Quick take
 Fighting violence
It’s hard to criticize Bill 168, the Occupational Health and Safety Amendment Act (Violence and Harassment in the Workplace) 2009, recently passed in Ontario. Workplace violence is a motherhood issue… no one is in favour of it. But is another layer of paperwork and meetings the solution?
Among other changes, Bill 168 defines and distinguishes workplace violence and harassment more specifically. It requires that a written policy be created, posted and updated annually and mandates employee meetings to discuss the topic. New, corporate fines are also involved.
The issue is very real. According to Statistics Canada data, a fifth of all physical and sexual assaults in 2004 occurred in the workplace. Two thirds of respondents to a survey performed a few years ago by the Canadian Initiative on Workplace Violence said that aggressive acts had been on the increase in their workplaces. From April to September 2008, Ontario Ministry of Labour inspectors made 198 field visits and issued 185 orders related to workplace violence.
It isn’t like workplace violence was tolerated in the past. It has always been the subject of investigation by provincial authorities. Certainly, the police already had a mandate in this area, too, with some stiff associated penalties. What's new is the additional onus placed on employers.
It is very important for workers to understand their rights and for employers to recognize their responsibilities. But when you think about it, violence is not the root issue – it is one symptom of a badly run company. Where violence does exist, it is the sign of a dysfunctional business that needs to do a lot more than write policies forbidding it.
Will more meetings and paperwork deter a hothead from reacting physically to stressful situations or abusing co-workers? Only good management can do that.
This is our last issue of Backfill for 2009, and the staff here at On-Site would like to wish you happy and safe holidays and a prosperous and fulfilling 2010!
Jim Barnes
Editor
On-Site
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Last poll: Construction criminals
Last time, we noted that criminal involvement in construction in Montreal had been under the spotlight lately. We asked our readers how pervasive organized crime was in construction. Is organized crime and the associated corruption a routine presence in construction in Canada?
Alarmingly, fully half of respondents said that organized crime was a routine presence in Canadian construction. Only 16 per cent felt that organized crime was not a factor in construction in their region.
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51% |
Yes: It has always been around, and probably always will be. |
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Maybe: You hear about these things once in a while, but it isn't "pervasive." |
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16% |
No: Organized crime is not present in construction in our area. |
Readers write
Of course it is – it is everywhere – and a noticeable percentage directly involves the government at all levels, as contracts get handed out to friends and bidding gets rigged or mysteriously does not get posted where potential bidders can find it. Again, it goes to special friends.
It isn’t just the government, but also crown corporations and government-controlled utility companies – all those nice, big-money, gravy jobs. It’s funny how a select few always seem to get these jobs, even when they are the higher price under any other bidding areas.
The Mafia has nothing on our government for criminal activity.
– Anonymous
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Instant poll
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Quick stats
Building permits jump in October
Gains in non-residential building and single-family dwelling intentions drove the value of building permits in October to $6.1 billion, an 18.0 per cent gain over the previous month. The data was published in a report from Statistics Canada.
In the residential sector, the value of permits was up for a third consecutive month, climbing 3.8 per cent to $3.4 billion nationally. Ontario and Quebec accounted for much of the growth.
Single-family permits increased for the eighth month in a row, growing 10.1 per cent to $2.4 billion.
Multi-family permits fell 8.2 per cent to $1.0 billion in October, after growing 34.3 per cent the previous month.
In the non-residential sector, permits totalled $2.7 billion, up 42.4 per cent.
Industrial permits doubled to $709 million, a third consecutive increase, resulting mainly from growth in Alberta, Ontario and Quebec.
Institutional permits grew 50.9 per cent to $904 million after four consecutive months of declines. The educational segment in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Quebec and British Columbia largely drove this growth, as well as medical building in Ontario.
Commercial permits reached $1.1 billion, a 15.3 per cent increase over September, mainly because of the office-building and retail-store segments in Ontario and warehouses in Saskatchewan.
The largest permit value increases were seen in Alberta, Ontario, Saskatchewan and Quebec. As well, permit values were up in 20 of the 34 census metropolitan areas surveyed, with the greatest increases in Toronto, Calgary and Edmonton.
Year over year, municipalities issued permits valued at $48.3 billion between January and October 2009, a 20.8 per cent decrease from the same period in 2008.
The research covers 2,400 municipalities representing 95 per cent of the population. The data is seasonally adjusted and excludes engineering projects such as waterworks, sewers or culverts and land.
