Recent Articles

Industry consultation with SHCA members helped Southeast College develop a program that will benefit all heavy construction stakeholders in the province.

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Featuring Chris O’Grady, construction manager at Aecon Transportation West

1. Where are you from?

Fort McMurray, Alberta

2. How did you get your start in the heavy construction industry and/or who do you credit to getting you where you are today?

My first job in the heavy construction industry was with AEC Pipelines as a labourer at the pump houses. I would have to credit my dad on exposing me to construction and all the heavy equipment in the oilsands, such as draglines and 797 haul trucks.

3. What is your career history?

Following high school, I enrolled into the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT), where I received my civil engineering technologist diploma. I then worked for Thurber Engineering in Calgary as a lab technician and then Fort McMurray as a project technologist. In 2005, I enrolled into the University of Saskatchewan College of Engineering. During the summer while attending university, I worked for Terracon in Fort McMurray constructing heavy haul roads and pipeline corridors in Syncrude’s north and aurora mines. Since graduating from university, I have worked for the Saskatchewan Ministry of Highways, Tetra Tech Canada Inc. and Aecon Transportation West Ltd.

4. What’s the best piece of business or career advice you have or have been given?

During my final stint as a summer student in the oilsands, the construction foreman wished me well in my final year of engineering and told me that once I graduate, don’t let the ring on my finger cut off the circulation to my head.

5. What’s your favourite thing about Saskatchewan and working in the industry?

Since moving to Saskatchewan 15 years ago, it’s always been the people. The down-to-earth nature and hospitality of the people in the province has always made me feel like this is where I want to call home. I’ve always enjoyed that our industry in the province is like a community, where for the most part everyone knows one another.

6. What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Fishing on a quiet lake.

7. Which talent would you most like to have?

The ability to play a musical instrument.

8. What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?

Paving in the snow.

9. What is it that you most dislike?

Clutter and disorganization.

10. How would you like to die?

Preferably, many years from now!

Recent funding change by Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board puts those benefits at risk

Safe and healthy workplaces matter to industry. Saskatchewan is fortunate to have seven safety associations dedicated to preventing workplace injuries in this province by developing and delivering industry-focused training. 

A recent change implemented by the Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) undermines industries’ opportunity to shape and ensure the training and support their dedicated safety associations develop and deliver. 

“We are encouraging our members and stakeholders to engage with the decision-makers to let them know how these changes will negatively impact our industry,” said Shantel Lipp, president of the Saskatchewan Heavy Construction Association (SHCA). “There is too much at risk to not speak out and defend the safety associations that deliver the training that keeps Saskatchewan workers safe.” 

At the beginning of 2021, a new funding agreement was introduced by the WCB. The new agreement makes safety associations accountable to WCB rather than the industries funding them. That is a radical change to the nature and purpose of safety associations in Saskatchewan as well as the role of the WCB. 

“The best people to train our industry on safety are those who come from the front lines because they know what is best for the worker,” said Lipp. “If the changes go forward, we risk losing this and the industry as a whole loses.”

Industry has not been provided any evidence that WCB appropriately analyzed the new funding agreement before it was implemented. However, there is data from the WCB showing that these safety associations have made a difference and that their work is reducing injury rates in their industries. 

Background

How industry-focused safety training is funded in Saskatchewan

All seven provincial safety associations in the province are funded by industry. They are:

1. Energy Safety Canada, Saskatchewan Petroleum Industry Safety Association 
2. Heavy Construction Safety Association of Saskatchewan 
3. Motor Safety Association
4. Safety Association of Saskatchewan Manufacturers 
5. Saskatchewan Association for Safe Workplaces in Health 
6. Saskatchewan Construction Safety Association 
7. Service Hospitality 
8. Safety associations focus on the needs of the industries that organized, sponsored and fund them. Funds for the safety associations are collected from employers by WCB. Those funds are then distributed to safety associations through grants from WCB, which acts as a fund administrator.

Industry funds these safety associations because those in industry are most qualified to identify current hazards in their workplaces that could lead to injuries. They are also able to distinguish what is best practice for employers in their industry to implement to prevent injuries.

Safety associations develop and deliver that practical and relevant training, advice and support by engaging industry members. This ensures that emerging issues that could cause injuries are quickly pinpointed and addressed to keep more workers and workplaces safe and healthy. 

Safety associations also engage one another to improve the training being developed and delivered in the province. They collaborate to develop standards for training and trainers as well as course material that elevates their effectiveness.  One example of this is associations’ work to develop fall protection training in Saskatchewan, which is needed in numerous industries.

According to the WCB, the total injury rates for industries with safety associations have decreased from 5.46 per cent in 2016 to 4.74 per cent in 2020. 

How industry holds safety associations accountable for funds intended for safety training

For the last 25 years, safety associations have operated successfully as independent cooperatives. These safety associations are not-for-profit organizations and are governed by boards made up of workers and employers.

Board members approve strategic plans and budget, as well as associated grant requests. They oversee operational activities, evaluate the effectiveness of the association’s programs and initiatives and are 100 per cent accountable to their association’s membership.

How WCB is separating industry from Saskatchewan’s safety associations

Under the new funding agreement: 

• WCB requires safety associations, when requesting funding, to provide details about initiatives and staff positions that go far beyond what is provided to a board or CEO.
• WCB assumes the power to approve and deny portions of a safety association’s funding request. This means WCB, rather than industry, will determine the safety associations’ individual strategies, initiatives, activities and more.
• WCB is proposing it has the power to audit safety associations. These audits would be done at the expense of the safety association if WCB felt the association was not complying with the funding agreement. WCB has not yet established criteria for reasonable cause to audit.
• WCB will monitor and evaluate safety associations’ reporting requirements, meaning WCB wants the power to manage the activities of the safety associations throughout the year.

