Skyjack products have always been designed to be easy to service and maintain. Today, our reputation built on Scissor Lifts, is recognized in the Skyjack range of Boom Lifts.
From the high capacity capability of the SJ86 T to the innovative SJ63 AJ boom, inspection times of 10 years and with a range of unique features, Skyjack booms offer the rental industry’s best life cycle value through low cost of ownership, ease of service and maintenance and impressive residual value.
www.skyjack.com
Annex Publishing & Printing Inc. P.O. Box 530, Simcoe, Ontario N3Y 4N5 (800) 265-2827 or (519) 429-3966
Fax: (519) 429-3094
EDITOR I Patrick Flannery pflannery@annexweb.com (226) 931-0545
SALES MANAGER I Ed Cosman ecosman@annexweb.com (519) 429-5199, (888) 599-2228, ext 276
GROUP PUBLISHER I Martin McAnulty mmcanulty@annexweb.com
DIRECTOR OF SOUL/COO I Sue Fredericks
Publication Mail Agreement #40065710. RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESS TO CIRCULATION DEPARTMENT, P.O. BOX 530, SIMCOE, ON N3Y 4N5
e-mail: subscribe@canadianrentalservice. com
Printed in Canada, All rights reserved. Editorial material is copyrighted. Permission to reprint may be granted on request. ISSN 0383-7920
Circulation
e-mail: subscribe@canadianrentalservice. com
Tel: 866-790-6070 ext. 202 Fax: 877-624-1940
Mail: P.O. Box 530, Simcoe, ON N3Y 4N5
Subscription Rates
Canada- 1 Year $42.00 (plus 5% GST - $44.10)
U.S.A. - 1 Year $60.00
Occasionally, Canadian Rental Service will mail information on behalf of industryrelated groups whose products and services we believe may be of interest to you. If you prefer not to receive this information, please contact our circulation department in any of the four ways listed above.
Serving the Canadian rental industry for 38 years.
4
EDITORIAL
Does buying American mean what it used to? by Patrick Flannery
AND TIME
Innovations in portable shelters mean opportunity for rental operatots.
18 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Improving your store takes centre stage in the fall. by Dave Mintenko
14
PARTY’S ON
Rental Village has seen event rentals become an important part of its business.
38
EXPERIENCE POWER
The Rent-It Store benefits Saskatoon with a long history of great service.
20 FUEL FILTRATION FACTS
Tips on how to get rid of that #1 engine killer: water.
42
HEATER SHOWCASE
Your best buys for big-time BTUs.
Here’s how to deal with deadbeat customers. by Deryk Coward
50
SAFETY FIRST AND LAST
Changes are coming to hazardous material handling standards. by Jeff Thorne
Between friends
The
Areport earlier this year from the U.S. Association of Equipment Manufacturers showed exports of Americanmade machinery dropping everywhere in the world in 2014, leading to an overall 13.2 per cent decline from the 2013 numbers. Canada remained the world’s biggest importer of U.S. machinery to the tune of $6.6 billion (U.S. dollars) per year, more than double the amount shipped to all of South America, the next largest importing region. We also recorded the smallest decline at just 2.2 per cent. America’s global exports are worth a total of $17.26 billion, which means Canada buys more than a third of everything American machinery manufacturers ship abroad. We are not only their biggest customer, we are also the most loyal. Sometimes I wonder if the Americans are really aware of the size of this relationship. Granted, we are still a drop in the bucket compared to their domestic market, but I think U.S. machinery manufacturers would notice if their slice of $6 billion dollars went away. When I go to trade events in the U.S. and ask booth staff how they go to market in Canada, I often get a blank stare followed by some statement like “I think our northern Ohio guy has Canada.” Their blissful unawareness that they have rolled the second largest country in the world containing over 30 million people into the partial territory of one state is kind of cute and kind of scary at the same time. My follow-up question
ON THE WEB:
Marion leads Construction Tools division at Atlas Copco
Atlas Copco Construction Equipment Canada has appointed Mike Marion business line manager. Marion has over 20 years experience in the Canadian construction industry.
BF Goodrich recalls some commercial light truck tires
BF Goodrich Tires has recalled about 129,000 tires sold in Canada, the U.S. and Mexico. Approximately 6,400 of the tires were sold in the Canadian market.
Where’s the golf?
Check out Coming Events for the date and location of your local association golf tournament.
by Patrick Flannery
to responses like these is to ask them what resources they have in California, which has roughly the same population. Inevitably, it is a lot more, though to be fair California also has a considerably bigger economy than Canada.
The impression of neglect deepened a bit in the aftermath of the Great Recession, when the forces of trade protection gained significant political ground south of the border. Several items hit the news where Canadian companies were shut out of U.S. government bids by resurrected Buy American policies. Again, a sense of innocent cluelessness seems to attend these efforts. I received more than one press release from American machinery manufacturers inviting me to “I Make America” events. I Make America is an initiative of the AEM that has the laudable goal of lobbying the U.S. government for manufacturing-friendly policies. But protection through tax law and other means from foreign imports is part of the program, as is messaging encouraging U.S. consumers (especially government buyers) to favour U.S.-made equipment. Inviting a Canadian magazine editor who counts Canadian machinery exporters among his readers to an event promoting America-first buying practices is a bit like inviting Bill Gates to an Apple conference...awkward! But all you can really do is take the traditional Canadian approach of considering it a compliment that the Americans feel so close to us that they don’t really consider us a separate country.
Our preference for American quality in manufactured products is still strong. China still carries the stigma of being a low-cost manufacturer that ships flimsy, unreliable products. Many rental people also reference their awareness of the difference in living conditions between American and Chinese workers, and consider it a point of pride to support companies that pay their employees a living wage. But many of the facts and assumptions around these attitudes are changing. Chinese manufacturers are not incapable of producing high-quality product. After all, China has a space program that can put men in orbit and bring them back. The truth about Chinese manufacturing is that its pricing is sharp. You get what you pay for, and not a cent more. So when machinery companies go to China for cheap production, they get cheap product. CRS
NEW PRESIDENT AT SOMMERS
Sommers Motor Generator Sales has announced that Chris McGregor was recently appointed president of the company. The appointment follows McGregor’s purchase of controlling interest in the business in April of this year. Wes and Kay Sommers founded Sommers Motor Generator Sales in 1936, helping to bring electrical service and equipment to rural Ontario and the Maritime region. The company has remained in the family since that time. McGregor joined the Sommers organization in 1998 and he has served as general manager since 2008. Patrick Sommers, representing the third generation in the family business, will remain with the service department. McGregor forecasts a number of significant announcements to follow in the near future. “We have had several initiatives under way in product and service development recently. As our organizational changes settle in, you can expect to see these come to fruition. We’re very excited about some new Sommers’ residential stand-by power products being introduced, as well as products and services for our industrial systems. We’ll be moving quickly to keep our commitments to the Sommers dealer network and to all Sommers customers.” Quoting U.S. President Harry Truman, McGregor said, “It’s amazing what you can accomplish if you don’t care who gets the credit.”
ROOTY AWARD NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN
Canadian Rental Service is now accepting nominations for its 2016 Rental Operator Of The Year award, the ROOTY. The ROOTY award will be presented at the Canadian Rental Mart, March 8 and 9 in Toronto. The ROOTY recognizes outstanding achievement by a Canadian rental company in the fields of success, innovation and safety. A blue-ribbon panel of industry leaders judges submissions from all over the country to decide on a winner. The 2016 award will be the third presented. Winners receive a prize from the sponsor, a commemorative plaque and front-cover recognition in Canadian Rental Service magazine. Nominations are free and confidential. For a list of criteria and a link to the nomination form, visit canadianrentalmart.com.
GRADER SAFETY MANUAL UPGRADED
The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) has updated its Grader Safety Manual with new, industry-recognized pictorials that help communicate effective safety messages to equipment end-users. The pictorial graphics conform to ISO and ANSI standards and are included in the AEM Pictorial Database. The AEM Grader Safety Manual describes preparing for safe equipment operation, safe operation guidelines, and important equipment maintenance. It is now available through the AEM Store at safetymaterials. org. The AEM Pictorial Database is a free online resource with more than 140 pictorials that can be downloaded through a variety of graphics and computeraided design software packages. AEM created the pictorial database as an industry service to help companies communicate effective safety messages through consistent industry-recognized pictorial representations. Members of AEM’s Earthmoving and Mining Equipment Council played a key role in reviewing the updated manual to ensure it provides end-users with the latest industry-consensus best practices for safe machine operation. AEM safety manuals are industry-consensus safety documents written in clear language presented in an easy-to-follow format. They are a convenient and cost-effective way to provide safety information to operators, but should not be considered a substitute for manufacturer manuals. All AEM safety manuals, videos, and related safety and training products are available online at the AEM Store.
NEW DEALER FOR HY-BRID
Custom Equipment has increased its dealer network by 12 companies for its line of Hy-Brid Lifts. An increase in dealer channels will lead to a broader range of access for contractors looking for lifts across the region. The new dealer network includes the following companies: Canmore Outdoor Power Equipment, Contractors Equipment Center, Davis Rental Supply, Discount Rental and Sales, Jefferson Rent-All, Lloyd’s Rental and Sales, Mid Manitoba Equipment Rentals, Patten Cat Rental, RG Rents, Tek Aerial Lifts, Thompson Cat Rental Store and Voisin’s Equipment Rental.
“We are excited about establishing these new partnerships and adding to the Hy-Brid Lifts dealer channel,” said Justin Kissinger, Custom Equipment marketing manager. “We look forward to supporting and growing our relationship with these dealers, as well as working together to find solutions to best fit our customer’s needs.”
The full line of Hy-Brid Lifts are available to customers through this expanded network. Hy-Brid Lifts are efficient and safe aerial platforms that have working heights up to 20 feet. Lifts are compact, easy to maneuver and have safety features such as low step in-heights and full-swing gates.
