Topic
Risk Management
IHSA aims to prevent fatalities with Working at Heights course
March 4, 2013 Don ProcterPREVENTING FATALITIES Many construction workers in Ontario die or are seriously injured from falls –often from roof tops. Most of those tragic mishaps wouldn’t have happened if the workers had been in safety harnesses properly tied off at anchor…
The problem with insurance
March 1, 2013 David BowcottSome of you may think there are several problems with insurance, but for the purposes of this article I’m going to focus on one problem that relates to construction projects and the operations of those projects after substantial completion. What…
Suicide bid season is open for business
December 1, 2012 David BowcottSuicide bid season is upon us. This cyclical phenomenon is typically seen when the pipeline of construction projects in the economy start to drop off by a significant level. It is a regional occurrence so far, but even the most…
EllisDon wins first managed services contract
November 16, 2012 On-Site staffEllisDon recently entered new territory, when the company was awarded its first managed services contract for work being completed at PwC Tower in Toronto. The 650,000-sq.-ft. office building is owned by the British Columbia Investment Management Corporation and is located…
CCA announces new guide for cost predictability of construction projects
November 5, 2012 On-Site staffThe Canadian Construction Association (CCA) has made a new guide designed to improve cost predictability of construction projects available on its website as a free download. The document, titled Guide to Cost Predictability in Construction: An Analysis of Issues Affecting…
EllisDon launches Uprising
October 29, 2012 On-Site staffEllisDon has launched Uprising, a crowdsourcing platform that has the potential to revolutionize construction problem solving. Uprising was created by EllisDon to “push problem-solving beyond the boundaries of any one company and into the collective intelligence of the world’s brightest…
Aligning risk perception and reality
October 1, 2012 David BowcottIdeas with Paul Kennedy is a show put on by CBC Radio, and in mid-September they aired a two-part series on risk. The first part of the series focuses on how decisions are made based on the individual’s perception of…
Hot iron
October 1, 2012 Jim BarnesDo thieves think you are an easy target?
Better bids
August 1, 2012 Jim BarnesClarity, accurate risk allocation are keys to effective contracts
Choosing a risk advisor
August 1, 2012 David BowcottChange abounds within the construction industry. Never has your choice of business advisor been so important, and given the increasing level of risk dialogue going on in the Canadian construction marketplace, your choice of risk advisor could mean the difference between losing or winning jobs. Before we…
Preparing for Pan-Am
August 1, 2012 Andrew SnookGetting the Athletes’ Village ready for the Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan Games
Advisory panel: Turn Ontario Place into a mixed-use facility
July 26, 2012 Andrew SnookThe final report on the fate of Ontario Place was released today and the message is clear: park it, all year round. Turning Ontario Place into a multi-use site that features waterfront and parkland for the public to enjoy was…
MHCA emphasizes importance of infrastructure programs
July 19, 2012 Andrew SnookPermanent, long-term infrastructure programs (LTIP) are good for Canada. That was the message from the Manitoba Heavy Construction Association (MHCA) at a recent roundtable meeting in Winnipeg, Man. Industry stakeholders discussed the possibility of a permanent LTIP, which would extend beyond…
Rubicon expands into Canada
June 20, 2012 by On-Site MagazineRubicon Professional Services, a provider of full-service energy management, consulting, engineering, and construction management for mission-critical facilities, has been awarded Canadian business registration and licensing rights. The company’s successful completion of licensing requirements will enable Rubicon to offer its full…
Balance your capital to maximize opportunity
June 1, 2012 David BowcottReturn on investment. One of the most difficult questions faced by the board of directors and management of any corporation is what the right balance is between capital retained and risks assumed. We’ve all heard the comments—“this company is overcapitalized,”…
The changing face of project delivery
April 1, 2012 David BowcottThe Canadian Construction Association (CCA) Conference in Savannah, GA, last month, was appropriately themed “The Changing Face of Construction.” Seems a bit cliché, but never was a conference slogan so true. I was fortunate enough to sit on a panel…
Editorial: Southern hospitality at its finest
April 1, 2012 Corinne LyndsNow that I have experienced the Canadian Construction Association’s annual conference for myself, I can confirm that this is indeed an industry that works hard, loves its families and knows how to have fun! Embracing all of the southern charm and hospitality that Savannah, Ga. is…
Risk: Strike a balance between lenders and contractors
March 1, 2012 David BowcottAs more and more contractors get exposed to project finance negotiations and are asked to provide performance security in the event of their non-performance, the dialogue about the nature of that security is increasing. A delicate balance needs to be…
The design procurement strategy
February 1, 2012 David BowcottAs total cost of ownership (TCO) and asset performance certainty (APC) continue to gain momentum within the asset procurement sector, there’s a greater focus on creating value by more thoughtfully integrating the key phases of an asset’s life: design, finance,…
Achieve Asset Performance Certainty
November 1, 2011 David BowcottEvery asset developed has a plan. What is the cost to design and develop the asset? When will the asset be completed? What will the maintenance costs of the asset be once up and running? Are the assumptions of operational…