Building and scaffolding viewed from beneath an overpass
by Paul Adair Paul Adair

Doka Builds the Future

Building and scaffolding viewed from beneath an overpass

Evolving from humble beginnings in 1868 as a small sawmill and woodworking shop in Austria, Doka – part of the Umdasch Group – has since been involved with some of the most significant infrastructure projects around the world, from tunnels in Australia to high-rises in North America.

Doka built its reputation on cutting-edge, ground-breaking formwork systems used in power plants, bridges, tunnels, and skyscrapers, including Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world at 828 metres. However, since 2023, Doka has expanded its offerings and positioned itself as a one-stop shop for formwork and scaffolding solutions for construction companies. Now with more than 160 sales logistics facilities in over 50 countries and more than 8,000 employees, Doka has become an international leader in formwork and scaffolding solutions. Its highly skilled global team delivers advice, engineering, customer service and technical support for even the largest and most complex projects.

Doka had the opportunity to introduce and showcase the latest scaffolding offerings at Bauma 2025 in Munich, Germany. Two products and services of note were the innovative Ringlock system and the digital solutions for higher productivity on-site.

Making connections

Ringlock allows users to quickly and efficiently erect, use and dismantle temporary work structures to create a secure working area for various applications, from façade scaffolds, stair towers and rebar scaffolds to shoring and birdcage scaffolds. It also delivers shoring performance, with a capacity up to 540 kilonewtons. Based on the rosette and wedge-head locking mechanism, Ringlock has been continuously refined and enhanced, undergoing multiple iterations to meet the highest standards of performance and safety, and is designed to meet global standards, such as:

The Ringlock system is engineered to meet the highest quality standards based on three simple factors: material, fit and finish:

  • Material: Ringlock only uses the highest quality steel certified and tested, demonstrating qualities that conform to or exceed industry standards, regardless of location or climate.
  • Fit: Ringlock is engineered with versatility and usability in mind, which increases efficiency and productivity to save projects time and money.
  • Finish: Where applicable, Ringlock is finished and protected by hot-dipped zinc galvanizing, which maximizes the product’s utilization and extends its life.

“Engineered to international codes and independently certified, Ringlock ensures safe, efficient scaffolding solutions for projects of any scale,” said Doka Canada’s head of sales, Warren Calderone. “Available immediately to support construction companies with safe access solutions, it perfectly complements our formwork systems and serves as a flexible solution for day-to-day shoring projects.”

The strength of Ringlock is in its versatility. The system’s streamlined and straightforward connection method ensures all main components can lock securely into place with a hammer strike, which eliminates the need for bolts, screws or mechanical tools. Ringlock also supports a wide range of scaffolding assemblies by using primarily core components that can be easily adapted to different load requirements, ensuring flexibility and efficiency for projects of all scopes. In addition, Ringlock adjusts to intricate and irregular structures and fits seamlessly around tight corners, obstacles and unique architectural features for maximum site efficiency.

“Ringlock is designed to seamlessly complement Doka’s engineering expertise, providing a well-rounded and dependable solution,” said Calderone. “The Ringlock rosette and ledger connection is key to our system and has been engineered to optimize structural performance and reliability. Our modular system – including standards, planking and ledgers – is designed for easy handling, fast assembly and optimized transportation. With a broad portfolio of accessories, it can be adapted for every application, making it movable, versatile and safer on the jobsite.”

All primary components are also hot-dip galvanized, protecting against corrosion and extending service life in challenging environments. Together, these innovations deliver a system with enhanced stiffness, higher load capacity and consistent performance across applications.

A digital solution

Scaffolding is shifting from paper processes and percentage-based costs to a digitally managed discipline. While modular systems remain the backbone, digital tools like Building Information Modelling (BIM), the Internet of Things and software-as-a-service platforms drive greater cost predictability, safety and risk management. 