ERICKSON TO LEAD BRITCO NICHOLL RETIRES FROM DOOSAN
Stuart Nicholl, Doosan Portable Power’s director of operations and marketing for Canada, retired in July after 39 years with the company. After graduation from high school, he enrolled in Concordia University in downtown Montreal where he earned his Bachelor of Civil Engineering degree. He enjoyed his time at the university and participated in many activities while there. Nicholl served as treasurer for the Engineers Association and was a member of the Day Students Association. After graduation from college, Nicholl immediately joined Canadian Ingersoll-Rand (CIR) in the Mining and Construction division as an application engineer. In this role, he sized pumps for sales engineers, provided quotations and handled warranty claims for the James Bay Hydro Project with Wajax. This job provided a stepping stone to become a sales engineer. A career as a sales engineer for a dynamic major global company was appealing and Nicholl says he was excited about the opportunity for career growth and travel to other locations. Throughout Nicholl’s career he held roles of increasing responsibility in Montreal, Halifax, Saskatoon, Edmonton, Calgary and Mississauga. He served as sales engineer for the Maritimes, a sales engineer for M&C Pump Group and rotary drill for Western Canada and IRES sales manager, then product and sales support manager for Canada and director of operations and marketing for Canada. Nicholl was also on the board of directors for Bobcat Equipment in Canada and a signing officer.
“I want to renew and re-energize my body, mind and spirit so that I can re-invent myself with a focus on helping my family, friends and others,” Nicholl says. “That all sounds good, but there might also be a couple Coors Lights and a hammock in there to help make it all go smoothly. I will now have time to visit more with my 89-year-old parents in Nova Scotia and help repair their cottage.” Nicholl says he thanks all of the Statesville employees for their contribution in helping with their Canadian success and he especially wanted to thank all the staff of Team Canada. In particular, he thanked Lance Mathern for his support and his insightful understanding of the uniqueness of the Canadian business.
BROOKS ADDS LINES
Brooks Construction Equipment has announced it has been named the exclusive Canadian distributor for Wallenstein CR products. Wallenstein CR serves the Canadian tree care industry, municipalities and rental businesses with professional equipment made in Canada. Their product lines include wood splitters, chippers and shredders. Brooks will service all markets in western and eastern Canada as well as the Ontario rental market.
In other Brooks news, the company has also announced it has partnered with Thawzall and will now market and sell all Thawzall products throughout Canada. Brooks Construction Equipment will also handle all warranties and parts for Canadian customers. Thawzall and the Brooks Construction Equipment selling team are very excited to bring Thawzall’s high efficiency, high output glycol and flameless heaters to the Canadian markets.
WesternOne has announced that it has appointed Obie Erickson as Britco’s president. Erickson has been with Britco for over 26 years and has extensive experience leading teams in the design and construction of Britco’s full range of modular products. He has served as Britco’s vice-president of manufacturing since WesternOne’s acquisition of Britco in 2011, and has been acting as interim president of Britco’s Canadian operations since his appointment in March.
“Obie has played a key role in creating the internal systems and modular production processes within our manufacturing facilities in Agassiz and Penticton in British Columbia, and Edmonton in Alberta,” said Peter Blake, CEO of WesternOne.
In his new role as president, Erickson has three primary mandates. He will continue to champion Britco’s environment, health and safety efforts, including Britco’s Building Safely Together and Destination Zero initiatives that are designed to eliminate injuries that result in first aid treatment or recordable incidents. With an aggregated plant safety record of over 3,300 days without a lost time injury and almost 1,400 days losttime-injury-free on major site projects, the safety of employees is a top priority at Britco. Secondly, Erickson is focused on ensuring that Britco’s partnerships create meaningful longterm opportunities for First Nations. 2014 marked a very important year for aboriginal relations at Britco. Three new aboriginal agreements with First Nations in British Columbia were penned, resulting in a total of nine partnerships. Business development opportunities are focused on linking Britco’s operations with aboriginal business communities for the benefit of both partners. Finally, Erickson is focused on pursuing modular construction and leasing growth opportunities in Canada and monitoring production levels to meet the demands of the energy, commercial and other potential markets, including the nascent LNG industry in British Columbia.
Heat up winter revenue
Wacker Neuson offers heat solutions for any job size during cold weather applications. Increase your winter rentals with hydronic surface heaters for thawing and curing applications, indirect-fired heaters for extreme weather conditions, flameless technology for potentially hazardous environments and radiant heaters for concentrated heat. Wacker Neuson has all it takes to improve your bottom line this winter.
SETTING HIGH STANDARDS
The Canadian Standards Association (CSA) has released drafts of its new B354.8 “Mobile elevating work platforms - Safety principals, inspection, maintenance and operations,” B354.9 “Mobile elevating work platformsOperator (driver) training” and its CSA S269.2 (Scaffolding) standards for public review and comment. Interested individuals can read the drafts and comment by creating a free account on csagroup.org.
According to the B354.9 standard’s scope statement, the standard addresses “all groups and types of Mobile Elevated Work Platforms (MEWPs) that are intended to move persons, along with their tools and materials, into an elevated position to allow work to be performed as specified in CSA B354.7 Mobile elevating work platforms – Design, calculations, safety requirements and test methods.” Topics include scheduled maintenance programs, minimum approach distances, hazardous locations, entanglement, load transfer, operator footing, ventilation, fuelling, battery changing, stabilization, improper use as a crane and more.
The S269.2 standard addresses “rules and requirements for the design, fabrication and testing of scaffolding equipment, materials, and components where scaffolds are erected to provide working platforms for workers and materials during the construction, alteration, repair, or demolition of buildings and other structures.” Sections on drawings, loads and forces, materials, structural design and test procedures are included. CSA standards are frequently referenced in Canadian and provincial building codes and safety regulations. Public review gives rental operators a chance to influence the development of these standards that may significantly affect the kinds of products you carry and how your customers are allowed to use them.
JCB BOOSTING DEALERS
JCB has recently introduced its Master Technician program to all dealerships in the North American network. The Master Technician program is designed to continue to build the skills of JCB service technicians and recognize technicians that are at the top of their class. To be considered for the program, service personnel must be nominated by their dealership and pass an entry exam. Once those qualifications have been met, participants must pass a series of training programs and hands-on skill challenges at 100 per cent, as well as all distance learning classes, JCB systems efficiency testing, core product component testing and other service based tests to earn the designation of Master Technician. All those who successfully complete the Master Technician Program earn the special Master Technician designation.
In other JCB news, Noble JCB, a new JCB dealer headquartered in Olds, Alta., will offer a wide variety of both new and used agricultural equipment to customers in western Canada. Founded in 2009 in Nobleford, Alta., Noble Equipment began as the first Krone hay and forage technology dealer in western Canada. Today, Noble Equipment offers a variety of agricultural equipment for dairy, livestock, poultry, hay and forage farmers as well as a dedicated service and support department.
“We are thrilled to expand business in the Central Alberta agriculture market by providing JCB’s top-notch, durable equipment,” said Ryan Vandenberg, shareholder service manager of Noble JCB.
DOOSAN OPENS NEW CANADIAN PARTS DEPOT
Doosan heavy equipment dealers can now fulfill urgent parts needs from a new 10,000-square-foot Canadian parts depot, located in Mississauga, Ont., to serve eastern Canadian provinces. The new parts depot is designed to supplement the company’s parts warehouse in Chicago, helping to improve delivery speed for critical parts, reduce wait times and enhance customer service. The depot has an inventory of key parts material to support stocking, replenishing and distributing urgent parts for customers in eastern Canada, featuring exclusive carrier rights through Purolator. Employees at the facility will also facilitate cross-docking of weekly Doosan stock order shipments to expedite essential dealer parts stock. Cross-docking is a logistics practice of unloading materials, such as parts, from an incoming truck or railroad car and loading the parts directly into an outbound transportation method (e.g., loading parts onto an airplane). It minimizes the time parts are stored at a facility before they are delivered to the end user. This process will initially apply to Doosan heavy equipment dealers in Ontario and Canadian provinces to the east. As the implementation evolves, Doosan will continue to evaluate next steps for similar cross-docking support of dealer locations in the remaining provinces.
“Customer and dealer satisfaction is important to our company,” says Laura Ness Owens, director of communication for Doosan. “By establishing a Canadian parts depot, Doosan dealers and customers can easily and quickly receive the urgent parts they need to minimize downtime and to maintain their production schedules.”
Clay Caldwell, Doosan parts director, adds that by establishing a Canadianbased depot, it will help reduce delivery delays associated with carrier handoffs and customs operation. “Originating parts from Ontario creates a launching pad for faster and more affordable delivery, all while elevating the Doosan brand in the Canadian market,” he says.
FORD TO DRIVE GROWTH FOR ALTAAQA
Altaaqa Global, a global provider of largescale temporary power services, has appointed energy industry veteran, Julian Ford, as chief commercial officer. As the company’s CCO, Ford’s remit is to ensure that Altaaqa Global achieves revenue growth targets and overall commercial success, and to facilitate the formulation and implementation of innovative global commercial strategies. Ford’s career in the industry started at the time when the concept of power plants on a rental basis was just gaining ground. He had a hand in introducing the concept of power project rental to governments of developing economies, which allowed them to hire power capacity to address short term energy issues during times of hydropower shortage or other generation or transmission issues. Ford was instrumental in taking the rental power concept to different regions across the globe, including Middle East and Africa, South America, East Asia and South Asia. “My vision then,” he said, “was for the rental power market to develop beyond its traditional local markets and become a truly global business. We started in the Middle East and East Africa and quickly expanded our operations in other regions of the world.”
