Two years ago, a young woman made headlines after she was spotted in the middle of the night atop a tower crane in downtown Toronto. On her own steam, the woman crawled along the boom and reached a pulley block before a firefighter rappelled from the crane’s arm and whisked her to safety.

Here in the pages of Crane & Hoist Canada, we frequently talk about the crane and heavy lifting involved in the construction of facilities such as large arenas. But there’s also some significant heavy lifting that takes place after these venues are up and running. Hoists and winches play an important logistic role in allowing modern entertainment venues to serve sports events, concerts and everything in between.

Are leaders born or made? The truth is, a little bit of both. Empirical data says one-third of us have leadership traits within us, but two-thirds of us create ourselves as leaders.

Terex Cranes’ Demag AC 300-6 all-terrain crane has arrived in Canada. Cropac, one of Terex Cranes’ biggest and most active dealers, officially sold the first-ever Demag AC 300-6 to come to Canada to Milton, Ont.-based Modern Crane, which took ownership of the crane this past January. Cropac president Bill Finkle says that the main application for this type of crane is the erection of tower cranes.

It’s steady – but not necessarily smooth – sailing for Canada’s roadbuilding and aggregate sectors in 2019.

Alberta’s oil and gas sector should be expecting another challenging year ahead, according to the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP).

Two bridge cranes, working in tandem to hoist 800 metric tonnes during a load test at Nalcor Energy’s Muskrat Falls generation facility on the lower Churchill River in Labrador this past summer, showed that a little cooperation can go a long way.

A major hub in downtown Montreal’s central business district is getting a makeover, and mini-cranes are at the heart of the work designed to make the building radiant in more way than one.

Since 1967, drivers on Winnipeg’s Portage Avenue have been accustomed to the sight of a Lockheed T-33 Silver Star jet, which was erected as a monument in Woodhaven Park. Over 50 years of exposure to the elements has taken its toll, however, and the plane was recently crane-lifted off its pedestal for repairs, restoration and refurbishment. The jet is now back in position sporting a shiny new red paint job reminiscent of the Red Knight military pilot group who flew from 1958 to 1969.

When using cranes to install a roller coaster, it’s perhaps only fitting that work crews experience the ride of their lives.

Construction is underway for a new 240-metre bridge over the Petitcodiac River between Moncton and Riverview in New Brunswick.

Growing global demand for Blackline Safety’s cloud-hosted safety wearables has spurred the company to renovate Calgary’s historic Dominion Bridge building. This 25,000 square foot facility once manufactured steel products to support Alberta’s early economy. Freshly renovated, Blackline is breathing new life into this location with a focus on product development, sales, manufacturing and delivery of safety technology to a broad range of industries around the world.

Towering over the Manitowoc stand at bauma 2019 is the new Potain MDT 809, the largest topless crane ever built by the manufacturer. While delivering unprecedented lift capacity and reach, the new crane also boasts an advanced design that provides reduced operating costs and easier assembly for owners.

In 2018, Manitowoc’s factory in Niella Tanaro, Italy boosted production of Grove rough-terrain cranes to better serve customers in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific, and this enhanced capability is highlighted at bauma 2019. The company is showing two rough-terrain cranes at the exhibition, a 100 t capacity GRT8100 and a 51 t capacity GRT655L. The GRT8100 on show was built at the Italian plant while Manitowoc plans to start building the GRT655L there in future.

The new Potain Hup C 40-30 is unique to Manitowoc’s Potain self-erecting tower crane line. This crane is from the groundbreaking Hup range and is enhanced with crawler tracks for ultimate mobility on job sites with challenging terrain (hence the “C” in the model’s name).

CM Labs Simulations, developer of Vortex® training simulators, has announced its expansion into Europe via a strategic partnership with Antycip Simulation, Europe’s leading provider of professional-grade simulation software.

