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This paper presents some ongoing findings from a larger project exploring the growth of mathematical understanding in a variety of construction trades training programs. In this paper we specifically focus on the notion of collective mathematical understanding in an ironworking apprenticeship classroom. We identify the particular ways in which a group of three apprentices work collaboratively together to solve a workplace problem with a substantial mathematical element. Through drawing on the notion of "improvisational coactions" (Martin & Towers, 2009) we detail the ways that individual ideas, understandings and contributions mesh together and are collectively built on by the group to allow a shared understanding to emerge. From this analysis we suggest that improvisational coactions can be a powerful means through which apprentices in the workplace-training classroom might effectively learn to tackle workplace problems that involve thinking and working mathematically. Although our conclusions are specific to this case, we would suggest that there are implications that may be relevant to other areas of workplace training.

Construction projects in Canada are one of the largest and most important sectors for the national economy. Given its significant contribution to employment rate and impact on the Gross Domestic Product, it is relevant to ensure the implementation of project management best practices to deliver projects on time, on budget and within scope. However, in order to have a successful project it is also relevant to include more elements than the ones listed above, and start including as a priority the process by which the product or service is delivered. Therefore, this paper analyzes how PRiSM (Projects integrating Sustainability Methods), a new project management practice, can help construction projects improve their processes and influence their outcomes. Specifically, this paper contains an analysis of the Canadian construction sector, a description of the sustainability project management and the study of how PRiSM, a sustainability methodology, can be applied in the project management of construction projects. The sources consulted were online sources such as papers, books and guidelines; and an interview with President and Founder of Green Project Management (GPM Global) and co-author of PRiSM concepts and guidelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Construction is an important employer in all developed countries, which bolsters the local and global economy. The construction industry is responsible for creating structure that improve productivity and quality of life not only in Canada but also in other developed and developing countries. Although considerable research exists on important facets of the industry (including education, skills and training; precarious work; migration and labour mobility; gender, working-time and work-life balance), few studies look at how the labour force has changed over time. In this paper we model the factors that predict participation in the Canadian construction industry in 1986 and 2016, and document the changes between these two points in time. We find broad similarities between the sociodemographic characteristics of workers in 1986 and 2016, and large changes in the source regions of these workers. We also find different geographical mobility patterns between 1986 and 2016, and discuss the implications of these changes for both the industry itself, and the workers and families that derive their livelihoods from construction work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: There is little information on how work tasks, demands, and exposures differ between women and men in nominally the same job. This is critical in setting workplace standards that will protect the health of both men and those women moving into less traditional work roles. Information used in setting standards is currently based almost entirely on male workers. This paper describes differences in work and health, and the relation between them, in women and men who have undergone the same trade training for the welding or electrical trades., Method: Four cohorts were established. Two were women across Canada in the welding and electrical trades who had been in an apprenticeship since 2005. Cohorts of men in the same trades during the same period were established in the province of Alberta, Canada. Participants completed a baseline questionnaire at recruitment and were followed up every 6 months to collect detailed information on work carried out and on their health and habits. At the end of the study (up to 5 years for women and up to 3 years for men), the cohort members completed a final questionnaire including questions on mental health, harassment, and gender., Results: The four cohorts comprised 1001 welders (447 female; 554 male) and 885 in the electrical trades (438 female; 447 male). Follow-up information was available for 89%. Women were more likely than men to have had some post-secondary education before starting their trade and were less likely to be living as married or to have a child. More welders smoked, and more men were heavy drinkers. At recruitment, more welders than those in the electrical trades reported rhinitis (sneezing and runny nose), depression, and anxiety. Female welders reported more depression (38%) than male welders (30%), compared to 24% in the electrical trades. At first follow-up, new-onset shoulder pain was more frequent in men and new-onset asthma or wheezing in welders. Within each trade, women reported less variety in tasks. Women welders were less likely to be employed in construction than men, and women were less likely to become industrial electricians. Overall, 54% of women and 46% of men reported never using respiratory protection when welding. In the end-of-study questionnaires received to date, 49% reported bullying or harassment during the apprenticeship, with higher proportions in welding than electrical trades and in women compared with men. Such harassment was reflected in higher anxiety and depression scores., Conclusions: This is the first report on these four cohorts and demonstrates the capacity for detailed analysis of the differences in exposure and new-onset occupationally related ill-health. While women and men in the same trades appear to be doing broadly similar work, and to have similar patterns on health at the first follow-up, there are some significant differences in the types of employment and variety of tasks. The very detailed information collected will allow more precise estimates of exposures to be correlated with health outcomes at the end of the follow-up period.

