would allocate $50,000 for “legal and strategic expertise” and would disband its hospital redevelopment working group, which includes staff and three members of council. Instead, staff would report directly to one of the city’s committees.

April 24, 2012

Ontario Association of Architects awards honour design, innovation

The Ontario Association of Architects (OAA) has honoured the best in architectural design and innovation in its 2012 awards program. Recipients include projects in the Toronto area, Ottawa, Peterborough and Waterloo.

April 24, 2012

Dump truck kills a worker while backing up on Thunder Bay construction site

A worker is dead following an accident at a construction site in Thunder Bay, Ont.

April 24, 2012

One project, one review to streamline major projects

Canadian Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver recently provided additional details to a measure announced in the March 29th federal budget. Major project reviews will now recognize provincial processes as substitutes or equivalents to federal ones as long as they meet the requirements under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act.

April 24, 2012

Cookstown, Ontario construction firm fined $160,000 in connection with fatal 10-metre fall

An Ontario court imposed a fine of $160,000 on Res 2000 Structures Inc. in connection with a construction accident that killed a worker two years ago. Workers were installing formwork and concrete at a building project in Toronto when a worker fell about 10 meters through an opening in a concrete slab and died. The firm pleaded guilty to charges under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, Regulation 213.

April 23, 2012

One Call bill gets hearing in Ontario Legislature

A single, mandatory one-call locate program for underground utilities will enhance worker and public safety and improve the province’s productivity, Union Gas representatives told a legislative hearing on Bill 8, the proposed Ontario One Call Act, at Queen’s Park recently.