A true visionary, Ford led the way for the development of the gas-fueled temporary power equipment market in the mid-2000s. “At that time,” explained Ford, “diesel costs were rapidly rising, and it was imperative to diversify the product offering and capitalize on the growth of natural gas reserves.” With keen interest in markets where gas reserves were not vast enough to be commercially developed, Ford pioneered a new business model that allowed countries to monetize their “stranded gas” reserves to generate useful low-cost electricity for the national grid.
Ford welcomes the challenge of his new role, as he recognizes the continuous evolution of the rental power industry. “The role of temporary power has evolved from being a local, short-term, transactional activity to a major global project-based industry,” said Ford, and added that it is no longer uncommon to see power plants of 100 megawatts and up being rented on a longer-term basis. “Our objective is to create a highly skilled, motivated and experienced, world-class, power projects team. My vision is for Altaaqa Global to lead the evolution of the industry, and to be recognized as the premier source of innovative technical solutions and the highest level of customer service and support.”
ABSOLUTE EXITS
Absolute Tent and Event Services and Absolute Location Support Services wound up business and ceased trading in April, according to company president, Paul Kenyon. At press time, the Toronto companies’ physical assets were scheduled to be liquidated through auction. Absolute’s portable sanitation division, It’s My Potty, was sold to Ampot earlier this year. Canadian Rental Service will feature a comprehensive report on the history of this influential Canadian event rental company in our October issue.
CAVECCHI TO LEAD HERTZ SPECIALTY RENTALS
Hertz has announced that Carlo Cavecchi has joined Hertz Equipment Rental Corporation (HERC) as vice president of its Specialty Rental group, reporting to Bruce Dressel, COO. In this new role, Cavecchi will lead HERC’s current specialty business segments, including Pump, Energy Services, HVAC and Industrial Small Tools. He will also be responsible for leading the company’s growth into additional solutions-based, customerfocused specialty areas.
“We are delighted to have Carlo join Hertz Equipment Rental. His energy and enthusiasm, coupled with his deep industry knowledge and significant P&L experience, make him a strong addition to our leadership team,” said Larry Silber, President and CEO of HERC.
“Specialty services will continue to play an important role in enabling us to drive higher dollar utilization and enter into new markets,” added Dressel. “Given his customer-focused track record of growing specialty businesses, Carlo was the perfect choice.”
“I am excited to join the Hertz Equipment Rental team during this pivotal time in the company’s history,” said Cavecchi. “I’ve always viewed HERC as the gold standard of the industry.”
Since 2007 Cavecchi has served as the CEO of Ally Onsite, a specialized equipment and on-site services provider to the emergency restoration and oil field industries. Beginning his career at HSS Hire Group, a U.K.based equipment rental company, he quickly progressed, becoming vice-president of operations in 1995. In 1998, Cavecchi relocated to the United States as CEO of HSS Rental Stores to lead their U.S. expansion efforts. Within five years, a pilot location in Florida had grown to more than 70 locations operating in 14 states. After HSS, Cavecchi joined The Home Depot, where he helped develop expertise in their small tool and light equipment rental business.
Paul Kenyon (left)
WARM UP TO IT.
ARCTIC HEATER DUCTING
Don’t let extreme temperatures put the freeze on operations. Norseman ducts bring warmth and comfort to temporary or permanent covered jobsites. They can be used for ventilation, exhausting, drying/heating and general air circulation. Our ducts are strong, flexible, safe and brightly coloured for added safety.
• Arctic EconoFlow – Economical canvas duct.
• Arctic EconoRush – Economical, synthetic industrial fabric duct that is water repellent and odour-free.
• Arctic DuraShield – High strength duct for use in sub-zero temperatures.
• Arctic Helix – High strength duct with a wear strip for increased durability.
• Arctic Large Diameter – Delivers a high volume CFM’s to a concentrated area. Also available in a high temperature version.
• Arctic Thermablast – For use in highly combustible environments.
• Ducts are available in 12” and 16” diameters, 20” and 24” diameter ducts are available in some models.
by TREENA HEIN
PARTY’S ON
Event rental supplies and setup is a growing part of this family-owned business
Astrong partnership between the owners, good business sense, and a work environment that makes for happy and loyal employees – all of these things and more have added up to success for Rental Village.
Rental Village is owned by brothers Terry and Mark Monette, and offers items for rent and personalized service at four locations in the communities to the northwest of Ottawa. It’s a bit of a unique rental company in that the owners chose to expand into event supplies rental and set-up services – and expansion of that sideline continues year after year.
But before we get to that story, a bit of history. Rental Village was started in Carleton Place in 1983 by Ralph and Dawna Monette. The original rental list had only around 20 items. The company added Stihl sales in 1985, and along the way, Ralph and Dawna’s sons Terry, Shawn and Mark all came on board. The family opened a second location in nearby Perth in 1997, and that same year, Ralph and Dawna retired. A Smith Falls outlet was christened in 2001 and four years later, the Monettes relocated their flagship Carleton Place store to a new location. In 2007, the firm opened a fourth store in Stittsville, and Shawn left the business in 2012.
It was back in 1991 that the business took the plunge into rental of event supplies. (Event rentals now account for about one-quarter of total Rental Village sales.) That year, Terry was taking a plunge of his own (down the aisle to wed his then-fiancé Carrie), and he says his wedding was just the incentive he and his brothers needed to get the sideline up and running. They purchased some tables and chairs and linens for the wedding, and the number of items available for rent has grown steadily ever since. Catering equipment, six-foot candelabras, tiered cupcake stands – even a chocolate fountain – these are just some of the many items that have been added to the roster. “In addition to weddings, we also do a lot of holiday dinners and more casual family reunions and parties,”
Terry explains. “We take the dirty dishes away and wash them here, and this allows people the time to visit a lot more with family and friends without having to worry about clean-up.”
In 2003, Rental Village expanded the event rental division, and began offering tents, tent setup and other event setup services. “Outdoor weddings and other events are very popular and we rent out tents all summer long,” Terry notes. “We show the physical layout ahead of time on the computer to customers using party-planning software called Party CAD. It really helps them to be able to see what it will look like in advance.”
The Monettes note that the size of the typical event guest list is much larger than it was compared to a decade ago. In terms of other trends, the “rustic look” has become very big. To accommodate demand for rustic items, Rental Village now offers burlap-style tablecloths (used with pieces of lace and white cloth to ensure some glamour) as well as dark wooden accent pieces. But making all that happen wasn’t as easy as it sounds.
“A little while back, we were getting lots of requests for wooden benches for wedding ceremonies and family-style setups for dinner receptions, but we couldn’t find anything online that was suitable,” Terry says. “Benches add a more communal gathering experience, and an old-fashioned look and feel to a wedding. Mark said ‘Let me see what I can do,’ and he surprised us with a very attractive sample bench. He’s handy that way.”
Mark has since made enough benches to comfortably seat 150 people, along with things like small wooden risers (little platforms on which items such as desserts can be placed on buffet tables at different heights) and wooden
brackets to mount mason jars to their candelabras. In addition to renting out items for private events, Rental Village strives to be part of many community events as well, from bridal, home and trade shows to local festivals such as the Festival of the Maples, which is held each year at Stewart Park in Perth. They even added an inflatable movie screento the inventory and are offering it to local communities for family movie nights in parks.
CHALLENGES
When asked about some of the current
challenges facing Rental Village, Mark looks at the big picture trends over time. “Well, all rental companies have had the challenge over time in that tools are much less expensive than they used to be,” he observes. “But on the other hand, the number of people doing do-it-yourself projects has increased quite a bit, so they need specialty tools for that, for flooring, installing interlock or building a deck.” Over the last few years, Mark says they’ve added towable lifts to their roster, which are always in demand, as well as dump trailers, floats, utility trailers and more compact equipment. “It’s
all about niche projects,” he says. “Every year we strive to increase or change our inventory. We always try to be aware of current trends in the market to meet our customer’s needs and offer quality tools.”
In terms of whether the challenges of one location or another is different than any other, Mark notes that while three of the four are similar, Stittsville stands apart. “We discovered it’s more of an urban community,” he says. “It’s very close to Kanata, just outside of Ottawa, The household yards are smaller, so our two-hour rates really get used in that market.”
Finding and retaining great staff has been a key to success as Rental Village has expanded over the years to four locations.
PROFILE
With four locations being owned and run by two brothers, it’s hard not to ask how that plays out day to day and year after year. But both Terry and Mark have the same answer when asked what the challenges are in working with a sibling. Mark says with a smile, “The question is more like ‘What would it be like not to work with my brother?’” and Terry smiles too. It’s clearly hard for them to imagine it.
Retaining employees is one definite real and ongoing challenge however – as it is for many small businesses – but the Monettes have found solutions that work. “We are running a small business and it’s tough to compete financially on the wage front,” Terry explains. “We ofer health benefits as well as a top-up RRSP that is available to all our staff. Without great staff around us, it would be impossible to do what we do. So we treat our employees like family rather than staff, and that comes into play when someone is sick or has a family crisis. We don’t offer sick days per se, but we don’t dock someone’s
Growth is where you find it. While equipment rental still accounts for three-quarters of Rental Village’s business, the party side has added a different customer base that works across the company’s many locations.
pay or pressure them to make it in if they can’t.” He also notes that if they were really focused on every dollar, they would lay some staff off in the winter, but they try not to do that and don’t plan to start. “In a way, that impacts our bottom line, but it also benefits us because we keep our staff,” he says. “It’s a two-way street.”