BACKGROUND: The paper is a research review focusing on occupational safety in the construction industry. OBJECTIVE: The purpose is to present research that highlights the areas of occupational safety and risks and to identify areas where research is lacking. METHODS: 146 articles from scientific journals, mainly covering the construction industry in Europe, Canada, USA, Australia and Japan have been studied. The findings are presented under 11 categories: accident statistics; individual factors; legislation and regulations; ethical considerations; risk management; leadership, management, organization; competence; safety design; cost-benefit calculations; programs and models; and technical solutions. RESULTS: The research is dominated by initiatives from researchers and government authorities, while the construction industry only appears as the object for the research. There is a scarcity of research on integrated systems encompassing subcontractors, as well as a lack of research with sociological perspectives on accidents. Furthermore, only a few studies have applied a gender perspective on safety in construction, i.e. there is a need of further research in this particular area. CONCLUSIONS: A range of initiatives have been taken to increase safety in the construction industry and the initiatives are mainly reported to be successful. There are some cultural differences, but basically researchers present similar results regardless of country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Construction industry creates a massive amount of waste, which typically ends up in landfills. Canadian construction industry represents 30% of the total municipal solid waste deposited in landfills. Construction and demolition (C&D) waste has created negative socioeconomic and environmental impacts including contaminating ground water, emitting greenhouse gases, and adding more waste to scarce landfills. Literature is cited rework/waste generation due to ambiguity/errors in construction contract documents. Exculpatory clauses in contract documents are included in contractual agreements to prevent contractor claims, which often cause rework. After an extensive contract documents review, these clauses were categorized in to eight major areas. This paper (1) analyses expert opinions on pre-identified contractual clauses; and (2) introduces recommendations to minimize rework and waste in construction projects. It was found that the clauses related to quality, workmanship, and field quality control/inspection have the most potential to generate construction waste. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The generation of well-defined and moderately sized field installation work packages for the construction workforce, referred to as workface planning, has been recently employed to plan large-scale industrial construction projects under tight schedules. However, traditional CPM-based scheduling of several thousand work packages (e.g. 5000 activities multiply by 10 work packages per activity on average) is a tedious, error prone process. Defining proper logics and controlling congestion among work packages crossing several work areas, and also effective resource allocation over time are other major challenges in workface planning. This paper presents a novel simulation-based framework to implement workface planning for large-scale industrial construction projects. This framework proposes a time-stepped discrete event simulation-based modelling for dynamic resource allocation based on congestion and other constraints on the job site. The proposed method is demonstrated and tested against traditional CPM-based solutions based on an actual case study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The construction and demolition (C&D) waste generated by the Canadian construction industry accounts for 27 % of the total municipal solid waste disposed in landfills. However, it is evident that over 75 % of what the construction industry generates as waste has a residual value, and therefore could be recycled, salvaged and/or reused. The need for comprehensive and integrated waste management mechanisms, technologies, rating systems and policies is widely recognized. Owing to increasing C&D waste volumes, shortage of landfills and long-term adverse environmental, economic and social impacts of the disposed C&D waste, sustainable C&D waste management is becoming increasingly essential to protect public health and natural ecosystems. This paper proposes a conceptual C&D waste management framework to maximise the 3R (reduce, reuse and recycle) and minimise the disposal of construction waste by implementing sustainable and comprehensive strategy throughout the lifecycle of construction projects. In addition, a life cycle based C&D waste sustainability index is developed. This approach can be used to make decisions related to selection of material, sorting, recycle/reuse and treatment or disposal options for C&D waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering is the property of Canadian Science Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Building performance evaluations (BPEs) were carried out for nine Canadian green buildings using a standardised assessment framework. The aim was to explore and measure the discrepancies between the operational performance of the buildings