For Uwe Podlech and Jens Napierala, managing directors of Breithaupt & Philipp, the Demag® AC 60-3 all terrain crane is the first choice in its class: "The crane is not only particularly maneuverable and compact, but also very powerful," explain the two managing directors in unison. "This makes it the ideal tool for our applications,"

KINSHOFER, a leading global manufacturer of high-quality excavator and loader crane attachments, is expanding its product line to include hydraulic breaker excavator attachments following the acquisition of Hammer SRL, an Italy-based manufacturer of demolition, excavation, recycling and material handling attachments. KINSHOFER chose the company because of its reputation for quality and more than 30 years of experience in the market. The new line includes 22 breakers for carriers from .5 ton to 200 tons and joins an already expansive line of KINSHOFER tools.

Talbert Manufacturing, a North American leader in specialized heavy-haul solutions, names Hale Trailer Brake & Wheel, headquartered in Voorhees, N.J., as its top dealer for the 11th straight year. This award recognizes a Talbert dealer for outstanding performance in trailer sales, service and parts. Hale outperformed all other Talbert dealers in 2018 and was also recognized as the top parts seller for the year.

CM Labs Simulations, developer of Vortex® training simulators, has announced the release of a unique collaborative learning solution that engages two trainees simultaneously.

Six new cranes and several other new products from Manitowoc will be showcased April 8-14 in Munich, Germany at bauma 2019.

Columbus McKinnon Corporation, a leading designer and manufacturer of motion control products, technologies, and services for material handling, is now adding NEC-approved, Class I, Division 2 explosion-protected STAHL CraneSystems brand SH Ex wire rope hoists to its advanced hoist product portfolio.

The Helmets to Hardhats (H2H) initiative helps connect outgoing military personnel and their families with training opportunities to enter the construction industry. The program provides a benefit to both groups – helping the industry address crucial shortages of skilled labour and helping military veterans hit the ground running in the next phase of their lives.

Gerry’s Truck Centre celebrated the opening of its new truck service and sales centre in Woodstock, Ont. with an open house earlier this month.

Nebraska’s Elliott Equipment Company has a long tradition of innovation. Today, that tradition continues as the company continues to develop newproducts for the material handling sector. With this year being the company’s 70th anniversary, president Jim Glazer spoke with us about the company’s past and future.