And the 25 staff members do see that. Last year, out of the blue, Darlene Monette (the Rental Village office manager) says with pride that the staff got together and surprised Mark and Terry with a party at a hall with all the trimmings, along with two plaques for being such great bosses. “To be appreciated like that was quite a surprise,” Terry says. “We pour an awful lot into our business and you sometimes wonder if anyone notices, so it made us feel very much appreciated.” CRS
Sept. 6
CRA Saskatchewan Roughrider game
Regina, Sask. 8 crarental.org
Sept. 11
CRA BC Golf
Kelowna, B.C. 8 crarental.org
Sept. 15
CRA Ontario Golf
Guelph, Ont. 8 crarental.org
Sept. 21
International Rental Conference
Bejing, China 8 khl-group.com
Oct. 1
ICUEE - The Demo Expo
Louisville, Ky. 8 icuee.com
2016
Jan. 22 - 23
BC Regional Trade Show
Langley, B.C. 8 crarental.org
Feb. 12 - 13
Atlantic Regional Trade Show
Moncton, N.B. 8 crarental.org
Feb. 22 - 25
The Rental Show
Atlanta, Ga. 8 ararental.org
March 4 - 5
Prairie Regional Trade Show
Edmonton, Alta. 8 crarental.org
March 8 - 9
Canadian Rental Mart
Toronto, Ont. 8 canadianrentalmart.com
CRA PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
by DAVID MINTENKO
IDave
TUNE-UP TIME Treat fall as
a season of preparation.
t is hard to believe once again that summer is in its twilight stages. Don’t blink too quick or it will be gone completely. I have always found September to be a great time to start action plans and following through on the – wait for it – winter season. It is not just time to go through the annual heater inspections, inventory and servicing. If you live in my neck of the woods, it also means filling out and submitting heater permit forms. It is also a time to look at the rest of the accessories that go with heater rentals: tarps, regulators, ducts, extension cords, thermostats, etc. Another issue to consider: are all your people trained and certified where necessary? Fall is a great opportunity to review, revise and update your company training matrix.
If you do not have a matrix in place, now is a great time to start one. It enables you to track your employee’s training records and due dates much more efficiently. If employees are due for refreshers you can tie their re-training in with training workshops that you can open up to your customers. These are great promotional and networking tools, and not just for employees and customers. Getting your suppliers involved in either helping to run them or having them do the training just strengthens relationships.
The fall season is just not about tuning up the heaters; your place of business should also be given a thorough inspection. Furnaces, yard, plug-ins, building doors, windows and roofs are all items that are much easier to attend to when the temperatures are in the low- to mid-teens and not 40-below. You also have to look back to personnel. Do they have or need heavier winter gear (parkas, headwear ,boots, gloves)? Is there any specific winter-based PPE they may require? Another imperative item is winter servicing of company vehicles: tires, winter fluids, wipers and winter emergency survival kits being the vital items. It never hurts to have a seasonal business orientation plan in place, something I have to admit needs working on within my branch. If you are unsure of some of the items to address, consult your suppliers and fellow rental store owners through the CRA. They are all there to support you.
Fall is also time for many locals to re-connect with fellow members, catch up on everyone’s summer activities and set up the schedules for fall and winter meetings. A few, if not most, of the locals will be holding elections. It is a great time for recruitment as most individuals will be back at work or in their offices now that vacation time is over. It is also a good time to plan for the 2016 trade show season. Are you planning on joining your Canadian counterparts in Atlanta for the 50th anniversary of the ARA’s Rental Show? What about all the local trade shows?
On the recruitment side, I would encourage all CRA members to get out there and bang on any new doors in your communities. Or re-visit old ones that may be looking for a resurgence. Now is the time to put on your marketing hat. Lean on the national CRA office for support. They are there to help and promote your local. If you are a member and have never entertained the thought of serving as a board member, now is the time to seriously put consideration into doing so. Fresh faces and ideas are always a welcome sight to existing boards.
September is also meeting time for the CRA national board. This year the B.C. members get to host. I am looking forward to getting your feedback on items discussed and implemented at these meetings. I am also excited to be welcoming several new and energetic faces to the board in Vancouver.
I wish all of you a great and productive fall season. Let’s hope for more sunny hot weather until December 24.
In closing I need to pay a tribute to a long time colleague and very special person who passed away after a lengthy illness at the age of 62 on July 19. Garry Martens worked in the rental industry for more than 30 years with Wyatt Rentals and Hertz Equipment Rental. He was a dedicated individual whose work ethic was an example to all that met and worked with him. My heartfelt condolences to his family. I will miss him very much. CRS
Mintenko is senior branch manager of Hertz Equipment Rentals in Winnipeg and national president of the Canadian Rental Association. He has been in the rental business for 35 years.
FUEL FILTRATION FACTS
Water in fuel damages engines. Here’s how to keep it out.
Free water is probably the single biggest cause of fuel system failure. Manufacturers require that zero free water reaches a high pressure common rail fuel system. Water absorbers are the only sure way to prevent free water from being dispensed into your equipment.
by SCOTT GROSSBAUER, DONALDSON COMPANY
Water filtration for fuel systems depends on two different technologies. Particulates are removed with a synthetic fibre (left) that catches dirt as the fluid passes through its pores. Water is absorbed out of the fuel by a superabsorbent polymer (right) that binds chemically to it.
Eliminating water will reduce rust, corrosion, wear, fuel degradation and other damage. It will also help prevent denied warranty claims. Rental companies can look at using water-absorbing media in a few different ways to ensure that the returned equipment’s tanks do not contain water. First, you can use it on your own fuel systems to ensure the equipment’s tank is being filled with clean, dry fuel. This technology is also used as a critical part of a filter cart, which has the ability to draw fuel out of the tank bottom, remove the dirt and water, then pump it back in. There can be many unknowns in terms of where fuel is being sourced while the equipment is being rented and used. A filter cart allows rental companies to address at least some of the problems and inherent unknowns that are part of doing business.
HOW IT WORKS
Regular (particulate) filters and water absorbers do two distinct jobs. The former removes hard particles from fluids while the latter removes free water. The media of the filters are quite different, each designed to optimize performance for the specific job at hand. Clean Solutions particulate filters are made of synthetic fibre. The fibre’s consistent size and shape allows for specific pore size control and the maximum amount of contaminant-catching surface area. The result maximizes both filter efficiency and dirt-holding capacity. Water absorbers, on the other hand, use super-absorbent polymer technology with a high affinity for water molecules. This media quickly and effectively removes free water from petroleum-based fluids. Unlike coalescing media, absorbent media is not disabled by the
Since the introduction of ULSD about eight years ago, diesel has contained these additives to meet fuel standards or give the fuel desired properties. The popularity or mandate of biodiesel is also prevalent in many areas of North America, adding more difficulties. One only has to look to the jet fuel industry to understand how important the use of SAP is and the effect of additives on coalescers. There are now strict standards in place to keep diesel and jet fuel separate so that the coalescers used in jet fuel distribution remain as effective as possible. In addition, the last filter that jet fuel sees before it gets pumped onto the wing of an aircraft uses the same SAP being discussed here.
APPLYING AND INSTALLING
Donaldson is one company that offers a full range of fuel filtration solutions for a number of engine OEMs.
surfactant in ultra-low-sulfur diesel. Coalescing media is used to collect small water droplets and make them bigger, eventually causing them to drop down into the bottom of the can where they can be drained if needed (since water is heavier than fuel). Water absorbing media uses a super absorbent polymer (SAP) and through osmosis the water is chemically captured in the polymers. The reason this is important is that SAP will work and absorb water in varying conditions, while coalescing media can be disarmed or less effective than required in the presence of certain additives or biodiesel.
Water absorption media can be applied to the equipment’s fuel tanks, but each system would be unique and installed and fitup separate from the existing fuel system filtration and water separation. When this media comes into contact with excessive water, it increases the pressure drop and will behave like a plugged filter. Many engine applications can’t tolerate a complete loss of fuel flow in the presence of water, so the technology is not yet used on new equipment. Most of the applications for water filtration are for bulk filtration; installing a system on the dispenser pump so that no water is pumped into the equipment’s tank in the first place. Here it is less critical if water plugs the filter because there is usually enough time to change
MINI-MIGHT.
The new Ditch Witch® SK750 and SK755 are built to outperform on any jobsite. Both models feature a high-drive track system along with an enhanced operator station, delivering superior performance through increased ground clearance, more lift capacity, faster ground speed, longer track life, and more operator comfort. And these new SK mini skid steers send more horsepower to the attachment than any competitor. That’s a lot of might from a small machine! Count on Brandt for quality products and the support to help keep you productive and profitable, job after job. That’s Powerful Value. Delivered.
the filter without affecting any critical operations or uptime.
Water-absorbing media is configured into a traditional spin-on can, which in turn is used in conjunction with a filter head to direct flow into and out of the element. It is important to plumb the water absorbing filter after the filter used to remove particulate so that when the system plugs for some reason, you can examine whether it was the particulate filter or water-absorbing filter that plugged. Each scenario will tell you something different is wrong with the fuel. You need to know and be aware if there is a contamination problem versus a water problem, because how you address the issues are typically different. The absorber is installed in the secondary position because the particulate filter is much better at catching and holding dirt. Dirt will not reach the absorber and therefore it will last much longer. In addition, this enables the differential pressure gauge on the absorber to work as a diagnostic tool alerting when there is a water problem in the tank. If
It is important to plumb water filtration systems with the particulate filter first. This prevents the water-absorbing filter from becoming fouled with dirt, which reduces its life and prevents its pressure gauge from working properly.
the absorber were plumbed first, it would load with both dirt and water, plugging faster and losing its diagnostic capability.
Adding any filtration, particulate or water, will not introduce difficulties but can reveal problems with your fuel that you didn’t know existed. Currently there may be excessive dirt or water that gets delivered from a fuel supply, but without any bulk filtration there is really no way of knowing it. The equipment filtration system is designed to prevent engine damage from these factors, but as engine technology evolves and on-engine filters
get more efficient, their tolerance for excessive dirt or water in the fuel has gone down. The negative effects may be seen as plugged filters, reduced service intervals, or poor engine performance.
