Category: Union News

Hydrovac is a non-destructive process that exposes the water, gas, and power lines through pressurized water excavation. It involves loosening and suctioning earth materials surrounding the underground pipes. Despite being an alternative to hand-digging, hydro vac still has safety hazards involving overhead powerlines and underground utilities, using high-pressure water and vacuum, machines making loud noises, and workers working at heights. Industry standards and practices are in place to protect the workers on site and prevent these from happening. Knowing your limits of approach is crucial with overhead wires. Reducing and […]

Hydrovac is a non-destructive process that exposes the water, gas, and power lines through pressurized water excavation. It involves loosening and suctioning earth materials surrounding the underground pipes.

Despite being an alternative to hand-digging, hydro vac still has safety hazards involving overhead powerlines and underground utilities, using high-pressure water and vacuum, machines making loud noises, and workers working at heights. Industry standards and practices are in place to protect the workers on site and prevent these from happening.

• Knowing your limits of approach is crucial with overhead wires.
• Reducing and controlling water pressure can avoid line strikes.
• A kill switch (dead man switch) is an essential safety device that can be activated or deactivated if the operator gets into a dangerous situation.
• Wearing hearing protection is vital.
• Establish clear boundaries to set up a perimeter around the hazardous areas of the work site.

IUOE Local 793 stands as a dedicated advocate for the protection of all workers involved in building and maintaining Ontario. The importance of this mission cannot be overstated, emphasizing that safety is not a matter of chance – it’s a deliberate choice that each person must make.

Brother Ben Springer, a crane operator for Phoenix Crane Services, is operating a Potain self-erecting tower crane to help build a four-story condominium in Picton for CanAm Group. Along with other Local 793 members, he’s working on a project that includes a steel and concrete D500 structure built for Port of Picton Homes.

Brother Ben Springer, a crane operator for Phoenix Crane Services, is operating a Potain self-erecting tower crane to help build a four-story condominium in Picton for CanAm Group. Along with other Local 793 members, he’s working on a project that includes a steel and concrete D500 structure built for Port of Picton Homes.

Members working for Amherst Concrete Pumping were on site into the early hours, as work continued on the Highway 401 rehabilitation project in North York. Operating the pumps during the bridge deck pour of more than 700 cubic metres of concrete were members Kody Mills, Dave Ricchezza, Ramz Hussain, Shane Baker and Dave Dingwall, alongside Local 793 steward Brad Gunn. The overnight pour at the Leslie Street interchange is part of an $80 million project that includes bridge replacement, rehabilitation and resurfacing. The 10-kilometre stretch of roadworks is slated for […]

Members working for Amherst Concrete Pumping were on site into the early hours, as work continued on the Highway 401 rehabilitation project in North York.

Operating the pumps during the bridge deck pour of more than 700 cubic metres of concrete were members Kody Mills, Dave Ricchezza, Ramz Hussain, Shane Baker and Dave Dingwall, alongside Local 793 steward Brad Gunn.

The overnight pour at the Leslie Street interchange is part of an $80 million project that includes bridge replacement, rehabilitation and resurfacing. The 10-kilometre stretch of roadworks is slated for completion in 2025.

Underground utility lines such as gas, electric, water, communication or other high-pressure pipes and lines must be identified before digging. To avoid accidents, buried utility lines must be located before excavation on the property to keep everyone safe on the job site. According to the ORCGA Dirt Report, 39% of underground utility damages in 2023 were due to locates not requested prior to excavation activity. Requesting locates before any ground disturbances is one of the best defences to reduce the number of underground strikes. If an excavation site is missing […]

Underground utility lines such as gas, electric, water, communication or other high-pressure pipes and lines must be identified before digging. To avoid accidents, buried utility lines must be located before excavation on the property to keep everyone safe on the job site.

According to the ORCGA Dirt Report, 39% of underground utility damages in 2023 were due to locates not requested prior to excavation activity. Requesting locates before any ground disturbances is one of the best defences to reduce the number of underground strikes.

If an excavation site is missing locates or if the locates were inaccurately marked, approach your site supervisor at once. Alternatively, you can contact your steward or union rep if you encounter safety issues on your site.

IUOE Local 793 stands as a dedicated advocate for the protection of all workers involved in building and maintaining Ontario. The importance of this mission cannot be overstated, emphasizing that safety is not a matter of chance – it’s a deliberate choice that each person must make.

Today marks the passing of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement Act on July 9th in 1993. This day symbolizes progress in acknowledging the significant cultural, social, and economic contributions and respecting the rights of our Indigenous communities in Canada. Local 793’s charter was expanded in 2014 by the General President of the IUOE to include Nunavut. Since then, Local 793 has continued to expand its presence in Nunavut where the local currently represents more than 900 members working at Baffinland Iron Ore Mines’ Mary River mine site in Baffin Island. […]

Today marks the passing of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement Act on July 9th in 1993.

This day symbolizes progress in acknowledging the significant cultural, social, and economic contributions and respecting the rights of our Indigenous communities in Canada.

Local 793’s charter was expanded in 2014 by the General President of the IUOE to include Nunavut. Since then, Local 793 has continued to expand its presence in Nunavut where the local currently represents more than 900 members working at Baffinland Iron Ore Mines’ Mary River mine site in Baffin Island. Many of our members at the mine are Nunavummiut (those who inhabit or live in Nunavut).

We wish our Nunavummiut Brothers and Sisters a Happy Nunavut Day!

