Mining expertise that runs deep

WHEN SELECTING A CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTOR FOR YOUR MINING PROJECT, OWNERS SHOULD PRIORITIZE CONTRACTORS WITH DIVERSE EXPERIENCE AND CAPABILITIES

Mining construction is for those who like to think deep.

Mining projects are generally large, complex, and often built in some of the world’s most remote and challenging regions. Ideally, a mine owner’s needs should match the general contractor’s capabilities. That’s why PCL is chosen for all kinds of mining and industrial construction projects, big or small.

PCL has an entirely flexible and scalable business model that can deliver projects of diverse scope and size, ranging from hundred-thousand-dollar shutdown and maintenance contracts to multi-billion-dollar fullscale projects. And as the largest general contractor in Canada, PCL can draw upon a deep bench of experts for every project.

“Our local teams speak the language and know the client’s people, but we also have national and international subject-matter experts,” says Paul Franklin, who leads PCL’s mining team in Sudbury, Ont. “If a client has a problem with ventilation, for example, we call on our ventilation experts from across the company to find the answer.” He emphasizes the influence that employee ownership has on mining work. “Being employee owned means we are motivated to find solutions,” he says. “Our clients benefit – and so do we.”

Jeff Holt, director of business development for PCL’s industrial arm, agrees with Franklin.

“Employee ownership instills a culture within our organization that we will be successful when we help our clients be successful,” Holt says. “We’re not looking for quick wins. We want to build longterm relationships and do this consistently through our solution provider approach. Being 100 per cent employee-owned means that every employee has a vested interest in the success of every project whether they are directly involved or not.”

Safety and quality all the way down

PCL builds lasting relationships and does this partly through a whole-hearted commitment to safety. Mining work does come with unique risks and PCL is well-equipped to adapt and manage these for clients. When joining a mining project, the team starts

with a gap analysis that compares a client’s safety program to PCL’s. They work with the client to align all standards and expectations and ensure every controllable risk on the job site is identified, tracked, measured, and managed.

“We have about 15 million hours of direct labour in mining on the books, and our safety stats speak for themselves,” Holt says. “We’re very proud of our safety culture, which is ingrained at every level of our operations.”

PCL’s approach to quality control is similar. Quality monitoring and control doesn’t just start when construction starts. It is integrated into every phase, from preconstruction planning to commissioning and start-up. PCL is developing and implementing industry-leading processes and technology to support its overall quality program. The use of Job Sites Insights®, a cloud-based platform that uses data analytics through smart sensors to control quality and risk, enhance productivity and track progress in realtime. It allows us to spot positive or negative trends quickly and implement them in other parts of the job or adjust them quickly if it isn’t working. PCL redefines full-service and brings expertise across all project types, at all scales and under all procurement models. As innovative solution providers and construction specialists, they leverage their expertise to customize the right approach for any project, maximizing value for the best price. s

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Regina: 306-347-4200 Saskatoon: 306-931-3322 Edmonton: 780-733-5000 Sudbury: 705-995-2225