The philosophy behind using bulk filtration to remove dirt and water is that you can receive an inconsistent incoming supply of diesel but still feed a consistent, clean, dry supply of diesel to the equipment. This makes maintenance and service intervals very predictable, prevents unplanned downtime, and keeps the equipment running for as long as possible. CRS
CANADIAN RENTAL MART 2016
SHARPEN THE SAW
The 2016 Rental Mart will include expanded training.
Steven Covey’s venerable “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People” remains one of the most influential personal growth books out there, and is still inspiring corporate training seminars 26 years after its initial publication in 1989.
by PATRICK FLANNERY
Get ready for the return of the Canadian Rental Mart, Canada’s national show for the rental industry. This year’s version will include an expanded educational program, guaranteed to deliver valuable information for rental store owners and workers alike.
The seventh of the famous habits is “sharpening the saw,” which refers to a process of continuous improvement where people take time to improve their knowledge, skills or overall preparedness to do better at their lives and work. Certainly rental people know the benefits of a sharp blade. With that in mind, the 2016 edition of the Canadian Rental Mart, taking place March 8 and 9 at the Toronto Congress Centre, will feature some unique opportunities for not only rental store owners and managers but also staff to update their abilities.
FUEL HANDLING
Updated training for handling propane is an ongoing challenge for most rental operators. Fuels Learning Centre will offer its fourhour course on safe use of propane-fuelled construction heaters and torches, which also
addresses safe storage of gas cylinders on worksites. This course covers all the updated requirements of the 2015 edition B149. 2 Propane Storage and Handling Code.
WORKING AT HEIGHTS
Ontario rental operators know that new provincial rules require anyone operating (or supervising the operation of) an elevated work platform to have training in the proper safety procedures for doing so. The Rental Mart will offer attendees a chance to get that training from a certified body that can provide documentation the province will recognize. The trainers, Occupational Safety Group, will be familiar to readers as its training manager, Jeff Thorne, writes our back page column, Safety First and Last. Details of how and
Continued on page 41
Your work, your word – even you. So much of what you do relies on being dependable. Shouldn’t your equipment be held to the same standard? Subaru offers a full line of generators and pumps, all powered by Subaru’s technology-leading overhead cam engines – so there are no questions, no worries, just dependable equipment.
Be Dependable, Buy Dependable. Man Up. Insist on Subaru.
Learn more by visiting subarupower.com or calling 800.277.6246
Get proactive to beat bad debts
Some practical tips for dealing with deadbeats
by Deryk Coward
We all have bad debts. Clients sometimes don’t pay their bills. I practice extensively in the area of debt collection and have observed both good and bad practices of my clients. The following are some practical tips to assist you in your business.
KNOW YOUR CLIENT
At the beginning of your relationship with your client, the client will likely be forthcoming and honest with you. Obtain as much information about your client at this friendly stage of your relationship. Their banking information, their assets, their sources of income, their employment information, entities which may owe them money from time to time and their personal information all can help you collect from them later if they fail to pay you.
Once your client fails to pay you and you are pursuing them, it will become much more difficult to extract such information. You can include this type of information gathering as part of your formal file opening procedures, so that it is not forgotten.
GET MONEY UP FRONT
Deryk Coward is a partner at D’Arcy and Deacon, a Winnipeg law firm. He is legal counsel for the Canadian Rental Associaiton.
A lot of you are essentially loaning your clients money by allowing them to use your equipment without paying you. Clients can come to expect 90 day billing cycles, or longer. You are not in the business of loaning money. You are not a bank. Do what lawyers do – collect money upfront from your clients for the estimated cost of the rental. If your clients balk at this idea, then at least you can then make an informed decision as to whether you want to take a risk on a particular person. When you go to a movie, you don’t watch the movie and pay afterwards if you liked the show!
ACT QUICKLY
Delay is your worst foe in debt collection.
Every day that passes makes it more difficult to collect. Period.
If you are not doing anything to collect your bad debts and the files are literally just sitting in your office, you are losing money. Hire someone on a percentage basis to collect them for you. You won’t have to pay anything unless they accomplish recovery. You have no downside and only upside.
EMPOWER YOUR EMPLOYEES
Your employees are assets that can be used to collect. Give them an incentive to collect from your clients. Provide them with bonuses when they collect an overdue account. Reward them for assisting you with your bad debts and they will help you.
SEARCH COURT RECORDS
Court records are public. In Manitoba, for example, the provincial government has a website which contains all the court records and can be searched by name. So, if a new client approaches you to do business, search him in the courts. If he has been sued five times in the last two years by your competitors for nonpayment, the likelihood is he is won’t pay you.
HAVE AUTOMATIC THRESHOLDS
Everyone is going to have bad debts, but you should limit the damage by implementing hard and fast rules as to how far indebted a client of yours can become. Every business will have different thresholds, but the point is you set your own number based on what you would be comfortable losing. Once a client becomes indebted to you for that amount, you cut them off automatically.
All of the above approaches are ways to help you with your bad debts. There are more. In order to discuss all of your potential avenues of recovery, you should consult an attorney in your province. CRS
SPACE AND TIME
Looking at novel solutions for portable shelters.
Its presence is heralded, at the corner of 7th and Fremont in downtown Las Vegas, by a large praying mantis statue and a sign letting you know that you’ve arrived at Container Park.
by JIM CHLIBOYKO
How about a portable showroom? Shelter designers are doing some truly amazing things with shipping containers these days. This innovative design comes from ADM Storage in Winnipeg.
It’s a retail and entertainment space opened in 2013 that takes up half of a city block in downtown Vegas. It’s a cornerstone of the redevelopment of the downtown area. The twist is that the name is literal; Container Park’s buildings are made entirely from shipping containers.
The use of the portable and/or temporary office or storage space—options which come in various shapes and sizes and textures (and not just shipping containers)--has become a potential new rival to traditional office space. Aside from containers, you have choices such as your traditional orange-doored field office, but you can also choose buildings made of fabric or even wood; a company called Quick Garden in the UK offers a their take on log cabins and even a model called a “garden office.”
Remember there was a time in this virtual age when it was thought that bricks-and-mortar buildings were obsolete? While the current
economic downturn hasn’t been good for traditional commercial and industrial space in some of Canada’s bigger cities, the options for commercial building alternatives are getting pretty interesting. And some of these options happen to be cheaper, more portable and more flexible than your average traditional building.
In terms of what’s available in the marketplace today, a rental company can go online and purchase a passable shipping container, for instance, one which may need a coat of paint (or three) as well as nicer, newer-generation units that can double as an office or a lunchroom. A cursory look at Kijiji will turn up any number of rusty, repurposed models. The cheaper, beat-up ones still generally go for several thousand dollars, OBO, but they are still less expensive than a traditional building.
While the media is still in novelty mode (“Guess what they’re making out of shipping
For Members Only
Canadian Rental Association has partnered with First Data Canada to bring our members a preferred rates program. They will help you save more on payment processing.
First Data’s friendly business consultants will be in contact to provide a no-obligation review to show you how much you can save by switching over. Take advantage of their $1,000 offer If they can’t meet or beat your current offer, they will give you a $1,000 MasterCard Gift Card (conditions apply one per merchant)
at (844)
Limited Time Offer! From July 1st to September 31st, 2015 - get a free terminal for 6 months for switching to First Data. *Conditions apply.
containers now!”), it’s not just Container Park that’s making a mark. There’s the modular Keetwonen student housing complex in Amsterdam which started back in 2005, there are condo developments in cities like Winnipeg and Vancouver, there’s Container City in London, England, and there’s still the occasional surprise like the pop-up Taco Bell restaurant at the South by Southwest festival in Austin made out of containers.
Mario Constantini is a believer. The Winnipeg man is the owner and operator of ADM Storage.
“I was in the concrete business and my two sons took over Mario’s Concrete,” said Constantini, who estimates that he has about half of Winnipeg’s market share in repurposed shipping containers. “So, I figured to keep out of their hair, I would set up a container storage business, buy 10 or 20 containers and rent them out.”
That was back in 2002. Business has boomed since then. He has moved a number of times to accommodate his growing business. He has dealt with diverse clients, from national defence to the movie industry to the owners of the mini-donut stand at Investors Group Field, the home of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Constantini rents some out (which generally go from about $90 to $390 a month, depending on the size and features), he sells some and he customizes others.
“We have been part of this movement to introduce these. When we first came here to the rural municipality of Macdonald (on the outskirts of Winnipeg), saying we want to set up shop, they were kind of skeptical. You look at some of these port cities, you see acres and acres of land with all these rusty containers. It doesn’t look pretty. They threw the book at us. After a while, we decided to put up some of these structures, and now they are open to whatever we can build.”
Thirteen years later, “it turns out we have a 16.5-acre site, about 600-plus containers,” he said. Constantini is still within Winnipeg city limits, but along McGillivray Boulevard in a rural-seeming area with plenty of space for his gear. Constantini says he sells all the time to
other rental companies.
“It’s easy to set up,” he said. “You just line them up on the ground next to each other and rent them out. It’s basically a self-contained little building.”
Constantini’s immersion into containers can remind one of the old Remington razor executive Victor Kiam, who said “I liked the shaver so much, I bought the company.” But in Constantini’s case, his devotion extends to his home.
“I jokingly say to people I live in a container. But I live in a container home, a 1,600 square foot home. Our office building, 2,000 square feet, is made out of containers.”
Indeed, both buildings, which occupy the same lot, are spacious and very, very solid. The stairwell in the two-story office building is made of shipping containers placed on end and the balusters along both the home and
office staircases–as well as the fencing outside--are repurposed from the corrugated metal cut out for the buildings’ windows. Nothing goes to waste. There are also greenhouses, garages and machine rooms amongst other, smaller structures, all made from shipping containers, not even for show; they’re all in his own yard.
But it does take skill to put these things together, says Constantini.