“We fully integrate scaffolding into BIM for planning and clash detection. In addition, clients looking for examples of deeper digital visibility, solutions such as AT-PAC’s Hi-Vis® demonstrate how forecasting, manpower planning and analytics can be achieved by pairing physical systems with digital oversight,” said Calderone.

Digital solutions are also transforming how scaffolding is managed on construction projects. Beyond traditional software or platforms, systems like AT-PAC’s Hi-Vis® demonstrate how a digital ecosystem can bring transparency, efficiency and control to scaffolding operations. Tools like these enable real-time electronic scaffold requests, resource tracking and material management, helping project managers deploy scaffolding more effectively and maximize productivity. By focusing on planning and process controls, these digital solutions show how scaffold management can scale to projects of any size.

Closeup of DOKA label on steel rod
Photo: DOKA

“Regulators today demand not only strength in scaffolding products, but also traceable compliance,” said Calderone. “Digital systems that incorporate rigorous testing, QR-coded tagging, inspection logs and safety reporting provide full accountability while giving crews and managers instant visibility into scaffold status and usage. This added transparency supports greater efficiency, safer operations and more predictable outcomes on complex projects.”

Doka is a pioneer in integrating digital engineering, operations and site solutions to drive smarter, safer and more efficient construction. One example of this is Doka Concremote, which uses sensors to measure temperature and calculate the compressive strength of concrete in real time.

“By combining a selection of sensors tailored to diverse project challenges with powerful software, Concremote provides a reliable decision-making basis directly on site,” said Calderone. “Through its native app and web portal, teams gain instant access to real-time data and advanced functions, enabling forward-thinking construction processes and boosting overall productivity.”

Doka also provides hands-on training, e-learning, BIM support and onboarding for digital tools tailored to the specific needs of a project or the customer. With Doka 360, Doka takes the customer journey digital, making every step seamless and transparent. The new customer platform connects every stage of the formwork process, from planning and ordering to delivery and return. Real-time data from sensors embedded in formwork or concrete flows directly into the system. This gives customers complete visibility and supports informed, data-driven decisions. Doka 360 was launched in July 2025 with an exclusive early access phase for selected partners in Germany and the U.S.

AI on the worksite

Doka’s modular systems are reusable and long-lasting, and most of its products are also rentable, an attractive option for many concrete contractors because of its efficiency and flexibility. Rented material can also re-enter the supply chain, and contributes to a more circular economy where materials are reused rather than replaced.

However, rented material presents significant logistical challenges, as rented equipment returned to Doka facilities is inventoried and made ready for redeployment. These returned materials have traditionally been counted by hand, requiring a significant investment in time from Doka team members. To speed up the process, Doka has developed its own in-house AI tool, “AI Counting and Identification,” which is supported by Microsoft’s technology expertise. 

AI takes all the work out of manual counting in three steps:

  1. A team member takes a photo of the materials with a mobile device.
  2. The AI tool recognizes the product, suggests a count and, once confirmed, records the result along with the image.
  3. A precise and reliable digital record is created.

“We’re excited to begin exploring the use of AI to improve how we manage counting in the yard and warehouse,” said Jeremy Jeffries, head of operations for Doka Canada. “These tools give us new ways to reduce manual effort, improve accuracy and bring more consistency to our inventory processes.”

Although the system is currently being used internally at Doka yards, the company sees strong potential for future use directly on construction sites. Live demos and early feedback from Bauma 2025 have highlighted where the service could create added value, especially on large-scale projects with high material turnover.

Safety: Prevention through Design

Doka’s Prevention through Design (PtD) philosophy redefines how safety is engineered into every scaffold, formwork and workflow, not as an afterthought or merely to check a box, but as a proactive design principle. The engineering and quality that goes into each of Doka’s products ultimately deliver safer scaffolding solutions.

“Load, geometry and re-use are critical, and all our products are designed with the customer in mind,” said Calderone. “For example, on major energy projects, pairing Ringlock with our digital inspection tools has been shown to cut scaffold-related incidents by nearly a third. Crews have clear instructions, supervisors have real-time compliance and their projects run safer and more efficiently.”