Statistics Canada
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New in the Forum
On-Site's Forum is a collection of industry articles and white papers that our editors deem to have value for the Canadian construction community at large. Here are the most recent additions:
Finding buried treasure with diamond grinding by John H. Roberts, IGGA. Diamond-grinding the concrete surface may meet or exceed the smoothness, friction and noise characteristics of asphalt overlays in pavement-rehabilitation projects, says this article from the International Grooving & Grinding Association. A case history is included. [2009-12-17]
Customizing a road-portable concrete-recycling system Customizing a concrete-recycling system could cost less than you think and be more profitable over the years than a standard plant, according to this article from Grasan. [2009-10-30]
Five steps for increasing work truck fleet productivity, by Bob Johnson, NTEA. Maximizing fleet productivity starts with getting the most out of your vehicles. The best approach is dictated by the type of fleet you operate and its drive cycles. [2009-10-08]
Safety from head to toe, Canadian Standards Association. The experts offer helpful tips for preventing injuries to the eyes, head, feet and toes in workplaces – as well as statistics on the number of workers who experience such injuries on the job. [2009-10-08]
Load concentration: not all trailers are the same Rated load capacity is not the only important consideration in specifying a trailer, as this article from Rogers Brothers Corp. points out. [2009-09-02]
Cozying up to your banker can cure the recession shivers Times are tight in the credit markets. Here are some practical tips on making sure you can get access to money when you need it, from the Business Development Bank of Canada. [2009-09-02]
The buzz on BIM, by Barry Reid and Chantal Bateman. Building Information Modelling can be a valuable tool for contractors in clash detection and in determining the impact of new technologies on schedules, as this article from Georgia-Pacific points out. [2009-08-20]
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News Bytes
B.C. booms
B.C. contractors appear to be more than surviving the recession - they are thriving, according to the provincial Ministry of Small Business, Technology and Economic Development.
The estimated capital cost of the 882 large-scale projects planned (495) or underway (387) in the third quarter of 2009 hit $189 billion, a 20th consecutive record and an eight per cent increase over the previous year.
The capital cost of all major projects listed under construction in B.C. was $63.1 billion, noted minister Iain Black.
Honeymoon over on materials costs?
Data indicating spikes in the prices of such construction commodities as diesel, copper and brass mill shapes point to growth in construction costs, according to Ken Simonson, chief economist at the Associated General Contractors of America.
Evidence comes from the U.S. Producer Price Index for inputs to construction industries, a weighted average of all materials used by contractors. This number fell 2.3 per cent over the past year, has been flat for the past three months, and increased 0.6 per cent from October to November.
Among the data Simonson cited were:
- one- and three-month increases in the price indexes for diesel fuel (up 6.3 per cent over one month and 6.4 per cent over three months)
- copper and brass mill shapes (up 4.6 per cent and 11.3 per cent)
- steel mill products (down 1.6 per cent and up 4.1 percent),
- aluminum mill shapes (level and up 1.3 per cent), and
- insulation materials (+0.3 per cent and +0.6 per cent).
“More increases are likely soon, as the dollar loses value and construction picks up in key foreign markets,” says Simonson. “Public agencies and private owners contemplating construction projects should treat today's figures as a warning shot,” he noted.
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Funny Photo
Got a funny caption for the photo below? Send it in, and if we think you are the funniest, you could win a limited-edition die-cast model of a Mack truck.
Photo: Jim Barnes
The deadline for entries is January 29, 2010
Enter the contest!
Got a Funny Photo you'd like to share? Please contact the editor.
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Calendar of events
2010
January 12 to 14: 37th International Horticultural Lawn and Garden Trade Show and Conference, organized by the Landscape Ontario Horticultural Trades Association. The site is the Toronto Congress Centre, Toronto, ON. http://s31.a2zinc.net.
February 1 to 5: World of Concrete. North America's biggest concrete-specific show also features the World of Masonry and Technology for Construction events. An extensive conference program is featured.. Sponsors/organizers: Hanley Wood Exhibitions. Site: Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV. www.worldofconcrete.com.
February 7 to 10: The Rental Show. A trade show, educational workshops, morning seminars and networking activities are all part of this event for rental business operators.. Sponsors/organizers: American Rental Association. Site: Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, FL. www.therentalshow.com.
February 15 to 18: World of Asphalt Show & Conference, co-located with the AGG1 Forum & Expo. These educational and exhibition events enable aggregates, asphalt, pavement-maintenance and traffic-safety professionals to network, discuss industry trends and get up to speed on recent innovations. The Association of Equipment Manufacturers will hold these events at the Duke Energy Convention Center, Cincinnati, OH. www.worldofasphalt.com
March 2 to 4: Fifth Annual CGA Excavation Safety Conference & Expo. This conference brings together stakeholders from throughout the industry to share ideas, learn from the experts and gather information on industry trends and technologies.. Sponsors/organizers: Common Ground Alliance. Site: San Diego Convention Center, San Diego, CA. www.excavationsafetyonline.com/cga/.
March 9 to 12: Work Truck Show 2010 and 46th Annual National Truck Equipment Association Convention. A convention, educational sessions and the Green Truck Summit join this leading exhibition of work trucks, parts and services. Sponsors/organizers: NTEA. Site: America's Center, St. Louis, MO. www.ntea.com/worktruckshow.
March 21 to 23: NDA 37th Annual Convention. An exposition and program will focus on the association and the demolition sector. The National Demolition Association will hold the event at the Mirage Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV. www.demolitionassociation.com
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Next issue: February/March
 We're starting 2010 with a blast - with an issue covering financing for contractors, the latest in grading and excavators and a special focus on compact equipment!
That's in addition to all our regular business columns... Construction Software, Contractors and the Law, Risk, Industry News and Statistics — not to mention the Funny Photo contest.
If you have any questions or suggestions, contact Jim Barnes at (416) 764-1612
or editor@on-sitemag.com
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