FROM THE EDITOR

DEHYDRATION IS MORE THAN A HEALTH CONCERN – IT’S A SAFETY HAZARD FOR EVERYONE ON THE JOB SITE

I’m writing this in the second week of July, located in the Greater Raincouver Area, and I can’t remember the last time I saw a drop fall from the sky. Global temperature records have been shattered in recent weeks, and my recent sojourns into the B.C. outdoors have left me more than a little parched. It serves as a reminder that we need to talk about hydration and how vital it is to make sure all workers on the job site hydrate regularly and adequately.

We have experienced some terrifying temperatures in North America in recent years – the Pacific Northwest heat dome of 2021 immediately comes to mind. Construction is physically demanding work, and it often involves day-long sun exposure. Dehydration can sneak up on workers – fatigue, dizziness, and confusion are all symptoms. Serious dehydration can and does result in long-term health consequences and deaths from working on construction job sites in North America.

Dehydration can also be deleterious to more than the health of a single worker. When awareness of other hazards on the job site lapses, everyone in the area is at risk. And beyond the health and safety concerns, dehydration affects focus and productivity, which is a detriment to getting a job done right the first time and on time.

Everyone on the job site needs to hydrate early and often to keep replenishing the water that the body loses to sweat throughout the day. Hydrating means drinking water, even when you aren’t thirsty, and avoiding excessive caffeine and sugary beverage consumption.

Finally, make sure everyone on your job site is aware of the signs of dehydration in themselves and their coworkers, and make cooling solutions available. Plentiful water, a shaded area, and wet towels can all help stave off the early signs of heat exhaustion.

When I attend industry events, by far the most common swag bag item is a water bottle. But we rarely talk about how important it is for construction workers to put their water bottles to use. In an industry where new safety solutions are coming on the market to combat a range of job site hazards, such as a transparent bucket for wheel loaders, sophisticated object detection solutions, e-fence functions on excavators, grade control that eliminates the need for a worker in the trench, and electric machines that reduce job site emissions, the simple hazard of a hot day isn’t necessarily a hot topic with a high-tech solution.

Ultimately, the most important dehydration and fatigue-fighting tool is a simple one – a water bottle.

Keep cool and stay safe out there this summer.

Kaitlyn Till Editor In Chief

ktill@baumpub.com heavyequipmentguide.ca

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SURVEY: TECHNOLOGY CAN HELP FIX CANADA’S INFRASTRUCTURE AND HOUSING CHALLENGES

New research from KPMG in Canada has found that digital technology can help clean out the backlog of indemand Canadian housing and infrastructure projects. Huge demand and a shortage of labourers are two of the main reasons for these backlogs.

KPMG in Canada surveyed 275 construction companies and found that nearly 9 in 10 construction companies say the lack of skilled labour or tradespeople is impacting their ability to bid on projects and/or meet project deadlines. The survey also found that digital technology can help make their labour force more effective to address these shortages.

“Technology can help the construction industry address Canada’s housing and infrastructure challenges,” says Tom Rothfischer, partner and national industry leader of building, construction, and real estate at KPMG in Canada. “Digital tools, if used smartly, save time and money, reduce waste, and improve worker safety and productivity. In short, they help get projects done on time or ahead of schedule and on budget.”

He notes that many technologies employed in the manufacturing sector can be deployed by the construction industry to increase productivity and reduce costs. 3D printing technologies in manufacturing have been adapted to the construction industry to lay concrete and build complex steel shapes. Robots can lay bricks and tie steel reinforcement bars. Drone-based surveying can help contractors quickly and accurately lay out work, measure quantities, and monitor progress. Building information modelling (BIM) allows project teams to collaborate more effectively to develop solutions to optimize project costs and schedules. Digital twin technologies build on BIM to integrate real-time data from a built asset with its exact 3D virtual replica to test “what-if” scenarios.

Digital technology adoption has been slow in Canada’s construction industry. This is a trend that has happened globally too. The COVID-19 pandemic, however, has proven to be a catalyst for technology adoption. The pandemic caused many companies to rethink the intensifying labour shortage with the adoption of new technologies.