It is with great sadness that we share with you the news of the death of Patrick Scott, a 59-year member of IUOE Local 793 who became an honourary lifetime member of the Union in 2013. Brother Scott, who also worked as an organizer for the Local, died peacefully at home on June 30. He was 85 years old. A proud Ulsterman who came to Canada from Dromore in County Tyrone, Brother Scott settled down in the Greater Toronto Area and became a highly skilled crane operator, working for numerous […]

It is with great sadness that we share with you the news of the death of Patrick Scott, a 59-year member of IUOE Local 793 who became an honourary lifetime member of the Union in 2013. Brother Scott, who also worked as an organizer for the Local, died peacefully at home on June 30. He was 85 years old.

A proud Ulsterman who came to Canada from Dromore in County Tyrone, Brother Scott settled down in the Greater Toronto Area and became a highly skilled crane operator, working for numerous employers such as Technicore Underground, Niran Construction and Tarmac Canada over the course of his distinguished career.

He retired as an Operating Engineer in 2002.

A larger-than-life character, Brother Scott’s talents extended beyond his operating abilities. He held a pilot’s licence, and at one time was a professional wrestler who appeared on the bill at Maple Leaf Gardens as “The Moose”.

More recently, he was band leader of Mississauga Irish trad group, Madd Paddy, which released an album in 2009.

Brother Scott was pre-deceased by his wife, Geraldine, who together took great joy in their three children, six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

We particularly wish to extend our condolences to Brother Scott’s children Peter, Patrick and Mike, who followed his father into the Union and currently serves as Vice-President as well as working as Local 793’s Provincial Pipeline and EPSCA Business Rep.

Brother Patrick Joseph Scott will be missed by all who knew him on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.

Visitation takes place on Tuesday at Glen Oaks Funeral Home, 3164 Ninth Line in Oakville, from 4 to 8 p.m. A requiem Mass will take place on Wednesday at 10 a.m., at Saint Joseph’s Parish, 5440 Durie Road, Mississauga, with a reception to follow at The Irish Club of Mississauga at 4120 Ridgeway Drive.

  Local 793 members Gordon Myers, Noah Zeller, Tyler Mazurek and John Beauvais were busy at the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension project, carefully lifting out the 70-ton head of the tunnel boring machine (TBM), which spent more than two years excavating a tunnel for the western underground segment of the project. Joining the members on this day was Business Rep, Jordan Glendenning. Since 2022, twin tunnel boring machines, named Rexy and Renny, excavated approximately 1.2 million metric tons of soil and rock and installed over 52,000 pre-cast concrete segments to […]

 

Local 793 members Gordon Myers, Noah Zeller, Tyler Mazurek and John Beauvais were busy at the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension project, carefully lifting out the 70-ton head of the tunnel boring machine (TBM), which spent more than two years excavating a tunnel for the western underground segment of the project.

Joining the members on this day was Business Rep, Jordan Glendenning.

Since 2022, twin tunnel boring machines, named Rexy and Renny, excavated approximately 1.2 million metric tons of soil and rock and installed over 52,000 pre-cast concrete segments to build 7,433 sturdy rings to support the tunnel walls.

Over the months to come, crews will finish up work on the passageways that connect the tunnels.

The tunnel will eventually connect Scarborough, Midtown, and Mississauga, as well as other local and regional transit.
 

Without proper training, precautions and prevention, the hazards and risks at the job sites are continuous threats to our workers’ daily lives. Workers must protect themselves by understanding the risks and hazards at every workplace. Knowing the limits of approach and hierarchy of controls is essential, as it can be the first step in eliminating risks at a job site. At the same time, implementing preventative measures such as wearing PPE while coordinating with your spotter before the start of any project can mitigate any safety hazards while performing your […]

Without proper training, precautions and prevention, the hazards and risks at the job sites are continuous threats to our workers’ daily lives.

Workers must protect themselves by understanding the risks and hazards at every workplace. Knowing the limits of approach and hierarchy of controls is essential, as it can be the first step in eliminating risks at a job site. At the same time, implementing preventative measures such as wearing PPE while coordinating with your spotter before the start of any project can mitigate any safety hazards while performing your tasks.

IUOE Local 793 stands as a dedicated advocate for the protection of all workers involved in building and maintaining Ontario. The importance of this mission cannot be overstated, emphasizing that safety is not a matter of chance – it’s a deliberate choice that each person must make.

 

  Operating Engineers from IUOE Local 793 and Operating Engineers 324 Michigan met at the centre deck of the new Gordie Howe International Bridge for a ceremonial handshake on Tuesday. Hundreds of Operating Engineers worked, and continue to work, on the project, with 50 to 65 Local 793 members working daily on different aspects of the project. Construction on the bridge began October 5, 2018, and will be completed late summer or early fall 2025. Once completed, the bridge will have the longest main span of any North American cable-stayed bridge. […]

 

Operating Engineers from IUOE Local 793 and Operating Engineers 324 Michigan met at the centre deck of the new Gordie Howe International Bridge for a ceremonial handshake on Tuesday. Hundreds of Operating Engineers worked, and continue to work, on the project, with 50 to 65 Local 793 members working daily on different aspects of the project.

Construction on the bridge began October 5, 2018, and will be completed late summer or early fall 2025. Once completed, the bridge will have the longest main span of any North American cable-stayed bridge. The total length of the bridge is approximately 2.5 kilometres.

 

Wishing a safe, happy, and healthy Independence Day to our American Brothers and Sisters.  

Wishing a safe, happy, and healthy Independence Day to our American Brothers and Sisters.