This new funding agreement means WCB – rather than industry boards – would now:

• Approve and manage the budgets of safety associations
• Approve the strategic plans of safety associations
• Approve and manage the operational plans of safety associations
• Evaluate the effectiveness of all programs and the association

The risks of this new funding agreement to Saskatchewan workplaces

Administrative costs will increase – for safety associations and WCB – due to the new reporting requirements. 

Industry could no longer have a direct impact on the training and support developed and delivered through safety associations. 

Most important is workplace safety and injury prevention. The likelihood that the risk to workers will be reduced and workplace safety will improve under this new funding agreement is unknown. 

It is uncertain how quickly or adequately safety risks due to emerging issues can be addressed by safety associations in the future. This is because funding is uncertain. WCB assuming authority to approve or deny funding a safety association’s individual strategies, initiatives or activities means safety association staff can only work at the speed of WCB, which impacts their productivity and responsiveness. 

This raises the possibility that injury rates –which have gone down through the work of safety associations – could rise in Saskatchewan.  

What industry expects of WCB

The WCB needs to be reminded that its authority, as it relates to safety associations, comes from legislation (The Workers’ Compensation Act, 2013).

Funding requests need to be approved in their entirety. WCB oversight should focus on ensuring industry funds are used for injury prevention and that boards of safety associations are representative of industry. 

The WCB Board of Directors needs to direct the administration of WCB through motion and/or policy to withdraw this funding agreement implemented in 2021 in its entirety. 

A cost/benefit analysis should be undertaken as well as a comprehensive impact analysis before any new funding agreement is implemented. A negotiator should be appointed to facilitate a new funding agreement. The agreement should balance the interests of all stakeholders and industry should be appropriately consulted.

The Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce released the results of its survey on the province’s July target to remove all remaining COVID-19 restrictions. Members of the Saskatchewan business community shared their input on topics such as the timeliness of restrictions being lifted, how their business will respond, whether or not their business will recover to pre-pandemic levels and plans for returning employees to the workplace. The survey was conducted through InputSask, a Saskatchewan business-focused input community that provides timely and accurate insight into the key issues affecting Saskatchewan businesses.

Key highlights: (bulleted list, for some reason Word is not letting me add bullets here)

• 49% of respondents believe July 11 is an appropriate date to lift all restrictions, 24% think it is too early, 16% think it is too late, and 12% are unsure.
• 70% of respondents plan to continue enforcing either all or some COVID-19 protocols (i.e., physical distancing, mask wearing, sanitizing, etc.) after restrictions are lifted.
• 68% of respondents feel their business is fully prepared for all restrictions to be lifted.
• 47% of respondents expect their business to fully recover to pre-pandemic levels in 2021, 25% do not expect to recover, and 21% are “unsure.”

“As the provincial chamber of commerce, it’s important we continually engage with and listen to the voices of the Saskatchewan business community, especially now that we are welcoming more employees back to the workplace and restrictions are soon being lifted,” said Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce CEO Steve McLellan. “It’s no secret that many businesses have been impacted significantly by the pandemic and it’s going to take some time until things return to normal.”
 
The Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce strongly encourages all Saskatchewan businesses and residents to continue using all tools available like getting fully vaccinated, social distancing and rapid testing to ensure that we can finish the race to recovery and enjoy a safe summer together.

Read this op-ed by Warren Steinley, MP for Regina-Lewvan, in the Post Millennial

Western Canadians deserve respect and a secure future – Canada’s Conservatives recently announced that they are committed to implementing the proposed changes to the Fiscal Stabilization Program and ensuring the provinces that have given more than their fair share during some of the most difficult times are compensated.

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The SHCA has partnered with Martin Charlton Communications to help you promote your business and communicate effectively with your stakeholders through social media.

As a member, you will have the opportunity to attend quarterly “Lunch and Learn” sessions on how to use social media to build your business. These virtual sessions will cover social media 101, best practices for social and digital media and tips on how to broaden your business’ online presence.

With construction season in full swing, the Government of Saskatchewan is reminding motorists to keep an eye out for construction zones on provincial highways.

“We view everything through the lens of safety at the Ministry of Highways, making sure that our work crews and contractors have a plan in place to keep every job site as safe as possible,” said Highways Minister Fred Bradshaw. “We need drivers to remember they have a role to play as well: plan your route ahead of time, pay close attention and slow down for everyone’s safety.”

Drivers must obey all signs and flag persons in work zones and slow to 60 km/hr. In some cases, work zones have temporary speed reductions left in place when workers are not present. This is often due to potential hazards present, such as lane closures, loose gravel, fresh oil and sharp pavement drop-offs.

“When the pandemic hit, our members continued to work safely building the province’s vital transportation corridors and also stimulating the local economy of many small towns that lost their tourism revenues,” said Shantel Lipp, president of the Saskatchewan Heavy Construction Association. “Now that the province is reopening, we ask drivers to respect those mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, sisters and brothers while they resume their summer. Our members work to keep you safe while you travel to your next destination, so please obey the signs, don’t speed and pay attention to your surroundings while inside our workplace.”

Speed fines are tripled in Saskatchewan when workers are present. Fines start at $210 and increase by $3 for every km/hr over the speed limit, up to a speed of 90 km/hr, and $6 for every km/hr over 90. A driver who speeds through a work zone at 100 km/hr will be issued a fine of $450, plus a victim surcharge of $80, for a total of $530.