Doka applies its PtD philosophy in three ways:

  • Engineering formwork and scaffolding systems that minimize fall risks, collapse hazards and manual handling injuries.
  • Designing intuitive, modular and tool-free componants, reducing the chance of misuse or assembly errors.
  • Integrating guardrails, access platforms and anti-slip surfaces directly into their systems so that safety isn’t optional; it’s built in.

The company is proud of the engineering and operational expertise it brings to each project and product. As part of this, Doka provides contractors with the hardware and know-how they need to use its formwork and scaffolding safely and effectively.

“Every Doka component is engineered for safety, and we design the workflow – from digital work packages to inspection logs – to be safe, embedding prevention before crews even step on site,” said Calderone. “We also engineer beyond code requirements and certify independently. On top of that, our digital protocols ensure safety data is visible and verifiable in real time.”

Sustainability going forward

Sustainability is not a trend for Doka. It is a mindset. With a clear strategy, shared vision and innovative solutions, the company supports its customers in achieving their sustainability goals.

Doka understands that to reduce emissions effectively, the company must first identify the greenhouse gas emissions its products generate throughout their lifecycle. To accomplish this, Doka has set new standards for climate-friendly product design by calculating the product carbon footprint for more than 7,000 products, as well as providing customers with independently authenticated data to make informed decisions. Because of this, Doka designs its products to last in the Canadian climate, even under the harshest jobsite conditions. 

“We are very conscious of the lifecycle of our products and their impact on the environment. The advanced materials and metallurgy used in our scaffolding are built to last a lifetime, delivering long-term reliability that benefits us, our customers and the planet,” Calderone said.

Doka’s expertise in professional refurbishment and repair also helps extend its product’s lifespan and reduce the need for new resources. Looking ahead, Doka is also working on bringing recycled materials into its products’ life cycle to mitigate the company’s carbon footprint further. 

“But there’s a lot going on behind the scenes, too,” said Calderone. “As an organization, we have set an ambitious goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2040. In 2024, we became the first formwork and scaffolding company worldwide to commit to the Science Based Targets initiative, and we will have our targets scientifically validated within the next 24 months.” 

Two workers in safety equipment
by Erin Matthews Erin Matthews

Keeping Safety at the Forefront of Innovation

Two workers in safety equipment

From environmental remediation in the Athabasca Basin to renewable energy storage systems in southern Saskatchewan, the Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC) is committed to tackling every project, large or small, with the health and safety of its employees at the forefront.

Beginning in 1959, SRC’s safety program has evolved over the last several decades and continues to be shaped by the innovative and leading-edge work SRC undertakes.

Safety is everyone’s responsibility

“Safety is definitely a shared responsibility, with everyone having a role to play,” said Kenelm Grismer, director of health, safety and risk at SRC. “As an employer, SRC has the responsibility to establish and maintain an effective safety management system to enable people to work safely.”

The management system is driven by safety leadership and commitment at all levels of the organization, and includes upholding SRC’s organizational philosophy that safety is an overriding priority. With SRC providing the foundation for this safety culture, employees are empowered in their work environment to perform their tasks safely, ensuring they are confident in their understanding of the hazards and are equipped to do the job safely before proceeding. To ensure safety across SRC, it’s essential that employees are aware of and practice their rights, including the right to refuse any unsafe work.

“We want employees to be curious about safety, to ask questions and to challenge the way that we do our work to ensure it’s being done in the safest way practical,” said Grismer.

Managers and supervisors have a responsibility to ensure employees receive the appropriate training and tools for their roles, and that they are following established rules and procedures. They lead by example to reinforce SRC’s commitment to safety. SRC’s occupational health and safety committees provide a forum for the employer and employees to work together to continually improve safety.

“Collectively, these various roles create layers of defence to keep us all safe,” said Grismer. “Each of these roles is vital to developing and maintaining a strong safety culture across SRC.”