Ryan Burton has been servicing the heavy lifting needs of businesses across Western Canada for more than 25 years. The managing partner of the Bigfoot Crane Company in Abbotsford, B.C. has been operating cranes since 1992. “I worked with a road building company in British Columbia in Vancouver and we were building the Island Highway and just learned how to run cranes, pretty much self-taught, which is scary,” Burton recalls. “You look back at how I ran cranes, and other people ran cranes back in 1992, versus now, it’s incredibly different.” In 1997, Burton decided to leave the road building company he worked for to try his hand working as an operator for a crane rental company called Eagle West Cranes in Abbotsford, B.C. He worked his way up to a sales position and remained in that position for a few years before being promoted to a management position, and later, promoted again to the position of general manager. “I was looking after all of our crane operations in British Columbia,” Burton says. In 2011, Burton left Eagle West Cranes to run another crane company for three years, DLB Cranes, located in North Vancouver, B.C. and Regina, Sask. “We did lots of work in plants, mills and mines in Western Canada so I ended up spending quite a bit of time in the Prairies,” Burton recalls, adding that the company did a lot of work servicing potash mines in Saskatchewan and the oil sands in Alberta, renting crawler cranes, rough terrain cranes and all-terrain cranes. Then in 2014, another exciting opportunity presented itself. “Eagle West was selling their company,” Burton says. “They were selling all their mobile cranes to a company out of Houston called TNT Crane, and they had all the tower cranes that were still for sale, so they called me and asked me if I was interested in buying it.” The purchase of 100 per cent of the company was a little too much for Burton at the time, so he partnered with the former owners and secured a 50 per cent stake in the company, and took over running the operation. “At that point we renamed it to Bigfoot Crane Company,” he says. “I’ve been running Bigfoot Crane Company for just over three years now.” An active member In addition to running Bigfoot Crane Company, Burton’s busy schedule includes being an active board member for the BC Association for Crane Safety (BCACS). “I’ve been involved in that board since 2007,” he says. “It is the association that designed all the operator ticketing for British Columbia. We were the last province to have mandatory crane operator licensing, so we designed a special licence system to test operators in B.C.” Burton was named the BCACS Chairman of the Board in 2017 for a four-year term. As if he wasn’t busy enough, he’s also an active member of the Crane Rental Association of Canada (CRAC). “I’ve been a member there for 20 years and I’ve been on the board for four years now,” he says. “Now, I’m the secretary treasurer for the board there.” Burton says being an active member of the CRAC allows him the opportunity to form relationships with crane companies across Canada. “I can phone them at any given time and ask for help on certain things,” he says, adding that being able to get together and work on industry-related issues that affect companies across the country is a big part of why he’s such an active member of the CRAC. The majority of Burton’s work with the associations has revolved around improving safety within the crane industry. “It’s important to me for sure,” he says. “I’ve had really close relationships with our workers wherever I’ve been, and the thought of sending them out to unsafe situations everyday just scares the hell out of me. We do everything we can to make sure we’re safe; and the environments we’re working in everyday are safe.” Future goals with CRAC Although the CRAC’s annual conference is a great place to network with industry members across Canada, Burton says one of his goals is to continue growing the conference to include more value to its membership. “It used to be just a relationship association, but the last three years we’ve been changing the way we look at the organization, and its power to create synergies across the country. We’re changing it over to more practical  applications that are really serving the members,” he says. “We’re working on different safety committees – right now we’re working on a boom dolly committee, looking at the way to move cranes safely across the country. We’re looking at training, making industry aware of the products and services available to keep workers safe… we’ve gone from a relationship organization to relationships and finding ways improve the industry.” One initiative the CRAC is working on this year is the implementation of its first-ever safety awards, based on set criteria that use safety data collected by the association from its members. “If companies hit a certain benchmark that we’ve got, then they’ll be receiving a safety award from the Crane Rental Association of Canada,” Burton says. “The companies that are out there, being a good example, we want to have recognized.” Burton says being an active member within the CRAC can only make a business, and its owner, improve their operations. “The more engaged you get in it, the more it happens,” he says. “I started out in sub-committees working on different projects, then moving onto the board… the more time you spend with all these people, the more you learn, and the more value you’ll get.”

During the Crane Rental Association of Canada’s (CRAC) 2017 annual general meeting this past June, Ted Redmond was named the new chairman of CRAC.

When Mike Turnbull was offered the opportunity to join the Crane Rental Association of Canada’s executive board as treasurer and secretary last year, he was more than happy to take on those roles.

Darren Ritchie is a Canadian golf champion and, as of June 2016, a member of the New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame. When operating the cranes on job sites with Irving Equipment, however, he says he’s just another guy in a hard hat.

New overhead cranes are key features of the recent expansion project of a New Brunswick heavy equipment attachment maker.

All those forms that employees are filling out aren’t doing a crane company any good if they’re simply placed in a filing cabinet and forgotten, says Adrian Bartha.

Over 100 years ago, Hawboldt Industries was founded in Chester, N.S. At its inception, the company used its foundry to produce equipment and vessels for the cod fishery. However, in the decades since, Hawboldt has evolved with the times and the market. Its most recent evolution: producing marine cranes.

The safe operation of mobile and tower cranes in Ontario continues to be a major concern for the construction industry, its stakeholders, and the public.

It is official: recreational marijuana is legal in Canada with effect from October 17. With that comes a patchwork of jurisdictional laws establishing where and how marijuana products will be sold and used by consumers.

Unless you’ve had your head in the clouds – possibly some particularly smoky clouds that have caused you to crave unhealthy amounts of pizza and nachos – then you’ve heard about the upcoming changes coming into effect related to recreational marijuana use across Canada.

It should come as no surprise to anyone in this industry that the second most common type of serious tower-crane incident reported to WorkSafeBC in the last decade relates to contact with overhead power lines. Unwanted contacts – between two cranes or between tower cranes and power lines – have caused 15 reported close calls in B.C. since 2015 alone, and that number doesn’t account for all those potentially disastrous incidents that have gone unreported.

