Articles
Breaking it down: Crusher evolution prompts contractors to rethink aggregates
April 22, 2019 Jillian MorganThe steep cost of hauling off and disposing of rubble from job sites, only to purchase and truck in virgin aggregate from far-off quarries, has motivated the construction industry to turn its garbage into gold. Geoffrey Faber, territory manager West…
Construction tendering 101
April 22, 2019 Ivona Zegrean and Alexander SpraggsBy replacing negotiation with competition, the tendering process in construction is intended to bring more certainty, fairness and efficiency to the allocation of contracts. Despite this, the tendering system is an idiosyncratic mechanism, giving rise to certain obligations that may…
Asset management comes to North America
April 19, 2019 David BowcottThe construction industry is moving towards a more integrated approach. Though this column primarily focuses on construction and its associated risks, I’ve been interweaving the concept of asset management into my articles over the past several years to highlight a…
From the editor: Bracing for a worker shortage
March 19, 2019 by David KennedyWhen waters start rising, prudent people shore up their levees. The Canadian construction industry faces more of a drought than a flood, but company leaders across the country need to start taking proactive steps to future-proof their businesses. 10 years…
Coming out swinging: Technology, telematics and less tail-swing top list of what’s new in crawler excavators
March 18, 2019 Nate HendleyA broader range of applications and advancing technology are forcing manufacturers in the mid- to large-size crawler excavator segment to unearth new solutions. Foremost among these evolving trends are reduced tail-swing machines that let excavators take on a more diverse…
Cyber security in the digital age
March 15, 2019 Jacob StollerThe phrase “data security” has recently been replaced by “cyber security, ” but this isn’t just a matter of fashionable buzzwords. The newer term reflects the fact that staying secure involves a lot more than protecting a company’s data. Furthermore,…
How do you know when it’s really over? Types of “project complete”
March 14, 2019 Siobhan SmallProject wrap-up entails a variety of legal processes, including the release of contract and statutory holdback funds, shifting responsibility for insurance coverage, and commencing lien filing and statutory limitation periods. These processes often turn on a project achieving completion. The…
Under lock and key: Guarding job sites from thieves and thrill-seekers saves contractors down the line
March 13, 2019 Jillian MorganSprawling construction sites, swarming with workers during the day, but abundant in valuable tools and unguarded equipment once crews clock out, are ripe for pilfering. Unlike picking a lock or breaking a window, prowling a vacant construction site after-hours hoping…
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…