Varied service lines create unique safety requirements

From lab benches to field work to desk duties, every team at SRC encounters different risks and hazards, but Grismer says that doesn’t change the council’s philosophy. “Across SRC, safety is an overriding priority. All groups operate under the same overarching safety management framework, but how the tools are applied may change between groups,” said Grismer.

SRC has several laboratories that process samples, providing data and insight to clients around the world. In these spaces, employees often engage in routine work, drawing more heavily on well-established standard operating procedures and safe work practices.

As SRC evolves, new projects come together and new business units are established. Often, these growing and specialized teams need to develop new safety protocols for their work.

Other employees, such as those in the field conducting air quality testing, may encounter varying levels of uncertainty in their day-to-day tasks. These employees must conduct regular field-level risk assessments, and be comfortable identifying and mitigating hazards in varying conditions. Grismer says this is where safety training and experience are crucial.

As SRC evolves, new projects emerge, and new business units are formed. Often, these growing and specialized teams need to develop new safety protocols for their work. For instance, the developmental nature of the work that SRC’s research and development team undertakes in its rare earth element division comes with a certain amount of risk and uncertainty when doing something for the first time, which is why planning, training and having the correct tools for the job are critical.

“They’ve worked very hard to assess the hazards, develop standard operating procedures and safety protocols to mitigate the risk, and spend a significant amount of time and effort in training the team to conduct the work safely,” said Jackie Foord, SRC’s occupational health and safety lead. “They are continually reassessing the risks and refining the way they do the work to improve safety. The planning and development they’re doing now will benefit the operation in the long term.”

SRC’s safety management framework, driven by the organizational commitment to safety, positions SRC well to meet the various safety challenges encountered while working across several diverse service lines.

Safety evolves alongside SRC

In the last five years, SRC has expanded into growing sectors, including critical minerals. These new projects have not only required specialized knowledge and expertise, but also new equipment and facilities, such as SRC’s under-construction Rare Earth Processing Facility and its Minerals Liberation Sorting Centre.

“These types of projects have definitely been a catalyst to advance our safety program on a number of fronts,” said Grismer.

New skill sets and resources have been brought on to carry out these projects, enabling SRC to view work environments from a variety of perspectives. Teams work together to find solutions to challenges. “Working with tradespeople who have come from larger organizations, such as mining operations, brings a wealth of knowledge to the organization regarding safety,” said Foord.

These projects have unique safety needs. Foord says the extensive efforts invested in activities such as hazard assessment, planning and training have been critical to the success of these projects and ensuring everyone on-site goes home safe at the end of the day.

New safety innovations keep employees at the heart of safety

SRC’s safety team continues to innovate to meet the council’s needs for new and existing projects and facilities in 2025 and beyond. As SRC’s industrial process operations expand, so do its safety requirements. Tools like automation, robotics and AI will help improve safety by mitigating hazards, and provide opportunities for enhancing and streamlining data analysis and reporting.

“Innovation has been critical to working safely across SRC. As an organization, we are fortunate to have access to a wide range of expertise and skill sets, from engineers and scientists to instrument techs and electricians,” said Grismer.

Learning from employees’ experiences on-site, in the field and at the lab helps SRC improve its protocols and approaches to ensure they are robust enough to tackle any safety challenges. “We are continuously applying these resources to advance safety, both for our clients as well as our own operations. There are countless examples of situations where a team identified a hazard and developed an innovative approach that enabled them to do the job [safer],” said Grismer.

SRC’s goal is ultimately to eliminate workplace injuries. To achieve that goal, the focus is on continuing to ensure that all employees at SRC feel they are accountable for safety and are empowered to ensure work is done safely.

For more information on SRC’s services, visit src.sk.ca.