The Crane Rental Association of Canada (CRAC) presented the inaugural CRAC Safety Awards during the 20th anniversary CRAC Conference and AGM last month in Winnipeg.

Extech Instruments, (http://www.extech.com), a world leader in test and measurement tools, has announced the launch of two compact light meters making quality measurements of visible and ultraviolet light more convenient and accessible—for professionals and consumers alike. The LT505 is a wide-range, general-use light meter while the UV505 meter measures ultraviolet (UV) radiation in the UVA and B ranges. Unlike comparable meters, the new 505 meters can be stored practically anywhere, measuring 5.3" tall and 1.9" wide (133x48mm).

Workers using personal fall protection systems sometimes instinctively grasp their systems’ rope grabs during falls. Some commercially available rope grabs are manufactured with “anti-panic” features that enable the rope grabs to work properly by locking onto the lifeline even when they are grasped. Some workers use Prusik slings as rope grabs. A Prusik sling, however, does not have an anti-panic feature. Therefore, grasping a sling’s Prusik knot can prevent the knot from tightening around the lifeline, allowing the worker to fall. This bulletin explains the hazards of using Prusik slings as rope grabs, and discusses why it’s safer in most cases for workers to use rope grabs that meet CSA or ANSI standards and include anti-panic features. What is a Prusik sling? A Prusik sling is a length of rope with its ends secured together to create an “endless loop.” When used as part of a fall protection system, the Prusik sling is attached to a thicker lifeline by tying the sling into a Prusik knot (see illustration). You can freely slide a Prusik knot along the lifeline by hand, but it should tighten around the lifeline when the sling is pulled by its loop. In recreational rope systems, Prusik slings are used for various purposes, including lifeline ascent, fall arrest, and rescue. In the workplace, a Prusik sling can be used in place of a rope grab in a fall protection system in some circumstances. However, a Prusik sling has significant limitations. Prusik slings may only be used when the worker: • Is trained and proficient in creating a Prusik sling that is safe and appropriate for the fall protection system • Understands the Prusik sling’s functions and limitations Hazards of using Prusik slings in fall protection systems In order for a Prusik sling to restrain a worker or arrest a fall, the Prusik knot must tighten around the lifeline. Various factors may prevent a Prusik knot from tightening: “Death grip” — A falling worker may instinctively grasp the Prusik knot with a very strong, tight hold that prevents the knot from tightening, which prevents the sling from arresting the worker’s fall. For this reason, a Prusik sling may be better suited for a travel restraint system than a fall arrest system. Loose knots — A knot that is too loose, improperly dressed, or inadequately tied may slide freely along the lifeline without tightening. Icy ropes and debris — Ice or frost may allow the knot to slide freely along the lifeline without tightening. Keep the knot free from ice and from debris such as leaves, twigs, or soil that may prevent it from working properly. A Prusik sling that has arrested a fall may be damaged from shock-loading, melting, and burning. A fall protection system that has arrested a worker’s fall must be removed from service until it has been inspected and recertified as safe for use by the manufacturer or its authorized agent, or by a professional engineer. Safe work practices • When using a rope grab in a personal fall protection system, use one made to an applicable CSA and/or ANSI standard and equipped with an anti-panic feature. • Use Prusik slings as rope grabs only in rare cases where the nature of the work being done makes them the safest practicable option. • Properly tie, dress, and set all knots. • Keep Prusik slings free from ice and debris. • Follow the detailed instructions found in Guideline G11.5-4, Equipment standards — Prusik sling/Triple sliding hitch. Regulation requirements For requirements related to the use of Prusik slings as part of a personal fall protection system, see the following section of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation and the related guideline (available at worksafebc.com): • Section 11.5, Equipment standards • Guideline G11.5-4, Equipment standards — Prusik sling/Triple sliding hitch Resources The following resources are also available on worksafebc.com: • An Introduction to Personal Fall Protection EquipmentEquipment • Toolbox meeting guide: Rope grabs

Courageous conversations with loved ones was the focus of the Crane Rental Association of Canada’s (CRAC) keynote speaker this morning during the association’s 20th Annual Conference and AGM being held this week in Winnipeg.