and their predicted performance, as well as to identify lessons for their owners, design teams and the construction industry. The objective of this paper is not to report individual buildings in detail (we refer the reader to the individual building reports) but to report on some general lessons that came from doing this study. Overall these buildings performed well compared to benchmarks. However, the findings suggest that occupancy is not well understood and often incorrectly predicted during design, and that this affects various aspects of performance, including energy and water use. Also energy and water use modelling is often undertaken principally for building code/green rating compliance purposes and does not necessarily represent an accurate prediction of likely operational use. Combined with variations in occupancy this can lead to considerable discrepancies in performance from the modelled values. This may be understood by experts but is often misleading to building owners and others. Water use is often not well predicted and also not carefully managed in buildings and there is a lack of understanding of what constitutes good water performance. Overall, it is important to recognise that each building has its own individual "story" that provides necessary context for effective management and improvement of the building during its ongoing life. It is proposed that a BPE process allows that context to be better understood, and enables more effective decision making about building management, improvements, occupant satisfaction, energy use, etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article concerns a case study in labor history which represents an interesting example of union action in a workers' community characterized by intersections between ethnic and class belonging. The focus of the article is on labor conflicts in Toronto's construction industry between 1968 and 1973. In that period, the Torontonian residential sector represented a sort of ethnic niche dominated by Italian immigrants, who populated this industry both as workers and as contractors. At the same time, important economic, technological, and organizational innovations formed part of this niche. In particular, it refers to the new Toronto real estate boom and to the introduction of new building techniques such as the drywall technique, or concrete forming, as well as business innovations such as the flying form or the creation of teamwork. This article tells the story of successful unionization in a peculiar industry dominated by continuous formal and informal bargaining. Moreover, the powerful presence of the phenomenon of mafiosi and widespread racism made the context still more difficult. In this situation, despite the ambiguities, the final result was the unionization of thousands of workers and the successful signing of collective contracts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cumulative neuromuscular fatigue may result from exposure to physically demanding work, such as repetitive and/or sustained work with insufficient recovery. The aims of this exploratory study were to develop a battery of field usable fatigue measures and to document hand/arm fatigue in physically demanding work over multiple workdays and after a weekend break. Sixteen plumbers were observed for five days and measures of handgrip force, variability, tremor and discomfort were obtained pre-, mid- and post-shift. This exploratory study demonstrated increasing fatigue of the hand/arm over the day and persistent fatigue from Tuesday to Friday, and that a number of the measures did not return to baseline values following a weekend break. The findings provide preliminary evidence of cumulative fatigue in residential plumbing and insight into neuromuscular fatigue measurement. However, further work is needed to develop and refine a set of fatigue measures to detect neuromuscular fatigue at the workplace. Practitioner Summary:Cumulative fatigue has been linked to long-term health outcomes, including work-related musculoskeletal disorders. This paper presents findings from a physically demanding job (i.e. plumbing) revealing persistent fatigue over the work shift(s) and insufficient recovery after a weekend break, and provides insight into fatigue measurement at the workplace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering is the property of Canadian Science Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective: A six-year study is exploring the most effective ways to disseminate ideas to reduce musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in the construction sector. The sector was targeted because MSDs account for 35% of all lost time injuries. This paper reports on the organization of the construction sector, and maps potential pathways of communication, including social networks, to set the stage for future dissemination. Participants: The managers, health and safety specialists, union health and safety representatives, and 28 workers from small, medium and large construction companies participated. Methods: Over a three-year period, data were collected from 47 qualitative interviews. Questions were guided by the PARIHS (Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services) knowledge-transfer conceptual framework and adapted for the construction sector. Findings: The construction sector is a complex and dynamic sector, with non-linear reporting relationships, and divided and diluted responsibilities. Four networks were identified that can potentially facilitate the dissemination of new knowledge: worksite-project networks; union networks; apprenticeship program networks; and networks established by the Construction Safety Association/Infrastructure Health and Safety Association. Conclusions: Flexible and multi-directional lines of communication must be used in this complex environment. This has implications for the future choice of knowledge transfer strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The expansion and advancement of businesses, cities, municipalities, and populations in Canada are increasingly demanding the effective usage of land and resources in building development. Companies, organizations, and individuals are seeking to construct more environmentally responsible buildings to help minimize the negative effects that structures place on the natural environment, as well as on the people that have either direct or indirect contact with them. In an effort to set a benchmark for what constitutes a green building, the Canada Green Building Council provides a certification system called Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), which is a point scheme that seeks to measure sustainability. Many stakeholders in the construction industry in Canada are increasingly employing this system to validate their achievement in sustainable development. This paper reviews the usage of the LEED system in Canadian building construction and the potential challenges and barriers associated with LEED implementation that specifically pertain to Canadian circumstances. Information from 42 new construction projects across Canada that achieved LEED certification were collected and analyzed. The points most often awarded, as well as those that are granted the least frequently, were tabulated. The percentages of points obtained were compared to American projects. Credit frequency indicators (CFIs), which were used to depict the achievement of credits by each project, can provide decision makers with information on credits awarded in the past and insight into credit implementation in future projects with similar goals. The energy and atmosphere and materials and resources categories proved to have the lowest CFIs, whereas the innovation and design process and water efficiency categories yielded the highest CFIs. The study also found that there were differences in the points obtained by LEED projects in Canada and the United States as some credits are influenced by climate, such as weather and temperature, as well as regional location. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using the 1971-2001 census of Canada master files, in this paper it is shown how employment in banking/finance, construction and real estate, and living in multiple family households reduces unexplained homeownership disparities between groups in Canada's seven largest immigrant-intake Census Metropolitan Areas. Although these characteristics are important at times for homeownership attainment, they do not elicit a persistent effect across the study period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the history of the construction engineering and management discipline in Canada can perhaps shed light on where the future of the discipline may lay and on external perceptions of the discipline. In its current state, the discipline in Canada is a unique model. Examining its positive and negative attributes will help inform strategic planning for construction research and education programs in Canada and in other countries as they adapt to rapid changes in their environments. The objective of this paper is to present sufficient information to make that examination possible. Its scope is limited to the last 200 years. Early pioneers in the discipline are described. Their careers are reflected in the developments that are summarized in the following discussion of the emergence of professional societies, and the educational and research infrastructure of the discipline in Canada. Recent developments in education and research are examined in more detail. Some final observations are then made based on this brief history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering is the property of Canadian Science Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering is the property of Canadian Science Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering is the property of Canadian Science Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article reprints the article "Emerging Patterns in the Labour Market: A Reversal from the 1990s," by P. Cross, which was published in the March 2005 issue of "Canadian Economic Observer." The paper examined whether the labor market trends reversed since 2000 continued in 2005. Notable developments include the resurgence of construction and resource jobs, the disappearance of factory jobs, notably high technology and automotive jobs. Computer services flattened out while public services were restores after reductions in the 1990s. The resurgence of multinational resource companies and government also favored job growth in large establishments. Meanwhile older workers supplied the increasing demand for labor.