A construction worker in an orange safety jacket watches the ongoing work at a construction site during the day
by WorkSafe Saskatchewan WorkSafe Saskatchewan

Know Your Rights

A construction worker in an orange safety jacket watches the ongoing work at a construction site during the day

In heavy construction, every project comes with tight timelines, complex work sites and, at times, significant, but manageable, risks. Saskatchewan’s recent record-low injury rates show how far the province has come, but serious injuries and fatalities remain a challenge across the province.

As a result, WorkSafe Saskatchewan wants all workers to be aware of their rights on the job. That includes the right to work in a safe environment.

In 2024, the province recorded its lowest total injury rate in history at 3.91 injuries per 100 workers, down from 3.95 per 100 workers in 2023. Since the WorkSafe Saskatchewan partnership between the Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board and the Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety was established in 2002, the province’s total injury rate has dropped by more than 65 per cent. The time-loss injury rate in 2024 also reached its lowest level in Saskatchewan’s history at 1.72 per 100 workers, down from 1.78 per 100 workers in 2023.

This data reflects the collective efforts of workers, employers, safety associations and safety leaders across the province. However, serious injuries remain high, averaging about 2,400 cases per year. They represent 11 to 15 per cent of all injuries, but account for approximately 80 per cent of compensation costs. Specific to the construction industry, from 2010 to 2024:

  • More than 51 per cent of fatalities were from occupational diseases in the construction industry.
  • 95 per cent of occupational disease fatalities in the construction industry were from exposure to asbestos.
  • 89 per cent of the public was not aware of the risk of asbestos exposure during home renovation work.

Learn more about commercial construction safety statistics on WorkSafe Saskatchewan’s website at worksafesask.ca/commercial-construction-stats. All workers in Saskatchewan are covered by three important rights that are intended to keep them safe on the job. Those rights are protected under the Saskatchewan Employment Act.

The right to know

If you are employed in Saskatchewan, you have the right to know about any safety hazards in your workplace. A hazard is anything that might cause an injury or illness. This knowledge is important in protecting yourself and your co-workers. As a worker, you have the right to receive the training, information and supervision needed to do your job safely. Your employer should provide you with instructions on how to stay safe before you start your job and before work begins on a new project.

Safety information, including training and instructions, can be given online, in writing or in person. The information and training may come from a supervisor, co-worker or someone outside of your workplace, but your employer must pay for all training that is part of your job. Clear communication is also a key component of the right to know. Your employer needs to give you the information you require to do your job safely in a way that you can understand. Ask questions whenever any safety instructions aren’t clear.

The right to participate

Each worker has the opportunity and freedom to get involved in their workplace’s health and safety activities. You have the right to share your concerns and ideas about how to make your workplace safer. If you encounter an unsafe situation on the job, this right gives you the opportunity to help rectify the situation, preventing injuries to you and your co-workers. There are several ways for workers to exercise their right to participate, including:

  • Reporting your concerns to your supervisor or manager about any health and safety issues that could cause harm to you or your co-workers.
  • Making suggestions to your supervisor or occupational health committee about how to make your workplace safer.
  • Joining your occupational health committee if your workplace requires one.
  • Acting as an occupational health and safety representative for your workplace if given the opportunity.

The right to refuse

Every workplace has hazards, most of which are not likely to cause serious injuries or fatalities. This right applies to the hazards that are considered unusually dangerous to yourself or others. An unusual danger or hazard could include:

  • A danger that would normally stop work, such as operating a forklift with a flat tire.
  • Something that is not normal for the job, like repairing a roof in bad weather with dangerous winds.
  • A situation you haven’t been properly trained for, or where you don’t have the right equipment or experience to do the work safely. For example, cleaning windows on a tall building without any training or fall protection equipment.

The right to refuse is only used when the first two rights have failed to protect your health and safety in the workplace. In other words, exercising your right to refuse is a serious matter and should not be taken lightly; it should be used as a last resort when other measures have been unsuccessful.

