Day of Mourning – April 28, 2017

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On April 28, Nova Scotia joins the rest of Canada and more than 80 countries worldwide to remember those who died, were injured or became ill at work. The Day of Mourning offers employees and employers the opportunity to publicly renew their commitment to improve health and safety in the workplace.

Day of Mourning Story: Glenn Martin – 26 coal miners were tragically lost in the Westray Mine disaster of 1992. Glenn Martin, a man who loved friends, family and fishing, was one of them. Allen Martin remembers his brother 25 years later. Watch the video below.

On April 28, join other Nova Scotians in observing the Day of Mourning by remembering those who have been lost to a workplace tragedy and honouring those who have been affected. Visit the Day of Mourning website for more information.

Kelsey Ramsden on Future Proofing the Construction Industry

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Kelsey Ramsden is a contractor, public speaker and entrepreneur. She spoke at the Canadian Construction Association’s 99th annual conference, held recently in Mexico. Ramsden, who was named Canada’s top female entrepreneur twice by Profit magazine, explained that future proofing one’s business means concentrating on the aspects one excels at, rather than trying to excel at everything. Read more.

Beer Company is Recycling Glass Bottles into a Sand Substitute for Construction

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DB Export, a New Zealand beer company, has built glass beer bottle crushing machines that they hope can help save the world’s sand reserves. The machine has a beer bottle specific shape that they say removes the label and the silica dust, while turning the glass into 200 grams of sand substitute in 5 seconds. Read more.

Construction Not Part of Budget Innovation Push

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CCInnovations president Pierre Boucher remains optimistic that the government will commit to transforming the industry, despite the fact construction innovation was not specifically highlighted in the March 22 federal budget. Read more.

Construction Robots in Japan As Workforce Diminishes

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Construction sites in Japan are enjoying a wave of automation amid an increasing shortage of laborers, with the introduction of robots to do heavy lifting and drones that instantly collect aerial data. Read more.

Fire Resistant Concrete Researchers Look for Backers

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Researchers at a Swiss institution have come up with an innovative mix for high-performance, self-consolidating concrete (HPSCC) which is not only fire resistant but is also less prone to shrinkage. Read more.

Russian Startup Company Renca Recycles Industrial Waste Into 3D Printable Cement

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Russian construction company Renca, has developed an eco-friendly cement for 3D printing. According to the manufacturers, production of the material, known as géobéton (geoconcrete or geocement), reduces carbon dioxide emissions by up to 90% when compared to the traditional mode of making cement. By using recycled materials, the material also creates at least 60% less impact on the environment than its Portland counterpart. Read more.

Workers and Marijuana: What Builders Need to Know

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The obligation of employers to ensure safety at workplaces such as construction jobsites has not changed despite increased use of medical marijuana and its possible legalization by the federal Liberal government, says a legal expert active in the field. Read more.

New RRC Program Helps Refugees Gain Language and Construction Skills.

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The students are part of a new program that began last week by Red River College to teach English to new refugees and provide work experience in construction jobs. The Pallister government initiative was prompted by the influx of Syrian refugees last year. Read more.

Federal Phase 1 Infrastructure Dollars Go Unspent.

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Pundits who have been complaining that federal phase 1 infrastructure spending promised in the 2016 budget has not worked its way through the system were largely right. The budget document released by Finance Minister Bill Morneau on March 22 revealed that only 50 to 75 per cent of infrastructure allocations from Budget 2016 have been spent. Read more.