The North American housebuilding industry has been neglected in urban and housing studies. Its firm size structure and instability have long been cause for concern, but have rarely been given more than anecdotal treatment. This paper examines the transience of housebuilders in Ontario from 1978 to 1998. Using a census of builders provided by the Ontario New Home Warranty Program, the industry's firm membership is found to be extremely transient. Most transience comes by way of new firm formation and permanent firm exits from the market, while a small cohort of builders withdraw from and re-enter the market on a regular basis. The business cycle speeds and slows these processes but flux is due primarily to the annual turnover of small builders. To reduce transience, policy makers must decide between slowing entry and perhaps raising industry concentration or allowing continued firm entry and probably transience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Task-based respirable crystalline silica (RCS) exposure monitoring data was collected from construction work sites across 3 Canadian provinces: Alberta, British Columbia (BC), and Manitoba. In total 373 RCS samples were obtained from 70 worksites across 44 companies. Sampling was conducted between May 2015 and August 2020. The overall geometric mean (GM) RCS exposure was 0.045 mg/m3 (geometric standard deviation, GSD = 6.8). Alberta had the highest average exposure and the highest variability with GM of 0.060 mg/m3 (GSD = 9.3), the GM in BC was 0.044 (GSD = 4.3), and in Manitoba the GM was 0.033 (GSD = 7.0). A multivariable model was built using forward stepwise linear regression modeling. Province, task type, work environment (indoor vs. outdoor), construction material, sampling duration, and engineering control use were all statistically significant predictors of exposure level in partial F -tests (P < 0.05). Overall, the model explained 42% of the RCS concentration variability. Task type contributed most to the model's explanatory power. The task type with highest average exposure levels was demolition (GM 0.30 mg/m3, GSD 0.49). Breaking (GM 0.16 mg/m3, GSD 8.4) and grinding (GM 0.081 m/m3, GSD 7.4) also had high-exposure levels. Working outdoors was associated with exposure levels 39% lower than indoors. Exposure control measures such as local exhaust ventilation and wetting were also associated with lower exposure levels. Among construction materials, Cement, sand, and stone were associated with higher RCS exposure levels relative to the reference material, concrete. The results of this study indicate that workers in western Canada remain exposed to RCS at levels that exceed the health-based American Congress for Governmental Industrial Hygienists Threshold Limit Value of 0.025 mg/m3. Although there were some differences in exposure levels between the provinces, the determinants of exposure were similar in all 3. The overall GM RCS exposure was 0.045 mg/m3 (geometric standard deviation, GSD = 6.8). Alberta had the highest average exposure and the highest variability with GM of 0.060 mg/m3 (GSD = 9.3), the GM in BC was 0.044 (GSD = 4.3), and in Manitoba the GM was 0.033 (GSD = 7.0). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deals with a study on the domestic use of manufactured commodities and unfinished manufactured construction materials in Canada for census years from 1870-1915. Data from the reports of the Department of Customs; Construction of national product estimates for Canada; Role of the Canadian tariff under the national policy.

Presents information on various articles related to economics in Canada, published in the August 1963 issue of the journal 'The Canadian Journal of Economics and Political Science.' Fiscal implications of a housing program; Relationships between investment, technological progress and full-employment growth; Behavior of corporate saving; Labor-management relations in the construction industry.

Objective Asbestos use has decreased over time but occupational exposure still exists today due to the presence of asbestos in older buildings. The objective of this study was to update CAREX Canada's prevalence of exposure estimate from 2006 to 2016, and to assess the level of occupational exposure by industry, occupation, province/territory, and sex. Methods Estimates by occupation, industry, province/territory, and sex were calculated using labor force data from the 2016 Census of Population and proportions of workers exposed by occupation and industry, which were previously developed for the 2006 estimates and updated here to reflect new knowledge and changes in exposures. Statistics Canada concordance tables were used to account for changes between the 2006 and 2016 job and industry coding systems. Expert assessment was used to qualitatively assign levels of exposure (low, moderate, or high) for each occupation and industry, with consideration of workers' proximity and access to asbestos-containing material, and the condition and content of asbestos. Results Approximately 235 000 workers are exposed to asbestos on the job in Canada. The majority of Canadian workers exposed to asbestos are male (89%). Only 5% of all exposed workers are in the high-exposure category, while most workers are in the low (49%) or moderate (46%) exposure categories. The construction sector and associated jobs (e.g. carpenters, trades helpers and laborers, electricians) accounted for the majority of exposed workers. Conclusions Occupational exposure to asbestos continues to occur in Canada. Updating the prevalence of exposure estimate and adding exposure levels highlights the shift from high to lower-lever exposures associated with asbestos-containing materials remaining in the built environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The burden of health and safety related issues emanating from the modern workplace is overwhelming. Although the prevailing statistics found in the literature show that victims of workplace fatalities and injuries are higher in developing countries and transition economies, there is a very limited understanding of the causal factors that may correspond to the continuous increase in the occupational exposure of employees to various fatalities and injuries. The purpose of this study was to review the literature on occupational safety of workers with the objective of highlighting the major causal factors of workplace injuries and fatalities from a multi-regional perspective, particularly on job-contexts with highest safety and health related hazards. Methodology: A systematic review of the literature was conducted on 73 empirical studies in the regions of Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Australia, and