However, you should also not be afraid to speak up when you believe your work is unusually dangerous. If you or the people around you are at risk, you can say no. You absolutely cannot be disciplined or fired for exercising your right to refuse, as the right to refuse is protected under the Saskatchewan Employment Act. There are several steps to take when opting to refuse unsafe work, in this order:

  1. Stop performing the task. Tell your supervisor what you think is unusually dangerous about the task.
  2. Consult with your workplace’s occupational health committee if you and your supervisor can’t reach a solution.
  3. If the matter is still not resolved, contact the Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety’s Occupational Health and Safety Division at 1-800-567-7233. An occupational health officer will provide their decision in writing to you and your employer.
  4. If you don’t agree with the occupational health officer’s decision, you have a right to appeal.

Each year in Saskatchewan, approximately 21,000 workers are injured on the job. Working together, we can make Saskatchewan a safer place to work.

For more information on the three rights, including videos and other resources for workers and employers, visit the WorkSafe Saskatchewan website at worksafesask.ca.

Construction hard hat on wooden background
by SHCA SHCA

Company Fined for Worker Fatality

Construction hard hat on wooden background

On Aug. 12, 2025, Ramage Land & Cattle Company Ltd. pleaded guilty in Regina provincial court to one violation of The Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 2020.  

The company was charged with contravening clause 3-1(a) of the regulations, which means an employer failed to comply with the duties of an employer at a place of employment, including the provision and maintenance of a plant, systems of work and working environments that ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of the employer’s workers, resulting in the death of a worker.   

As a result, the court imposed a fine of $17,857.14, along with a surcharge of $7,142.86, for a total amount of $25,000. In addition, Ramage Land & Cattle Company Ltd. will be establishing a $4,500 scholarship through Canadian Western Agribition in honour of the deceased. Further, there will be two educational articles published, including:   

The charges stemmed from an incident that occurred on Aug. 23, 2023, near Walpole, Sask. A worker drowned as a result of entering a dugout on horseback.   

The Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety works with employers and workers to eliminate workplace injuries and illnesses through education, intervention and enforcement. 

Bright Orange Construction sign by the of a road
by SHCA SHCA

Weekly Orange Zone Construction Update Launch

Bright Orange Construction sign by the of a road

On Aug. 8, Highways Minister David Marit announced the launch of the new Weekly Orange Zone Construction Update. The Weekly Orange Zone Construction Update will be released every Friday at 10 a.m. This will give motorists access to the most recent changes, as well as information on how to find all Saskatchewan’s ongoing highway construction. Equipped with the most recent information, it will allow motorists to plan the quickest and safest routes to their destinations. 

“As I am reaching the halfway point of my province-wide summer road tour, I have been consistently hearing from communities I have visited that they want greater access to construction updates,” Marit said. “With the launch of the Weekly Orange Zone Construction Update, we will be able to highlight all new projects that are starting and show motorists where they can view all the ongoing highway construction in Saskatchewan.”

“Safety is our top priority – not just for the workers on the job, but for every driver passing through a construction zone,” SHCA president Shantel Lipp said. “We urge the public to slow down, stay alert and respect the signage and people working to maintain and build the roads we all rely on. Every cone, every sign and every reduced speed limit exists for one reason: to make sure everyone gets home safely at the end of the day.”

Additional details about key highway projects to help plan safe and efficient travel are available at saskatchewan.ca/orange-zone.

Shantel Lipp
by Shantel Lipp Shantel Lipp

Common Sense Practices Help Keep Our Workers Safe

Shantel Lipp

Construction season is once again upon us. For Saskatchewan, that means we must concentrate our efforts on building and maintaining our infrastructure through a limited window. That usually means it’s all hands on deck when it comes to the workforce needed to start and complete projects.

A road construction project is a busy place. Anyone who has driven on a Saskatchewan highway over the years would attest to this. Co-ordinating the flow of ongoing traffic while manoeuvring a piece of heavy equipment is a carefully choreographed process. One wrong move can mean the difference between life and death.

When it comes to safety, our industry is at the forefront of delivering the necessary training to ensure that anyone in the heavy construction industry can expect to work in a safe environment. It is often external factors that limit the industry’s ability to guarantee an accident-free work site.