Labour, governments and employers must do more to curb fatalities and injuries on construction sites and other workplaces, Local 793 business manager Mike Gallagher said in remarks at a Day of Mourning ceremony April 27 at the union’s head office in Oakville.

Behaviour is one of the most common denominators for every organizational performance issue. It certainly is when it comes to safety. So often we see repeatedly poor safety performance and there is no sustainable change in behaviour because the focus is on the action and not the behaviour that led to the action. To curb the non-compliant behaviour we discipline without ever realizing what led to the behaviour. This makes it difficult to achieve desired changes in safety performance.

For the first time in more than a decade, tower crane professionals across British Columbia came together for the Tower Crane Industry Safety Conference, hosted by WorkSafeBC at the Sheraton Vancouver Airport Hotel in Richmond, B.C. on March 15, 2018.

Hackers have been in existence almost as long as computers. Some of them are, in fact, quite harmless. People looking to test their skills against the strongest security systems strictly for the intellectual challenge - many of these bright minds are hired by governments and private companies to test their own systems against those who look to do harm.

There is an old industry saying: “Don’t sweat the small stuff, it’ll all come about in the end”. That may have worked 10 or 20 years ago, but it wouldn’t fly in today’s industries. Manufacturing, assembly, production, construction and operations have radically changed over the past 10 years. Operating equipment now is very sophisticated with onboard computers, lots of bells and whistles, and some even come with robots.

From British Columbia and The Yukon to St. John’s, Newfoundland, Crane & Hoist Canada is searching Canada’s crane industry for the best and brightest young workers in the industry.

When the federal government first announced it was doubling down on infrastructure spending in the 2016 Budget - $60 billion in additional funds over 10 years for the construction of new transport and energy systems - one could feel an increase optimismfrom Canada’s construction sector. After all, more money for infrastructure spending should translate into more available contracts for everyone to bid on and create more employment opportunities in the sector, right?Well, so far this appears to be true - at least as far as overall employment numbers in the sector go. According to Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey, November 2017, employment in the construction sector was up 16,000, enjoying its second straight month of gains. But more importantly, that latest boost in employment brought the year-over-year gains in the sector to 50,000 jobs (or an increase of 3.6 per cent). Sounds like the feds’ plan to build employment through infrastructure investment is working, but it may have some issues. An additional $60 billion over 10 years is a lot of money to add to the funds already earmarked for projects, and that additional injection of cash may be creating a bottleneck for getting the funds where they need to go.According to recent articles by various news outlets across the country, the federal government is experiencing delays in getting funding for infrastructure spending out the doors of the federal treasury, about $2.14 billion worth of delays. The articles are based on a report that states that of the $5.3 billion that Infrastructure Canada had planned to spend in its last fiscal year (ended on March 31, 2017), that approximately 40 per cent of those funds were not spent. According to an article by the Toronto Star, about $1.48 billion of the $2.14 billion that was not spent was earmarked for “various large-scale projects, representing about 90 per cent of what the government expected to spend on things like new transit and water systems.” The Liberals argue that they are managing the flow of money to projects (which, of course, is expected of them); while the opposition critics have argued that the frozen funds are symptoms of a larger problem related to the federal government’s long-term infrastructure program. To be fair to the feds, some project delays (and therefore, spending delays) are completely out of their control. Some of the projects they pegged for funding have been delayed due to labour issues and bad weather.And since payment is often not released until projects are completed, the money has nowhere to go. And when projects are completed, the federal government sometimes requires receipts from cities and provinces before releasing funding, which creates additional delays. That said, it sounds like there may be a piece or two missing from the Liberals’ infrastructure program’s spending chain for getting the funding where it needs to go in an efficient manner.With such a significant increase in funding earmarked for projects, perhaps more resources are required at various government levels to get all these receipts where they need to go? Whether its an increase in administrative staff at the municipal, provincial or federal levels, improved software programs for processing receipts, or an overhaul of the entire workflow processes for funding releases, the federal government may need to figure out quicker methods to get the money in the hands of the right people so it can hit its spending targets.Despite the slower pace to the release of funds, the feds’ infrastructure plan does appear to be helping the construction sector’s employment levels move in the right direction. And if the employment levels are moving in the right direction, then contracts are being awarded. And if contracts are being awarded, then the equipment purchase orders and rental orders are being submitted.Here’s to a prosperous 2018.