the Americas (the US & Canada). Findings: The results showed that the highest number of injuries and fatalities were mostly found in the construction industry. It further emerged that most of the studies were centered in developing countries within Africa and Asia. Other results and recommendations were discussed for each region. Value: The findings from this study have the potential to expose the regional dynamics in relation to safety in the workplace. This study also addresses the main areas of concern for stakeholders to promote organizational development and safety culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vacuum insulation panels (VIPs) have thermal resistance values, at the center of the panel, up to 10 times or more than those of conventional thermal insulation materials. In Canada, known for its predominantly extreme cold climate, the potential to apply VIPs in the building construction industry is estimated to be enormous, particularly with the introduction of the new 2011 National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings (NECB 2011). VIPs can play a major role in Canadian buildings to meet energy requirements of the NECB 2011. However, the lack of long-term performance credentials and various constructability issues are among the major barriers for mass application of VIPs in the Canadian construction industry. This paper presents the design strategy, construction details, instrumentation and thermal performance monitoring observations of a VIP retrofitted wall system in Yukon, located in Northern Canada. Experience gained from the construction process and available thermal performance data over a period of three years provide encouraging indicators for the constructability and long-term thermal performance of VIPs in Canadian subarctic weather. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Construction is a multidisciplinary activity in which effective communication between parties is essential for successful construction projects. However, the construction industry has been characterised by fragmentation, which prevents seamless communication. This problem has been further exacerbated by the need to communicate over distance within a time constraint in an increasingly interconnected and globalised construction sector. This has brought a particular challenge to the education sector in preparing the future graduates to work in this context. The paper reports on an on-going Hewlett Packard-sponsored project to implement an innovative learning approach which consists of distanced collaboration between students from different disciplines from two Universities in the UK and Canada. The empirical work involved interviews and questionnaire survey at different stages of the project. The preliminary findings reveal the impact of disciplinary training on the development of effective virtual collaboration, although this has been moderated, to some extent, by their earlier (not so positive) experience during the course of the project. The research provides a material for further reflection and may serve as a useful consideration for future development of a guiding framework for effective training of built environment professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A First Nations housing initiative in Alberta, Canada--the "Millennium Housing Project"--is examined using a retrospective case study approach. This article intends to build on the already established linkage between institutional and culture theory perspectives by examining this real world example. The initiative involved cooperation between a construction company in Alberta and an Aboriginal (Métis Nation) community, resulting in institutional isomorphic processes that were generated through the experience, understanding and acceptance on individual and organizational levels of each stakeholder. The major example used to depict this isomorphism is with regard to the difference in the perception and importance of time as it relates to the different cultures in this "blended" industry setting. Details are provided to describe how organizational actions and context influenced cultural shifting of both parties, which assisted in dealing with project challenges. The article thus provides a model for the construction industry and Aboriginal government, serves to offer practical support to existing theoretical linkages, and acts as a call for future work regarding isomorphic-related opportunity, as well as Aboriginal-related impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past decade, Canadian immigration policy experienced a shift towards the expansion of the temporary foreign worker (TFW) program because of a perceived necessity to prevent economic slow down in times of labour shortages. Conditions about hiring TFWs were imposed on employers to avoid abuses that developed in the past with such programs. However, it appears that a majority of construction workers in Metro Vancouver do not trust these conditions work. Skilled workers believe TFWs lower their wage and unskilled workers believe, in addition, that they make it harder to get a job. Also a majority of workers do not believe the program is necessary to fill vacancies. Hence, there appears to be a deep mistrust in the functioning of the program. Active monitoring of the conditions imposed on employers who hire TFWs would greatly improve the perception resident workers have about the program and its acceptability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using OECD input/output tables at current and constant prices, this paper analyses the performance of the construction sector of eight highly industrialized countries -- Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Japan and the USA -- in the 1970s and 1980s. First, the main characteristics of the data set with country and time coverage are briefly introduced. Then, a set of simple indicators is used for comparative purposes, namely to assess the construction sector's diminishing role in terms of share in gross output, value added and GNP. Analysis focuses also on technologies, with emphasis on the relative role of manufacturing and services inputs. Lastly, standard measures of linkages are used to determine the main sources of induced output that are created by the push and pull effects of the construction sector on the rest of the economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analyzes the benefits of constructability on construction projects in Alberta. Barriers restricting constructability benefits; Administration of a survey based on the constructability principles of the Construction Industry Institute; Achievement of significant gains in project cost, schedule, performance and safety.