In 2012, a young woman was working as a flag person on a road construction crew in the southeast corner of Saskatchewan. Her name was Ashley Dawn Richards, and she was 18 years old. She had just started work on the highway project, when a driver sped through the construction zone driving 90 to 100 kilometres an hour. The driver hit and killed Ashley.

Ashley’s death was completely avoidable, had the reckless driver adhered to the rules of driving through a construction zone. While additional safety measures have been put in place since Ashley’s death, there is still work to be done to educate and remind drivers that they need to slow down and be safe.

That is why our industry continues to advocate with stakeholders and partners to inform the general public on the importance of understanding and practicing road safety.

Adopting common sense practices when behind the wheel, such as slowing down in a construction zone, being aware of your surroundings, and paying attention to the road and not your phone, will create a safer workplace for highway construction workers.

Avoiding a life-changing tragedy by simply slowing down and paying attention should be the easiest decision any driver makes.

Have a safe summer.

by SHCA SHCA

60 Million Reasons to Check the Highway Hotline This Past Year

Highways Minister David Marit announced the Highway Hotline’s digital platform was checked by motorists over the last year more than 60 million times – a new record for Saskatchewan’s provincial road information service.

“Thank you to all drivers who take the time to check the Highway Hotline to make an informed decision before heading out on the road,” Marit said. “Understanding what may be on the road ahead can help you plan safer and more efficient trips, which supports our quality of life and export-based economy.”

From April 2024 to March 2025, the Highway Hotline website had over 40 million pageviews, while its mobile app had a total of more than 20 million. A key contributing factor to this record was more storms this winter than previous years. From April 2023 to March 2024, the Highway Hotline website had over 10 million pageviews, while its mobile app had more than 3 million for a total of 13 million views overall. The previous winter was milder.

The Highway Hotline began more than 50 years ago as a telephone service answered by staff. It continues providing that service via modern automated audio reports of road conditions by dialing 1-888-335-7623 (across Canada) or 511 (within Saskatchewan) and using touch tone technology. About 33,000 calls are received a year. The service has evolved to include the latest version of the Highway Hotline mobile app available for free in the Google and Apple online stores.

The service has more than 50 camera locations that can be seen online at hotline.gov.sk.ca/cctv or by using the mobile app, while the Track My Plow is a Highway Hotline winter feature showing motorists where a snowplow has recently been clearing snow or treating ice. Motorists are reminded to continue checking the Highway Hotline throughout the year at hotline.gov.sk.ca/map as it provides information such as construction zones, weather, ferry crossings, parks, along with closures and incidents related to vehicle collisions and forest and grass fires.

white, yellow and blue hard safety helmet hat for safety project of workman as engineer or worker, on concrete floor on city.
by SHCA SHCA

Day of Mourning Remembers 27 Workers Who Lost Their Lives

white, yellow and blue hard safety helmet hat for safety project of workman as engineer or worker, on concrete floor on city.

Every year on April 28, Canada marks the National Day of Mourning. Provincially, flags at all government buildings are lowered to half-mast from sunrise to sunset.

April 28 was first declared as the National Day of Mourning by the Canadian Labour Congress in 1984. The day is now annually observed across Canada as a way to pay tribute to individuals killed, injured or stricken with illness in the workplace. In 2024, 27 workplace fatality claims were accepted by the Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board.

“Our condolences are with the friends, families and colleagues of those who lost their life to a workplace injury or illness,” Deputy Premier and Labour Relations and Workplace Safety Minister Jim Reiter said. “Safety must be a priority in everything we do.”

“Today is an important day to reflect on how we can create safer workplaces, so each worker can return home safely at the end of the day,” Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board Chairperson Gord Dobrowolsky said. “There is always more work to be done to prevent workplace injuries and illnesses.”