“We’re seeing a definite recalibration taking place in the construction sector,” says Rothfischer. “While many are still just at the beginning of their digital build, leaders see the power of technology to reshape the way they work and plan to invest heavily in the coming years. But having the technology is only half the battle. The real advantage will come to those firms who effectively integrate it into their operations – from the back office to the construction site.”

Key Survey Findings

• 73 percent think that the construction industry in Canada lags behind other countries in digital technology adoption

• 67 percent say the impacts of the pandemic prompted them to invest in technology

• 86 percent agreed that disruptive technologies can generate savings and efficiency, of whom 50 percent agreed strongly

• 85 percent believe disruptive technologies could make their companies more competitive

• 81 percent say their management and back-office teams and 80 percent say their project teams and labour are excited about and supportive of new technologies and approaches

• 46 percent plan to spend more than 11 percent of their corporate operating budget on tech and digital transformation, 33 percent anticipate spending between 6 to 10 percent, and 20 percent plan to spend up to 5 percent

“Leading firms are already adopting technology to improve productivity and project management, safety on worksites, and decision-making,” says Mary Van Buren, president of the Canadian Construction Association (CCA). “There is a cost however to investing in digitization that isn’t necessarily shared among all parties in the procurement process. Margins are slim in construction, especially for the small- and medium-sized contractors, making it increasingly difficult for them to adopt these types of innovations in their business operations. This is why CCA continues to work with federal departments in an effort to modernize procurement processes that encourage innovation by supporting shared risk.”

Volvo Ce To Set Up Business Unit Dedicated To Compact Equipment

Volvo CE has set up a business unit that is dedicated to compact equipment. Volvo says that the unit will aim to drive both the growth and profitability of compact equipment.

The business unit will operate as an independent entity within Volvo CE that is dedicated to growing the compact equipment market. It will initially be responsible for compact excavators up to nine tons and compact wheel loaders up to the L50 model.

The entire value chain including development, assembly, purchasing, and market strategy will be the responsibility of the business unit. Volvo CE says that this will increase the number of touchpoints with users.

An increase in population and urbanization has led to the expansion of the construction sector throughout the globe –with a particularly strong increase in the demand for compact equipment. The segment now represents 50 percent of the total market, compared to 35 percent a decade ago, with the growth trend likely to continue.

Thomas Bitter, Volvo CE’s head of technology, will take on the role as head of the compact business unit, from September 2023.

“Our pioneering work in electrification and digitalization has positioned us as an innovator in compact equipment,” says Bitter. “And now because of compact equipment’s ever-growing influence on the market, we are focusing our attention on our compact machine portfolio to provide customers with productive and sustainable products and services.”

Beyond Remote

Learn how Castle Rock Enterprises navigates the challenges of working in the Yukon Territory. Turn to page 26.

MACK TRUCKS COMPLETES $3.2 MILLION REMODEL OF ITS MACK EXPERIENCE CENTER

Mack Trucks has remodelled its Mack Experience Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The $3.2 million renovation features a reconfigured floor plan, facility enhancements, and additional road obstacles on the on-site test track. The 160,000-square-foot facility is on 60 acres of property and has a new welcome area, brand room, briefing room, and a second boardroom. The test track, where visitors can drive Mack trucks on various terrain, was also renovated to include a mud and rock pit area to demonstrate vocational capabilities.

Yanmar Breaks Ground On Ctl Manufacturing Facility Expansion

Yanmar Compact Equipment North America has broken ground on a 32,000-square-foot expansion to its Grand Rapids, Minnesota, facility. The expansion will increase manufacturing capacity and allow for Yanmar compact track loaders to be manufactured alongside ASV compact track loaders. The new section will house a paint system that will increase paint capacity by up to three times. It will also boost parts manufacturing capacity by up to two times in the previously occupied space. The company expects project completion in the spring of 2024.

Topcon Positioning Systems Acquires Satel

Topcon Positioning Systems has acquired Satel Oy. Satel designs, manufactures, and offers connectivity solutions that enable secure connections for industrial applications.

Satel’s technology offers connectivity for applications from electricity distribution to windmills, precision farming to port cranes, weather stations to racing cars, and real-time passenger