Articles
Connecting the dots between technology and capital
March 12, 2019 David BowcottYou may have noticed that a number of articles I’ve penned in the last year have had a strong technology leaning. It isn’t a coincidence. There’s absolutely no doubt that over the last few years Silicon Valley has discovered the…
The road north: Building through the most inhospitable terrain and harshest conditions Canada has to offer
February 21, 2019 Saul ChernosFrequent blizzards and blistering cold. Unreliable access to basic materials. Cellphone service lost in seemingly endless tundra. Conditions like these might seem like a nightmare to roadbuilders in Canada’s more temperate climes, where the occasional blast of Arctic air can…
From the editor… The hard hat – 100 years on
February 20, 2019 by David KennedySturdy, life-saving and ubiquitous, there’s nothing in construction quite like it
Federal tax incentive creates big opportunity for firms purchasing new equipment
February 19, 2019 by David KennedyCanadian construction companies have at least one reason to thank U.S. President Donald Trump. He may have started the ongoing trade spat that’s caused havoc in the markets for construction steel and aluminum, but the recent American tax reforms he…
Bird’s eye view: The consequences of falls from heights demand a culture shift
February 19, 2019 Jillian MorganIt may be time to rethink working at heights from the ground up. Though some provinces have welcomed a marginal decline in accidents, falls remain a leading cause of injury for tradespeople of all stripes across the country. The most…
Assessing the future: Job site robotics are quickly gaining ground
February 18, 2019 Jacob StollerIn the 1959 sci-fi novel Starship Troopers, Robert Heinlein introduced, perhaps for the first time, the concept of the powered exoskeleton — a motor-assisted armoured suit that gives its wearer superhuman strength. Since then, exoskeletons have shown up in countless…
Expanding your horizon: Stakeholders must approach construction from a new perspective
February 18, 2019 David BowcottThe most important stakeholder within a construction project is the owner. Without their capital there would be no project to bid on. In addition, it’s the owner that makes the ultimate decisions on exactly how the project will be procured…
Are you insured? Hidden parties in builder’s risk policies
February 15, 2019 Siobhan SmallWhatever your role on a project, always be sure to read the Course of Construction policy. It is surprising how often parties overlook potential coverage for a loss by assuming they are not insured. Knowing who is covered by the…
Canadian construction outlook positive for 2019, but last year’s setbacks could cast a long shadow
December 5, 2018 by David KennedyWith no rose-coloured glasses necessary, the outlook for the construction industry in 2019 remains positive, if somewhat tepid. Near-record employment, six-straight quarters of higher spending in the non-residential segment and progress on several major projects have bolstered confidence this fall…
From the editor… Tech keeps trucking
December 5, 2018 by David KennedyIntegrating fully autonomous vehicles certainly won’t become standard on work sites for several years, but the prospect is no longer science fiction
Top 10 Canadian construction trends to watch in 2019
December 5, 2018 On-Site StaffThere is no shortage of changes, both positive and negative, the industry faces as 2018 comes to a close. On-Site caught up with Mary Van Buren, the president of the Canadian Construction Association, to discuss the trends the industry association…
Lean Construction: Getting past the silos
December 5, 2018 Jacob StollerToronto’s Humber River Hospital, completed in 2015, is an award-winning facility featuring fully integrated digital infrastructure, compliance with LEED, a natural people-friendly environment and floor layouts that support Lean workflows. What’s not immediately obvious is the project’s diverse input from…
Silica dust on the job site: Inconsistent regulations force the industry to play catch up
December 5, 2018 Jillian MorganIt takes decades of breathing in the fugitive dust created by drilling, cutting and grinding concrete, stone and other materials containing crystalline silica for silicosis to scar and harden the lungs. The incurable disease is one of a handful caused…
Picking up creature comforts: On-Site’s 2019 pick-up report
December 5, 2018 Mario CywinskiNot long ago, pick-ups were seen as little more than dedicated work trucks. Those days are long gone. With the rise of crossovers and SUVs, people want bigger vehicles, and for many, pick-ups have become “an SUV with a truck…
Job site automation: Can job sites be more like factories?
December 5, 2018 Jacob StollerWolves and construction materials don’t have a lot in common, but finding them can present similar challenges. Thus, a presentation on tracking wolf packs became the inspiration for a unique solution for locating construction materials on job sites. “I thought,…
Integrated Asset Delivery: Risk management for the entire lifecycle
December 5, 2018 David BowcottIn recent years there has been a resurgence of the Integrated Project Delivery model in the North American construction marketplace. This method traces its origins to the heyday of North Sea oil exploration, when owners, design firms and contractors created…
Credit in the construction industry
December 5, 2018 Siobhan SmallWhen we think of credit, we usually think of a method of paying for goods or services. In the construction context, however, credit can serve a role analogous to that of a performance bond. While owners can choose to request…
From the editor … Taking stock of opportunities
October 2, 2018 David Kennedy765,917 kilometres – that’s the final tally of just how far Canada’s public road infrastructure stretches. Cobbling together highways, arterials, collectors, local roads and even urban laneways, the impressive measurement would take you to the Moon and then nearly get…
Steeling for a trade war: Canada’s dangerous, unavoidable dependence on foreign steel
October 2, 2018 Saul ChernosAn ongoing trade spat, which has seen the U.S. slap tariffs on a list of imports, has shone a spotlight on the Canadian construction sector’s dependence on foreign steel. When U.S. President Donald Trump introduced the tariffs in March, he…
Elevating your game: New regulations and focus on safety redefining working from heights
October 2, 2018 David KennedyWith their feet planted on an elevated work platform 40 metres (130 feet) above the Ottawa River, a pair of employees with marine construction contractor O.D.S. Marine set to work replacing a series of 10 high-voltage power lines on an…