In 2023, WorkSafe Saskatchewan, a partnership between the Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board and the Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety, released the 2023-2028 Fatalities and Serious Injuries Strategy to help prevent and reduce serious workplace injuries and fatalities.

Copies of the 2023-28 Fatalities and Serious Injuries Strategy are available at www.worksafesask.ca.

Portrait of a female civil engineer on the background of a construction site
by Lisa Laronde, Canadian Association of Women in Construction Lisa Laronde, Canadian Association of Women in Construction

Safe and Secure

Portrait of a female civil engineer on the background of a construction site
dvigalet/123RF

In the construction industry and trades, personal protective equipment (PPE) is essential to keeping workers safe and thriving on the job. Everyone on a worksite is mandated to have well-fitted, intact and site-appropriate PPE. So, why does the Canadian Assocation of Women in Construction (CAWIC) continue to hear of so many issues and concerns about the lack of availability and fit of PPE for women on the jobsite in 2025?

Beyond shrink it and pink it

CAWIC has heard from women about the lack of availability and choice for PPE in the marketplace. The repercussions of this issue are enormous. Women can feel pressured to walk onto the jobsite feeling unsafe and worried about injuries or even death. Some women may feel like they can’t speak up to ask for proper PPE in the workplace and proceed with doing their jobs in an unsafe and downright dangerous manner.

From helping identify workers to saving lives, PPE is one of the most important components of worker safety. For far too long, PPE for women was either a smaller version of a men’s size or something that’s marketed for women but not designed with them in mind. The “shrink it and pink it” idea was seen as the solution and a win for women in the industry. However, that was not enough. Today, the industry is making significant, positive improvements to providing women with PPE designed specifically for their needs.

PPE needs to be able to do its job

Individuals spend years training to enter their chosen trade, earning their place on the jobsite and the hard hat that represents their profession, whether it’s the red of an electrician, the white of an engineer or the classic yellow of a labourer or operator. Imagine putting in all that effort, only to find that the hard hat doesn’t fit. Neither do the gloves. Suddenly, everything you’ve learned about safety is dismissed, because the industry’s standard wasn’t designed with you in mind.

Builder clothes, worker uniform on wooden background

Many women take to altering PPE themselves to try and make something work.

If you are using smaller sizes without accounting for a differently shaped body, you may end up with loose sleeves, waist gaps, material splitting and lack of chest protection. Or, if you are working with something not designed with women in mind, you may end up missing key components, such as ease of removal, flaps for bathroom usage, extra pockets for remote site personal items or simply gloves designed in the right sizes.

Many women take to altering PPE themselves to try and make something work, either with duct tape and rubber bands or even spending their own money to have their PPE tailored. The other choice some women make is to simply forgo PPE all together, with the potential for life-altering consequences.
PPE reduces injuries and fatalities, but for it to function at its optimal level, it must fit and be used properly.

Leading the way

According to research conducted by the CSA Group in 2022, “the three most common problems the Canadian women surveyed have with their PPE are that a. it does not fit properly (50 per cent); b. it is uncomfortable to wear (43 per cent) and c. the selection of women-specific PPE is inadequate (35 per cent).”

As the representation of women grows in the industry, continuing efforts to address these problems is paramount. The first step is to spotlight these issues and focus on developing new solutions, and that is exactly what the construction industry and the PPE sector are doing. The momentum to create new products and solutions is exciting and will drive greater innovations in PPE for women.

The momentum to create new products and solutions is exciting and will drive greater innovations in PPE for women.

While the construction industry continues to transform, so too does PPE. Whether it is appropriately sized PPE to impact-resistance gloves, solar reflective strips and high visibility materials to smart helmets and wearable sensors, innovations in PPE are rapidly evolving to keep women safer in the workplace. Many of the redesigns and updates for PPE won’t just benefit women, but everyone in the construction industry.

Some CAWIC members are leading the charge to help ensure women are safe on the jobsite and are building inclusive and women’s PPE lines. Everyone is welcome on the jobsite, and everyone must be safe on it.