“The main challenge is the climate; insulation is the main factor. If you don’t insulate well, you won’t be able to live in it. Steel is a great conductor of heat and cold. And if you get condensation in there, you get mold. But there are ways to do it,” he said. “You need to have a builder on board if you want to build anything, people who have some knowledge. It’s not as simple as having 2x4s and plywood.”
However, your choices, if you’re looking for a little extra office or storage space, are not just limited to steel containers. Terry Lempriere deals in air and fabric. He is the man behind Tegra Structures, a seven-year-old, Alberta-based firm that distributes BuildAir structures in Canada and the western US.
But Tegra’s structures aren’t just flimsy tents made of Air Dancer material. Nor are they buildings like the old BC Place, which relied on pressurized air inside the structure (and a gigantic basin of concrete) to keep the roof up. Lempriere says, “we are offering pneumatic structures, they are not air supported… With ours, the pressure is in the columns.”
Like with shipping containers, Tegra’s structures are customizable. They can be branded or altered in a number of ways and can be used for industries such as mining and construction, can be used as a sports facility, they can have military uses and, as Lempriere envisions, natural disaster relief applications. You can place rooms and cubicles inside and you can offer any number of modifications.
“We’re getting a lot of interest, predominantly from the end users; the energy companies, the construction companies… (In terms of rental) it has been kind of slow, which is why we joined the Canadian Rental Association and the American Rental Association because, quite frankly, honestly, we can’t
wait for every rental company to get on board and start realizing that the end users want this. So we have to be in a position not to turn work away because times are what they are, price of oil… We’re not going to lose revenue waiting for rental companies to catch up.”
Unlike Tegra, Britco isn’t a newer kid on the block but, despite being part of a well-established and award-winning western Canadian company, Britco’s Christoph Neufeld doesn’t take his company’s market lightly.
“You have to know what your market is, you have to know what you’re going after,” he said. “The biggest barrier to entry, if I can use that, would be capital. I mean, these buildings are expensive. With buildings ranging between five to 10 grand, to 30, 50, 100 grand, 200 grand, there’s a lot of capital that’s required.”
Britco is the modular construction and rental firm that has been the supplier of Vancouver’s PNE Prize Home in past years, they are also responsible for initiatives like the Olympic Legacy Affordable Housing project and have won a variety of exporter, modular building and entrepreneurial awards. For Neufeld, the business of dealing in buildings is not for the weak of heart nor the uneducated (I’m paraphrasing).
“People are all working and living and sleeping in these buildings; they’re not just renting a shovel,” says Neufeld. “It would be no different than renting a big piece of machinery or equipment and getting trained on it first. Even though a building is static and doesn’t move, there’s a lot that goes into making sure that it can operate safely, that it can structurally hold what it’s supposed to in terms of people inside and equipment inside or the elements on top of it, snow or rain.”
“As soon as you’re getting into public safety, the building codes come into play, engineering comes into play, these are all things that need to be addressed in order for you to even do business doing that business. So, having the expertise to do that, you can’t just shoot from the hip and just wing it. You have to really know what you’re doing, or have the expertise to do it.”
The other challenge to renting out or
providing any portable structure is found on the more local level. Bylaws and local zoning issues can throw up obstacles. Constantini, for instance, isn’t currently allowed to stack his containers more than two high, although he is appealing to be able to go a little higher, and says it all depends on where you are locating the structures.
“Well, different jurisdictions, you’ll have to work with the local authorities
and see what they allow and what they don’t allow,” says Constantini.
Says Britco’s Neufeld on the differences in local regulations, “It’s a huge challenge for us to be able to know what to advise a customer; it’s a huge challenge for customers to know what to do. It can be very frustrating.
“It is a long-term play,” says Neufeld. “No one does well in this business overnight.” CRS
PERFORMANCE WITH PURPOSE
Rough and rugged Genie ® telehandlers are multi-purpose tools engineered to tackle whatever the work site throws its way. Turbocharged diesel engines, industry-leading lift capacities, and four-wheel drive steering will help you navigate through rough terrain with confidence and ease.
EXPERIENCE POWER
Customers win with veteran staff at the
Lby ROGER KNOX
Gene Elash and the other owners of The Rent-It Store make themselves available to help DIY customers as well as their bread-and-butter light contractors. It helps give them an edge in Saskatchewan’s booming construction market.
Rent-It Store.
et’s say you are a homeowner in Saskatoon. You’re building your dream home, or doing a renovation, maybe some landscaping. You can’t get anybody to help you because the construction industry in Saskatoon is booming and nobody is available.
You decide, then, to become a do-it-yourselfer.
You go to The Rent-It Store, in business locally since 1962. You walk around the 27,000 square foot facility in the 600-block of 45th Street East, which houses a fully-stocked retail showroom, warehouse and service centre.
You’ve got questions – lots of questions – so you perhaps want to speak to one of the store’s 23 full-time employees. Or maybe you’d prefer to go to the top and speak to one of the owners.
No problem. All five of The Rent-It Store’s owners can be found behind the counters with their sleeves rolled up, ready to help.
“My former boss said the business is always about friendships and getting to know people and helping them with their projects,” said Gene Elash, one of The Rent-It Store’s owners.
“A lot of our business is about customer
service. We have five owners that work on the counter. Our focus is on the customer and, of course, helping our company grow.
“And for the customers, if they need to talk to an owner, well, there is usually one available at the counter to talk to. We can make a decision real fast. We don’t have to put in a request to buy equipment or whatever, we can get it done real quick.”
Really, there isn’t a lot you, the experienced or rookie do-it-yourselfer, can’t find at The Rent-It Store.
The company carries retail supplies from top manufacturers such Stihl, Hilti, Bosh, Wacker Neuson, Husqvarna, Kraft, Ox, Weber and Toro.
If you need equipment rentals, you can get aerial lifts, lawn and garden equipment, scaffolds, generators, excavators, pumps, heaters,
compressors, forklifts and skid steers.
And The Rent-It Store sells and services the full line of models from the popular brand of outdoor power tools, Stihl.
“The majority of our customers are contractors and we deal with the other rental companies in the city so we do a lot of re-renting with them,” said Elash. “Because it’s so busy in the city with all of the construction, a lot of customers can’t get people to do their work so they have to do it themselves. We have a lot of it do-it-yourselfers, and a huge assortment of customers we deal with everyday.”
Opening 53 years ago on Broadway Avenue, The Rent-It Store’s move to a location on 29th Street and then to a larger location on 43rd Street E. in 1986. It would be there for 17 years until a fire damaged the building and forced The Rent-It Store to move to another temporary location on 43rd Street for six months. After the repairs to the building were completed, a decision was taken to build a new 18,000-square-foot facility on 45th Street East, where the company is today.
Nearly two years ago, another 9,000 square feet was added on to better serve its customers with tool and equipment rentals, sales and a service department. Around that same time, The Rent-It Store decided to sell off part of its longstanding business: the event rental section. “The tool side was growing so quickly with all of the construction going on in Saskatoon, it was either expand the event side – which we didn’t have the manpower for – or focus more on the tool side, which was a much bigger part of our business,” said Elash, who has watched the company expand for the past 28 years.
Attending trade school in his native Saskatoon, an acquaintance gave Elash a tip that The Rent-It Store was hiring. “I went in and they threw me in a truck,” laughed Elash. “I jumped at the chance and was hired out of school. I love my job. That’s why I’ve stayed all of these years.” Elash was hired by the late Doug Mitchell, who was business partners with Doron Broadfoot, one of The Rent-It Store’s five owners. Elash and Broadfoot are joined by Doron’s son, Mike; Ken Johnson; and Andy Travers. “I only really worked under Doug for a few years, working in different branches and I ended up at the branch we’re in now,” said Elash.
Doron Broadfoot is the company president with more than 40 years experience in the rental industry. His father, Lyle, was one of the original owners back in 1962.
Johnson has been with the company for 30 years and ran the special events division, renting tables, chairs, glassware, linens, cutlery, plates and tents for many years before switching to the construction side.
Mike Broadfoot started with the company in 2010 and Travers joined in 2011.
All of that experience and still the owners share ideas among themselves constantly.
“We actually have an early Wednesday morning meeting every week to address issues or talk about new equipment opportunities,” said Elash. “We rely on the many years of experience that we collectively have in the group to try and help our customers to the best of our ability.”
In an effort to stay competitive – because, as Elash said, “you want to do better than everybody else” – The Rent-It Store
does not rely on an outside sales force. Rather, one of those 16 full-time employees is dedicated strictly to social media. You can find The Rent-It-Store on Facebook and, though he doesn’t tweet himself, Elash points out the company regularly uses Twitter (@tooltorent) and YouTube, where you can watch videos on how to remove tall grass and weeds from your property with the Billy Goat Outback Brushcutter. Or learn how to properly use equipment like forklifts, excavators and wood chippers. “We do a lot of advertising due to social media. It’s like a silent sales person,” he said. “We’ve got a person on staff and that’s all she does is social media. She does newsletters, updates Facebook and Twitter, and has customers making videos for us when they’re doing their jobs and posting it. It’s going to be a good marketer for us.”
Elash became a believer of social media for his company after attending an American Rental Association (ARA) conference seminar on the topic in New Orleans.
“Everything I’ve seen and everything that we’ve done, I totally believe in social media,” said Elash. “It’s totally helped our business and has been a good addition for us.”
The store, of course, has a website – therentitstore.com –that provides its history, a full list of rental equipment items, and a complete, comprehensive rental agreement policy and helpful hints for people to look at prior to coming to the store.
Getting to go to places like New Orleans is one of the benefits of the job that Elash loves. The Canadian Rental
Association falls under the umbrella of the ARA, and Elash is the president of the Saskatchewan local of the CRA. “It’s a huge community,” he said of the rental business. “Everybody shares secrets and ideas, and if you have have any problems, there’s a lot of people you can call. I’ve been fortunate to travel through work, and I’ve seen a lot of suppliers’ manufacturing facilities.”