A number of recent studies have examined the process of wage formation using wage contract data. Generally these studies recognize the role of inflation in the determination of wage settlements, both in the ex ante implementation of expected inflation and in the ex post catch-up of the excess of actual inflation over the full or ex ante implemented value of expected inflation during the previous contract. To achieve these purposes, the study specifies, estimates and analyses a model of wage formation. By using data for Alberta unionized construction settlements, the estimation process is seen to enjoy two advantages over that of previous studies. First, the data are more homogeneous. Second, the data admit more industry specific measures of labour demand and supply. The next section of this paper outlines a generalized model of wage formation. The third section examines the sample and data and a stochastic specification which provides a correction for the contemporaneous correlation that characterizes wage contract studies.

In all construction claims there exist two hurdles which must be overcome before resolution can occur, i.e. entitlement and quantification. This paper addresses the latter issue (regarding productivity/impact claims) by initially presenting the differential method of quantification and then describing its application on a case study. Through this method the authors quantified a contractor's loss of productivity on a four-storey commercial building in western Canada. This was achieved by comparing productivity between a period of construction during which the contractor alleged concrete operations were completed under 'normal' conditions and a period when the contractor's productivity was affected by inclement weather. For proper application of this method, certain requirements must be met. The difficulty in satisfying these requirements frequently causes the result of the calculation to be suspect. The author's compliance with these requirements will be discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article builds on industry data and a unique dataset of small and medium-sized merchants to provide insights into the acquirer-merchant market in Canada. Three main findings are presented. First, smaller merchants pay their acquirer more for every dollar of card payment than larger merchants. Second, this finding is mainly explained by high fixed costs. Third, the acquiring market in Canada is concentrated and has remained fairly stable since 2010. These findings could be relevant for other countries with mature card payments systems such as the US and Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the construction industry, uncertain economic climates, such as that caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, can cause constraints on cash flow and potentially negatively affect liquidity across global supply chains. As such, employers have sought to rely on their contractual rights to avoid or delay payment. As a result, contractors and subcontractors are being faced with a lack of cash flow; it has regularly been stated that 'cash is the lifeblood of the construction industry'1 resulting in problems with non-payment, late payment or underpayment. In order to ensure cashflow, contractors may have a right to interim payments. Whereas employers may have a right to set-off or withhold sums due in the contractor's interim payment applications to cover services performed by themselves, or costs incurred in relation to the contractor's work a process is often referred to as back charge. This article briefly introduces interim payments and set-off in the construction context it then details aspects of back charges in the common law jurisdictions of Canada, the UK and the US. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, two case studies of large-scale bid rigging in the construction industry in Canada and the Netherlands are analysed to explore why business cartels sometimes do and sometimes do not involve organised crime. By combining concepts from both organised crime and organisational crime, an integrated understanding of the organisation of serious crimes for gain is applied. Across time and space, businesses in the construction industry are known to fix prices, use collusive tendering and divide market shares in illegal cartel agreements. In order to stabilise cartels, participants need to ward off new competitors and prevent cheating within the cartel. The question why we see a system of collusion involving organised crime and violence in Canada as opposed to the Netherlands is answered through analysing two comparable cases. This article finds two systems of bid rigging emerge under different cultural conditions: inclusive and exclusive collusion. The exclusive system makes use of the violent reputation provided by criminal groups and distinguishes from the inclusive system that uses sophisticated administration of mutual claims in shadow bookkeeping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Agricultural work involves hazards