One the most startling revelations for a Canadian visitor to ConExpo-Con/Agg in Las Vegas this March was just how optimistic Americans we spoke with are about the new presidential administration in the U.S.

The election of Donald Trump as president of the United States has profound impacts for Canada’s economy. That’s because this country’s economic health depends heavily on trade.

It’s great that after over two years of work by the non-profit Asia Pacific Skills Table, and an infusion of nearly $800,000 in taxpayer money, a national demonstration of skills tests for mobile crane operators is ready to be put into action.

Something had to give with Vancouver’s overheated housing market. With the price of the average home soaring above $1.5 million, the B.C. government has imposed a 15 per cent surtax on buyers from outside Canada. Foreign buyers, especially those from mainland China, have been widely blamed for feeding the frenzied price increases.

The wildfire that struck Fort McMurray Alberta in early May and forced the evacuation of the entire city of nearly 90,000 people caught the world’s attention.

Nobody needs to be reminded that Canada’s economy is facing serious challenges. Nowhere are these challenges felt more severely at present than in Alberta.

Safety in heavy lifting has been a recurring theme for straight years now at the annual Crane & Rigging Conference Canada in Edmonton.

It’s difficult, if not impossible to predict the future. Well, astronomers can predict with great accuracy the timing of eclipses. But prognosticators in most other areas of human endeavor are about as accurate as astrologers.

While meetings and networking events are at the heart of our annual conference so is introducing you to someone very special who lives on Prince Edward Island.

Crane Industry Services, LLC (CIS), Carrollton, Ga., launched an updated lift director training course in February. Designed to be more interactive, the three-day course features case studies and an emphasis on understanding load charts.

Now in its 15th year, LiftEx is the unmissable global event for the lifting industry. It takes place at the Marshall Arena, Milton Keynes Nov. 13-14, 2019, and will bring together 100 exhibitors, more than 1,000 industry professionals attending, content of interest to businesses working in the sector, as well as the industry awards.

Terex Utilities team members recently took the company’s Safety Town and Build-a-Boom Workshop to two different groups of students. The purpose was to demonstrate concepts in electrical safety and to offer career exploration.

Lift & Move is a one-day event to showcase career opportunities in the crane, rigging and specialized transport industry.

The CMAA Overhead Crane Safety Conference is an annual event produced by members of the Crane Manufacturers Association of America (CMAA) and the Material Handling Industry (MHI), and will deliver technology information and experiences from leading crane manufacturers, crane component suppliers, and engineering consultants for the safe and reliable operation of electric overhead traveling (EOT) cranes.

This premier event for the association is held in April and attracts owners, CEO’s, top managers and leaders in the industry.

Crane Industry Services, LLC (CIS) in Carrollton, Ga. now offers training for employers who need to qualify individuals to do crane operator evaluations, according to new OSHA requirements. In addition, CIS staff can provide third-party crane operator evaluations to assist companies who need extra help getting these done.

SC&RA is seeking subject matter experts to speak at the Crane & Rigging Workshop, taking place from Sept. 18 to 20 in Glendale, Ariz.

The CMAA Overhead Crane Safety Conference is an annual event produced by members of the Crane Manufacturers Association of America (CMAA) and the Material Handling Industry (MHI), and will deliver technology information and experiences from leading crane manufacturers, crane component suppliers, and engineering consultants for the safe and reliable operation of electric overhead travelling (EOT) cranes.

Over the years, the CRAC Conference has built a reputation of showcasing some of the best expert speakers in the country and it is certainly the case for Dan Demers. The highest ranked speaker at the 2017 Conference, Dan is returning to once again, disrupt the industry, challenge company policies and provide some of the best health and safety tools in the industry.