Analyzing Atlantic Canada

GEMTEC stands for ‘Ground Engineering and Materials TEChnology,’

View from the Top

Agra Foundations Limited approaches its 60-year anniversary with a new outlook and fresh ideas

Under Pressure

Strategies for addressing and alleviating employee anxiety By Barbara J. Bowes, Legacy Bowes Group Although Canadians appear to be fairly far away from any potential of encountering the Ebola virus, after reading and hearing the daily news, I can easily envision the heightened fear that's beginning to occur amongst workers, especially those that travel to foreign countries. Not only are general citizens in the targeted countries becoming ill, doctors, nurses and other health care workers are also becoming patients. Then, as fear spreads, we are seeing some health care workers refusing to work, causing a shortage of staff to help curb the disease. Similarly, cabin cleaners at New York's LaGuardia Airport recently walked off the job to protest what they perceived as insufficient protection from potential exposure to the Ebola virus. They raised concerns about the lack of proper protective equipment, as well as the quality. The one-day strike forced airline crews to clean planes themselves, which in turn creates additional health hazards. And in countries such as West Africa, there are already tremendous economic impacts as schools and businesses are closed. We are also experiencing challenges within our own workforces. On one hand, we are hearing announcements of new job growth opportunities while on the other we are learning of significant budget cuts and employee layoffs. As well, provincial and federal governments appear to be in a belt-tightening mode. Regardless of whether these efforts are legitimate or not, these types of incidents and/or issues cause significant anxiety amongst employee groups. {fastsocialshare}

Panama Canal Expansion

This article was originally published by Pile Buck magazine

The LiSIM® Liebherr Sim

By Judy Penz Sheluk Finding efficient ways of training and up-skilling machine operators - while keeping safety at a maximum and time and costs at a minimum - are key demands in today's highly competitive construction industry. Liebherr, a company known for its heavy-duty construction equipment, including crawler cranes, maritime cranes, piling rigs and drilling rigs, has developed

The LiSIM® Liebherr Sim

By Judy Penz Sheluk Finding efficient ways of training and up-skilling machine operators - while keeping safety at a maximum and time and costs at a minimum - are key demands in today's highly competitive construction industry. Liebherr, a company known for its heavy-duty construction equipment, including crawler cranes, maritime cranes, piling rigs and drilling rigs, has developed

Limitations of Liability Clauses

By Dean G. Giles, Fillmore Riley LLP Contracts used in the construction and engineering fields often contain so-called “exclusion of liability” or “limitation of liability” clauses that purport to reduce a party's exposure to certain claims that may arise in connection with a project. Clauses of this sort are a means by which parties to the contract seek to minimize risk and protect themselves from what might otherwise be a ruinous damages award should something go wrong and litigation ensue. In some instances, the clause in question may operate to cap a party's exposure at a specific monetary amount, while others seek to exempt a party from liability for certaintypes of losses. A common example, often found in construction contracts, is a provision stating that the contractor “shall not be liable loss of earnings or other consequential damages howsoever caused,” or containing words to that effect.Consequential damages are those that arise from the nature of the innocent party's business and include such things as lost profits, lost customers and loss of reputation. This is in contrast to so-called “direct damages,” which are those that, without taking into account the particular circumstances of the party suffering the loss, one would reasonably expect to flow from a breach of contract. Still other clauses may limit a party's exposure to damages caused by negligent acts. {fastsocialshare}

Building Relationships

Soft skills are a key to managing tight margins in a competitive business environment

Shoring Up the Superstorm Defense

Heavy equipment is rolling and crawling. Hammers are pounding on lumber. Hard hats and safety vests dot the landscape.