As president in Saskatchewan, Elash is available for members to call him if they have any questions regarding anything to do with the rental association. He has also been involved for the last five years in Saskatoon on the organizing committee for the Prairie Trade Show.
The Rent-It Store’s commitment to the industry is on full display when the Prairie show comes to town. Last March, Elash toured a busload of show attendees through his store, showing off the impressive warehouse and showroom and giving people some inside insight into how they have found such success in a market that has only recently been blessed with some economic strength. Touring local rental stores as part of the festivities surrounding the Prairie show is an innovation that Elash and the rest of the organizing committee came up with as an alternative to sitting in a hotel seminar room before the show. Response from attendees was enthusiastic, especially when the bus pulled up at the end of the tour to a local micro-distiller offering samples.
Elash and Broadfoot are well-known in the Saskatchewan CRA for giving tirelessly of their time and talents at all association activities.
Elash says he simply enjoys going to work everyday and, in 28 years, he’s come to love his job and has met an awful lot of great people, many he considers friends. He has no plans to remove himself from behind the counter. Unless, of course, it’s on one of those rare occasions he finds himself returning to his The Rent-It Store roots. “Every once in a while, you have to get into a vehicle and make a delivery,” he laughs. “But not very often.” CRS
Continued from page 26
when the training will take place are still being worked out, so stay tuned to these pages, our biweekly e-newsletter and canadianrentalservice.com for more updates as the date gets closer.
BUSINESS VALUATION SEMINAR
Aled Shteriev, managing director of Beacon Corporation, will present “For What It’s Worth: Business valuation and sucession planning for maximum return.” Veteran mergers and acquisitions professional, Alex Shteriev, will show you how to correctly evaluate your company’s worth and lay out some strategies for protecting that value through transitions. Shteriev, MBA, CBI, is managing director of Beacon Corporation, a business brokerage and merger and acquisition advisory firm based in Toronto.
ONLINE MARKETPLACE FOR RENTALS
Join renowned entrepreneur, Robert Preville, CEO of Kwipped, as he discusses the genesis of his revolutionary online service and how this new marketplace is poised to evolve the process of sourcing and renting equipment. With online marketplaces like Travelocity and Expedia, consumers today are accustomed to shopping, comparing and booking entire trips with unprecedented efficiency and minimal effort. A once cumbersome process that used to take hours of research can now be accomplished in minutes. Kwipped has brought that same concept to a B2B equipment rental marketplace that connects renters to suppliers and streamlines every aspect of the rental process. Kwipped technology matches rental need with supply inventory available through a global network of marketplace suppliers.
MORE TO COME
Canadian Rental Mart organizers are still finalizing the lineup of seminars and training sessions that will be presented March 8 and 9. For updates and announcements, watch these pages, visit canadianrentalmart.com and follow @TheRentalMart on Twitter. CRS
Renovation for Rent
HEATER SHOWCASE
HEATING WITH POWER
8 lmtemperature.com
The Cube 1100 self-contained unit from L.M. Temperature Control provides a 1.1-millionBTU diesel fuel heater complete with fuel tank and generator. The Cube produces a total of 13,000 CFM from
two heaters with the ability to run up to 150 feet of two-by-16 or four-by-12-inch ducts. It also has re-circulating capabilities. The heater contains a variablefrequency motor to control air volume, temperature rise and start-up without in-rush. Its fully modulating, 88-per cent-efficient burner allows for significant cost savings in fuel. This self-contained unit addresses both heating and power needs as everything you need is contained on one trailer. As a self-contained unit, ESA inspection for the generator is already done. Just roll the unit into place, add fuel and heat away.
EVEN HEAT
8 brooksconstruction.ca Thawzall HeatZone glycol heaters blanket winter construction projects with even, uniform heat. HeatZone TCH150 and TCH250 glycol heaters are based on the science of heat transfer; volume and temperature with low delta-T making them highly efficient. They are used
for many applications including ground thawing, cold weather concreting and temporary heat for the construction and oil and gas industries. The TCH150 glycol heater can thaw 1,200 square feet and cure a concrete pour of 2,400 square feet. This unit boasts low fuel consumption, long run-times, low maintenance and better ROI for the rental fleet. For larger applications, the TCH250 glycol heater can thaw 3,000 square feet and cure a concrete pour of 6,000 square feet. The unit’s automated heat delivery system makes it simple and efficient to operate and maintain.
Aerotech Herman Nelson is excited to introduce our new HPL series of all-in-one units providing top-of-theline indirect-fired air heating, a high-performance LED lighting tower and electrical power generation all in one completely portable, job-siteready package. The HPL600D7 is designed as a high-value, commercial-grade equipment package that delivers indirectfired, clean-air heat along with a high-output LED retractable light tower all powered with a seven-kilowatt or optional 11-kilowatt liquid-cooled commercial diesel generator, which also provides surplus power. The entire package is fully enclosed and can be easily towed on- or off-road on the approved all-aluminum heavy-duty trailer. Critical safety features included are full 110-per cent containment with a drain, external emergency stop and three-colour LED status/safety beacon that indicates generator operation, heater operation and low fuel. An optional flammable gas detector also available. The approved 340-litre poly fuel tank allows for up to 26-hour run times and there’s a large lockable storage area for all ducting and accessories plus a spare tire. The heater produces 588,000 BTUs with 5,500 CFM and three inches static
pressure featuring recirculation to deliver significant fuel savings. With the available fan, it can supply 6,500 CFM and four inches SP. The 25-foot detachable light tower is available with up to four 300-watt LEDs delivering over 168,000 lumens using under 1,200 watts. The fuel system heater and de-aerator help prevent fuel problems in extreme cold conditions and the exterior power-connection engine block heater is standard.
ADJUSTS TO ALTITUDE 8
The Maxi-Heat MH500iQ with the new MCS twin heater units includes new and improved features. The IQ analyzer detects the environmental temperature and pressure, suggests the correct setting of the burner and automatically configures the nozzle, eliminating the need to change the nozzle as altitude changes. The MH500iQ eliminates manual nozzle changes while minimizing oil consumption. It is designed to tolerate changes in altitude and decrease Bacharach smoke. The MCS500iQ is robotically welded, reducing the risk of failures and improving quality. Efficiency is gained through engineered dents on the wall of the heat exchanger that increase turbulence and the exchange of heat. Allmand also offers a way to warn operators of hazardous gas accumulation. The Allmand Maxi-Heat MH500iQ, when
equipped with the General Monitors combustible gas monitoring system, provides a high-performance heater with a self-contained and costeffective monitoring system to operate in potentially hazardous environments. When equipped with the General Monitors S4000CH system, you can be assured that a properly calibrated and maintained Maxi-Heat will not only provide clean, breathable air, but also an enhanced level of safety. The General Monitors S4000CH intelligent sensors are microprocessorbased trans¬mitters designed for use with General Monitors catalytic bead sensors. The unit can be self-calibrated by a certified technician by activating a magnetic switch and applying a test gas. The system is designed to monitor combustible gases, warn of any accumula¬tion, and provide status identification by triggering lights and shutting down the heater.
BETTER DUCT, LONGER LIFE
8 hitexducting.com
Better duct means longer rental life for your heaters. HiTex ducting is a superior high-temperature duct manufactured by NTI Global. Built to fit virtually any brand of heater and made to withstand temperature ranges up to 300 F (350 F intermittent). HiTex comes with the Tuffguard scuff strip, which provides 360 degrees of protection. An
additional waterproof outer layer, designed for harsh environments, coupled with an enclosed wire helix, provides better air flow and bend radius. Hitex is manufactured in the U.S.A. with distribution throughout the U.S. and Canada. It is competitively priced and available in diameters from six to 48-inches in various lengths up to 50 feet.
NOT JUST DIRECT ANY MORE
Not just a direct anymore, with the addition of its newest heater, Sure Flame now offers an indirect line comprised of 400,000-, 800,000- and 1.5-million-BTU units. Its newest product, the ID800, is now CSA-approved and ready to take a beating and keep on heating. Its compact, straightforward design with a single push-button control make it a winning choice for the rental industry. Designed for jobsite uncertainty, the VFD control allows the ID800 to operate on either one-phase or three-phase power with the switch of a lever with low amp draws (maximum 30 amps during startup). The ID800 operates on diesel or kerosene with a 443-litre on-board tank. North American efficiency numbers hovering around 86 per cent mean saving for your customers. It is designed to allow for recirculation, further increasing efficiency and reducing fuel consumption while still maintaining constant clean dry heat. With
SERIOUS PROFIT
6,000 CFM the ID800 is ductable to over 100 feet with 16-inch duct. An optional 20-inch transition is available. It is narrow enough for a standard doorway and can be moved by a pallet jack, fork lift or lift hook. The ID800 is an excellent choice when efficiency, durability and reliability are a must. Sure Flame heaters are Canadian Made products with all are models meeting or exceeding CSA standards.
THREE CONFIGURATIONS
8 wackerneuson.com
wet-stacking protection. It features a new dual-colour strobe light to indicate heater status from a distance, and a two-point lift system which provides greater stability and strength. The premium model adds full spill containment to the standard model, while the basic model offers an economical alternate option to the standard model for simple jobs that do not require a built-in generator. The E 1250 is expandable and designed for reliable performance and trouble-free starts for up to 115 hours of run time at over 87 per cent efficiency and with accessories can thaw up to 3,750 square feet of frozen ground at an average rate of one-foot-deep per day, cure up to 8,750 square feet of concrete, prevent frost up to 11,250 feet square or provide up to 203,600 cubic feet of dry heat.