that may harm long‐term well‐being. We evaluated the risk of long‐term disability and death for agricultural workers compared to construction workers with similar demographics. We hypothesized that delays to emergency care and subsequent long‐term disability following injury might be worse for agricultural workers compared to those injured in construction. Methods: We evaluated all adults severely injured on farms or on construction sites in Ontario, Canada, between April 1, 2009, and March 31, 2012, according to the Ontario Trauma Registry. We excluded individuals living outside of the province, those missing a valid health card number, or youth less than 17 years old. Our primary outcome was death or the subsequent application for disability support. Results: In total, 353 patients were injured on a farm or construction site during the study period. Delays to emergency care exceeding 12 hours were more frequent for agricultural workers compared to construction workers (43% vs 23%, P <.001). After a 5‐year follow‐up, agricultural workers had a death or disability rate marginally higher than construction workers (23% vs 14%, P =.068), equivalent to a hazard ratio of 1.62 that was marginally statistically significant (95% confidence interval 0.96‐2.75, P =.072). The risk of death and disability was greatest for patients who had the longest delays to emergency care. Interpretation: Agricultural workers experience a substantial delay in receiving emergency care and a marginally higher risk of death or disability in the years following injury compared to construction workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Automobiles are ubiquitous objects of private consumption and their meaning and use are shaped by different aspects of identity, including gender. The gender dimensions of automobility associated with particular types of vehicles have not been extensively researched. This article studies pickup trucks and masculinities in relation to home and work in the industrial construction sector in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. There, like in much of North America, trucks have become the most commonly purchased new vehicles over the last decade. Their widespread popular appeal contrasts with their historical development for manual labour gendered as masculine, such as farming and fishing, in rural places and environments conducive to such labour. Drawing on interviews with construction industry actors and workers, the article shows how new, expensive trucks have come to reflect the hegemonic masculinity at male-dominated industrial construction projects, while also showing how the meanings and uses of trucks are complex and contested. Trucks are understood to be functional for work and driving, but they are also status symbols, often used only sparingly for commuting, masculinized domestic work and leisure activities. The article unpacks the new and expanding popularity of the truck and its positioning in practice in relation to masculinities, work, and to the landscape in a place-based gender regime. In doing so, it contributes to efforts to contextualize masculinities in place, while also revealing how they are related to gender constructs in other places and at other scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study appraises the laws adopted in the 1970s by most provinces in Canada for the purpose of promoting stronger employer associations and broader bargaining structures in the construction industry. The author finds that employer associations in construction are now more cohesive and less vulnerable to union whipsaw and leapfrog tactics, and the frequency of construction strikes has declined. On the other hand, other measures of strike activity, such as total days lost, increased following the legislative changes, and construction wages continued to rise as rapidly as in the late 1960s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The methodology developed in this study presents an approach to the concurrent evaluation of Risk Management (RM) effectiveness during project execution. The method proposed is an adaptation of an approach developed and advocated by Khlebopros et al. (2007) for the mathematical modelling of complex systems, namely the analysis and effects of natural catastrophes. Hence, the method utilizes a phase portrait approach to identify the Prime Cost (PC) of RM of a project. Furthermore, the method provides an approach for comparing the individual identified risks with this PC, and subsequently highlighting a way of classifying and prioritising risks into a rank order for RM attention. The MERA (Multiple Estimating Risk Analysis) approach was utilized for the quantification of risk impact and ultimately the creation of the phase portrait. Besides being accurate and intuitively understandable, the methodology is relatively simple to implement and provides a rapid visualisation of the overall risk extent of a project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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