February 8, 2010

Ontario Road Builders’ Association honours volunteers who go the extra mile

PATRICIA WILLIAMS

staff writer

TORONTO

The Ontario Road Builders’ Association (ORBA) has paid tribute to volunteers and directors in its annual awards program.

The association recently presented its 2009 distinguished service award to hot mix asphalt committee member Fernando Magisano, vice-president in charge of technical services at K.J. Beamish Construction Co. Ltd. Magisano was cited for contributing his expertise in materials specification and testing to ORBA technical committees for numerous years.

Over the past year, Magisano has played an instrumental role in protecting contractors’ interests in the move to QA for Acceptance. He has actively addressed members’ concerns in such areas as pavement smoothness, low-temperature cracking and asphalt cement testing.

“He is one of a very few go-to-guys when ORBA needs the best in technical expertise.”

The association handed out its 2009 director of the year award to Jim Hurst, vice-president of Steed and Evans Ltd. for managing “an important agenda” as chair of the transportation committee.

Hurst is credited with promoting contractors’ interests and providing education for members in such areas as changing commercial vehicle operator regulation and facility audits as well as seeking an acceptable compromise regarding use of mobile communications devices.

The awards were presented during the association’s recent convention in Toronto.

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ORBA salutes safest firms

The Ontario Road Builders’ Association has recognized member companies’ exemplary safety achievements with presentation of its annual Routly Awards.

The awards recognize contractors that have worked the most consecutive manhours without a lost-time injury.

The winner for the second year in a row in Category 1, for companies that average less than 100,000 man hours per year, is Walmsley Bros. Construction. The company worked 212,743 consecutive man hours up to Dec. 31 2008 without a lost-time injury.

This year’s winner in Category 2, for firms that work more than 100,000 man hours per year, is Fowler Construction Co. Ltd. The firm recorded 863,316 consecutive injury-free manhours up to Dec. 31 2008.

Fowler also received a Milestone Award for having worked more than 500,000 man hours without a lost-time injury.

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