FIELD PROVEN 8 frost-fighter.com
Wacker Neuson Climate Technology has introduced the new E 1250 hydronic ground heater. At 13,000 BTU per hour and 1,250 feet of hose, the E 1250 provides reliable mobile heat for any jobsite application. Three configurations are available, the Value Package, the Standard Package and the Premium Package to fit your specific heat needs and your budget requirements. E 1250 heaters are engineered with rental friendly features, such as multi-fuel burner options (diesel or natural gas/propane) and our new telematics-ready digital control panel with intelligent systems to monitor heater status and provide early detection of low fuel levels, with clear and easy to understand diagnosis and centralized resetting of the most common heater faults. The standard model features an integrated three-kilowatt liquid-cooled generator with easy access oil, filter and coolant changes and built-in
The IDF1000 is a selfcontained heating system that provides up to 1 million BTU for the most demanding cold weather and job-site environments. The unit includes two industry-proven IDF500HS oil-fired heaters with a combined airflow of 6,500 CFM and 4.6 inches of static pressure. With an easy slide-out feature, both heaters offer quick access to parts and service. The unit includes a 260-gallon fuel capacity with environmental spill containment, so the heaters can run for approx. 32 hours. The dual axel trailer has a number of upgrades including
a large storage capacity for duct, removable safety grip fenders and an adjustable ball/ Pintle hitch. The 11.4 kilowatt Stamford generator is available with either a Kubota or Isuzu engine, and includes 120-volt shore power, a block heater and trickle charge as well as interior LED lighting. Different duct options are available along with optional heat recirculation and heat recovery. The IDF500HS heaters have been field-proven for over eight years, with fast North American parts availability including a Genysis controller for easy serviceability and troubleshooting.
THREE NEW MODELS
8 campoequipment.com
Campo Equipment has introduced new models and features for the 2015/16 season. They feature 120 per cent full spill containment for 42- and 70-U.S. gallon tanks available on 400 and 600 models. Now available are the Blaze 3E (a three-kilowatt electric space heater), the Blaze 600D/G Turbo II, the Blaze Cube Artic Series, and the Blaze 600 D Turbo tow-behind. Spill containment rated for 120 per cent in the 400/600 series heaters is an innovation in the market for this class of heater. It not only provides spill containment for the tank but also for the fuel lines, filter and pump-on burner. It also adds protection to the filter, burner and control panel area from the elements. Easy-
access side rubber panels and a hinged enclosure allow for easy service. The spill containment system is available for the 42-U.S.-gallon tank and, new for this season, a 70-U.S.-gallon tank that provides customers with over 24-hour run times. The Blaze 3E electric space heater is new for this season, featuring a high heat rise and 350 CFM airflow. There are separate controls for the fan and thermostat to allow the user to cool down the element before shutting down.
The Blaze 600 D/G Turbo II boasts 600,000 BTU of heating power. With its new Turbo II fan the unit produces 6,500 CFM and a maximum static pressure of four inches, allowing the unit to be ducted to 150 feet with recirculating capabilities. It runs on a mere 120 volts 18 full load amps. The Blaze Cube Arctic Series is the third addition to the Cube line up from Campo. It is engineered to handle the elements and the most demanding applications. It comes fitted with a Blaze 1000D which produces 13,500 CFM with a maximum static pressure of 6.5 inches, and is ductable to an astounding 400 feet. Standard features include 150-per cent spill containment, a low-RPM genset, a fuel tank, positive air shut off, battery disconnect and automatic shutdown and warning indicators for low fuel. The Blaze 600D Turbo tow-behind comes with a fully galvanized 3,500-pound trailer. it is mounted on a 100-gallon fuel tank with duct compartments.
HEATS IN HIGH WIND
8 www.heatstarbyenerco.com
Heatstar has added four new heaters to its portable heater line. Heatstar oil-fired radiant heaters offer comfortable heat in extreme winter conditions. Now available in 155,000- and a new 115,000-BTU size, these
fuel tank built into the trailer makes for a compact unit with space for storage of glycol and other accessories under the generator. The unit can be used with a manifold when needed. The entire PowerHeat 4500 system is UL/ CSA certified. The PowerHeat features 385,000 BTU heating power, a 240-gallon fuel tank and a seven-kilowatt generator.
STAINLESS STEEL COMPONENTS
8 Dragon3600.DriEaz.com
Legend Brands engineers designed the new Dri-Eaz Dragon 3600 indirect-fired furnace for the restoration industry and to be highquality, reliable and easy to operate. A 32-gallon fuel tank offers an extended run time of
35 to 38 hours of continuous operation on a single tank. That means restorers don’t have to worry about fuel running out overnight. To achieve the extended runtime, engineers fit the unit with a 32-gallon TIGwelded aluminum tank and fine-tuned the burner housing and heat exchanger to achieve an impressive 0.8-gallonper-hour fuel consumption rate. The Dragon is built in Legend Brands’ Prescott, Ariz., plant with a highquality Beckett burner and a corrosion-resistant TIGwelded stainless combustion chamber and heat exchanger. It features several extras, including an easy-toadjust external shutter for altitude adjustments and a nozzle heater for
sure-fire cold weather startup.
CLEAN AIR
8 lbwhite.com
L.B. White has introduced the Foreman 500DF indirect fired heater. When heating non‐ventilated areas or clean heated air is needed, L.B. White’s Foreman 500 DF (Dual Fuel) heater is suitable for a wide range of construction and tented events. This robust and framed, 500,000 BTU-per-hour vented heater produces a long air throw and dependable and quiet operation. The stackable heater includes fork pockets and a lifting hook, rugged urethane wheels that don’t go flat yet absorb shock like pneumatic tires, an easy access side panel for maintenance, and a reliable Riello burner. Multiple diagnostic indicators tell the operator if there
BUSINESS TO BUSINESS
• Dri-Eaz Dehumidifiers, Blowers and air conditioners
• OztEc concrete Vibrators Paper Shredders - ceiling grinders
• JENNY air compressors & Pressure Washers
• tErraMitE compact loaders backhoes & Street Sweepers
For Quebec: Erick Desormeaux • erick@equipdistribution.net Tel 514-249-9706/866-611-0843 Fax 514-221-3179/866-460-3179
are issues with the burner or somewhere else on the heater, and what is wrong. The Foreman has the capability to recirculate the heated air by adding a duct and includes the option of moving the heated air with two 12-inch ducts, or one 16-inch duct. A remote thermostat control can be added to control the temperature of the area being heated. Additional features include a cord wrap and a simple lever to switch between liquid propane and natural gas.
L.B. White plans to release the kerosene/diesel-fueled cousin to the Foreman later this year.
Get ready for GHS SAFETY FIRST AND LAST
by Jeff Thorne
Labelling of hazardous materials is changing.
I’m sure that most of us who have been in the workplace for some time have been trained in the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS), a system that has been alive and well in Canada since 1988. This type of training represents our right to know about potential chemical and biological hazards that we may be exposed to, and how to use the system in order to ensure workers are protected.
As of February 2015, Health Canada has aligned WHMIS with the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS). The new system changes the classification criteria; it ultimately improves the end user’s ability to identify the severity of the hazards through the use of improved labels, symbols (called pictograms) and Safety Data Sheets (SDS).
There are two main elements of GHS. The first element is the classification of hazards according to GHS rules that allow for greater consistency and the second element is the communication of hazards using a standardized 16-section SDS and labels.
Previously under WHMIS 1988, there were six main classes (A-F) and eight symbols. Under the new system there are three major hazard groups: Physical, Health and Environmental. This is one of the most notable changes.
Within each major hazard group there are hazard classes and categories. Classes are a way of grouping together products that have similar properties. The Physical hazard group contains 19 classes that have physical or chemical properties that can be flammable, oxidizing, reactive or corrosive.
The Health hazard group contains 12 classes that are broken down into the products’ ability to cause health effects that may result in eye, skin or respiratory sensitization, reproductive effects or cancer.
The Environmental hazard group contains two classes. This hazard group has not been adopted in WHMIS 2015.
Most of the classes have categories that indicate how severe the hazard is through the use
of letters and numbers. For example, Category 1 indicates the highest severity. Category 1 may also be further divided into 1A and 1B. Category 1 is more severe than Category 2, which is more severe than 3, and so on.
So what does this mean for employers in Canada? Regardless of the changes, anyone who works with, or is likely to be exposed to a biological or chemical agent must be trained to understand the hazards and protective measures implemented when working with hazardous products. Employers have a responsibility to ensure that the training provided incorporates key areas specific to the handling, usage, storage, transport and disposal of hazardous chemicals. Additionally, workers may need to be trained in emergency and/or spills-response procedures. As always, employers will still have to review their WHMIS program at least annually and take into account any changes that may prompt retraining (for instance, new product, different hazards or new information).
Implementation of the new system will take place between now and 2018. From now until May 31, 2017, suppliers can choose to use WHMIS 1988 or WHMIS 2015 to classify and communicate the hazards of their products. As a result, employers will have the responsibility to educate and train workers about WHMIS 2015 as new pictograms, labels, or SDS appear in the workplace.
During this transition employers may have to deliver training on both WHMIS 1988 and WHMIS 2015 if both systems are being used. WHMIS training can be a challenge as in many cases it is over-simplified and lacks the details required to provide workers the proper knowledge, skills and attitudes to work safely with hazardous products. Workers and supervisors should be aware of the hazards through the use of pictograms under both systems, understand how to protect themselves and know where to get more information. CRS
Jeff Thorne is manager of training and consulting at Occupational Safety Group
Honda sets the standard for reliable, hard-working engines you can always trust to get the job done.
*Warranty applies to all Honda GX Series Engines, 100cc or larger purchased at retail or put into rental service since January 1, 2009. Warranty excludes the Honda GXV160 model. See full warranty details at engine.honda.ca. For optimum performance and safety, please read the owner’s manual before operating your Honda Power Equipment.
