“toolbox” meetings, where risks and hazards are assessed
and solutions discussed.
“On the job, any risk that is discovered is taken to the
superintendent or a co-worker to see how it can be mitigated,”
said Kerr. “For us, safety is number one in our
job culture.”
Big effort
According to Kerr, Waterworks is a small company with big
capability. For instance, the head office has a team of six staff
to manage bids and sales efforts, as well as project administration.
In the field, the company gets jobs done with the help
of many long-term workers.
“Our superintendents are very experienced, as are our
equipment operators. Some of our site personnel have been
with the company for over 30 years and have the skillsets to
get jobs done on time and on budget,” he said, adding that
they have also provided in-house training, such as an intensive
course they held to develop new crane operators.
Waterworks also owns and operates three barges. These
include a concrete barge with an 80-ton crane and two steel
pontoon barges.
“Each vessel is unique, and that allows us to access
challenging sites,” said Kerr.
He says that business for them is slow and steady.
“For us, it’s simply one foot in front of the other,” he said.
“We stay well coordinated and execute jobs properly because
we don’t take on more work than we can handle. We operate
a lean business model and I think that this is a reason for our
success in the industry. We do what we say, and say what we
do. It’s that simple.”
Indeed, it’s thinking like this that allows them to report
that over their more than 40 years in business, they have
never had a bankruptcy, a bonding call, a legal suit that went
to court or seen a project failure of any sort.
In the end, it’s Waterworks Construction’s reputation that
earns new projects. From heavy civil infrastructure, such as
the Woodside Ferry Terminal, to recreational docks along
Halifax’s beautiful Northwest Arm, to projects in the north
and even naval work and fishing harbours, Waterworks has
earned its bread and butter by being a reliable project partner
that delivers.
“These jobs are complicated and expensive. People have
learned that to get it done properly at the outset, you have
to go with the team that has the proven track record. We are
that team,” said Kerr.
COMPANY PROFILE
“We operate a lean business
model and I think that this
is a reason for our success in
the industry. We do what we
say, and say what we do. It’s
that simple.”
– Greg Kerr, Waterworks Construction
Drilling piles from a concrete barge in Saulnierville Harbour, N.S.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF WATERWORKS CONSTRUCTION
42 Q3 2016 www.pilingcanada.ca
/www.pilingcanada.ca
/www.pilingcanada.ca
