When BC opened up again to activity this summer, we were already on our way to completing some big goals for RJS. This blog will take you through our BC construction projects we did in the summer, our plans for fall, and how we commit to being completely COVID-19 safe on site. 

In our last blog we listed the sites finishing up in the spring, such as:

• Tenant Improvement for Aevitas Waste Management in Maple Ridge
• Cougar Creek’s BC Housing Project in Surrey
• And University of the Fraser Valley Trades and Technology Department

The new projects we started this summer were:

• Thirst First Coffee Solutions in Surrey
• Modu-loc Fence Rentals in Port Coquitlam 
• Gateway Pet Memorial in Surrey
• And Enterprise Car Rental in Tsawwassen Mills 

Clearing through the red tape

This summer, we did face some lag time on completion dates as safety protocols and restrictions due to COVID-19 created delays on permits and contract procedures. This wasn’t a complete surprise as many businesses have had to go through the same thing and we’re all just grateful to be working! 

Our ThirstFirst site was paused for construction during the months of July and August as we waited on city approval with Surrey. In any case, we wanted to keep things running smoothly for our clients in between permits, so we made the ThirstFirst garage fully functional for use. While it still needed some paint and finishing touches, the main thing was that ThirstFirst remained busy during the lag time and that was the most important thing to RJS. 

Our BC construction projects for the fall

Fall is when construction really revs up before the rain and winter season begins. People come back from their vacations and get to work on our current projects as well as a few new ones starting! 

Gateway Pet Crematory and Memorial in Surrey

This unique project has sparked a lot of buzz on our social media. We all love pets, and we want to make sure our fur members of the family are treated with respect when they pass on. 

In our last update, we had just started tendering the project. Now we’ve finished its roofing, improving the structure, and creating the most important piece to a crematorium, the cremation stacks. This will be completed as we go into the fall. 

École Panorama Heights Elementary School in Coquitlam 

A school we are excited about is expanding Panorama Heights Elementary in Coquitlam. With a large number of elementary age students in the neighbourhood, the school has exceeded its capacity. The new addition of four classrooms will increase the school’s capacity from 390 students to 480, adding 90 new student spaces. 

Latimer Lake Storm Infrastructure in Surrey

This is an interesting one for us as we haven’t done outside work such as parks and natural spots in a while. Latimer Lake is a gorgeous spot many Surreyites love. Protecting this area from erosion is of utmost importance so that the community can continue to enjoy this green space for years to come. RJS has been tasked with installing storm infrastructure in Latimer Lake to curb the eroding effects of the tough weather we receive in the coming winter months. Storm drains, hardier paths, and flood water management will be added to make sure that Latimer Lake can survive through the generations. 

New Wave, Better Practices 

When COVID-19 first hit in the spring, we were quick to take action to ensure our sites remained safe and didn’t have to close. We followed all protocols from the Canadian Construction Association and the Government of BC in regards to COVID safety. Since spring, masks have been mandatory on site, we have created sanitation and handwashing stations, and we have limited the amount of people who can be on site at a time. 

As cases go up in BC and around the world, we are now preparing for a new flu season and a possible second wave. We know that this time, however, we have our experiences to fall back on. This time we are more than ready to ensure our staff are safe on site and our projects are completed in a timely fashion. We’ve grown a lot in 2020, and it’s our values of Honesty, Accountability, Respect, and Family-First that have helped pull us through this strange year. 

Want to keep up to date with the projects mentioned in our blog? Give our social media a follow on our Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook.  

May 22, 2020

Two months into the pandemic and RJS Constructions is still committed to the highest level of safety for our contractors on site.

With BC starting phase two of its careful restart plan, BC’s updated Public Health Act has given RJS new safety protocols to follow.

These construction protocols for phase two include:

• No more than 50 people on the same site in any circumstance.
• Where possible employees should maintain a distance of 2 metres apart from each other.
• Post signage that limits the number of occupants in any elevator to four people at a time.
• Reduce in-person meetings and other gatherings and hold site meetings in open spaces or outside.
• Increase the number of handwashing stations and post signage that identifies their location.
• Maintain a list of employees that are currently working on sites and update this list daily.
• All common areas and surfaces should be cleaned at the end of each day. Examples include washrooms, shared offices, common tables, desks, light switches, and door handles.
• Anyone with COVID-19 like symptoms such as sore throat, fever, sneezing, or coughing must self-isolate at home for 14 days.

At RJS Constructions, we work hard and tirelessly to get the job done while still adhering to the protocols and advice given to us by medical and safety professionals. As we move forward into helping restart and rebuild our economy, we look forward to doing our part in keeping contractors, and the people who get to enjoy the projects we create, safe during these unprecedented times.

March 19, 2020

Our concern for the health of our clients, employees, families and community is paramount at RJS Construction Ltd. As we continue to monitor the evolving risk of COVID-19, we are taking measures recommended by the World Health Organization, Public Health Agency of Canada and all other government agencies to help reduce the risk of transmission.

Preventative Measures

It is our expectation that any employee and trade staff that have been outside Canada or exposed to anyone who has travelled outside of Canada since the restriction on travel was imposed, stay home for fourteen (14) days from the date of the return or the date of contact of the person returning. Employees of RJS Construction or any trade employees who have been exposed to or have been diagnosed with COVID-19 will not be permitted to work on any RJS job site until the individual has been confirmed to be symptom-free which is normally demonstrated as a period of fourteen (14 ) days.

Any employees who have symptoms of acute respiratory illness are recommended to stay home and not come to work until they are free of fever (100.4 F [37.8 C] or greater), signs of fever and any other symptoms for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing or other symptom altering symptoms (i.e. cough, suppressants). It is recommended that employees who appear to have acute respiratory illness symptoms (i.e. cough, shortness of breath) upon arrival to work or become sick during the day should be separated from other employees and sent home
immediately.
All employees should cover their noses and mouths with a tissue when coughing or sneezing (or into an elbow if no tissue is available). Employees should practice good hand hygiene by washing their hands fully and often, with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Or use a hand sanitizer that
contains at least 60-95% alcohol if soap and water are not available.

We will continue to update our policies and procedures in accordance to any recommendations by the health authorities and government agencies as the situation develops.

106-18635 52nd Ave, Surrey BC, V3S 8E5
info@rjs-construction.ca 604-576-6166

RJS Construction Site Spread Prevention

• Speak to all your Sub trades to space them out so people are not working in the same space at the
  same time.
• Avoid physical contact. Stay a minimum of 6’ away from other individuals
• Use cell phones for communication even onsite so that min. distances can be maintained.
• Don’t share tools
• Don’t exchange anything by hand
• Avoid touching your face
• Use approved cleaning methods on items that have been passed between individuals

Government Resources Links
BC Center for Disease control

http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19utm_campaign=20200311_GCPE_AM_COVID_2_NOTIFICATION_BCGOV_BCGOV_EN_BC__NOTIFICATION
Federal Government- Information on preventing the spread

https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/health-professionals/public-health-measures-mitigate-covid-19.html

Federal Government – Support for Canadians

https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/news/2020/03/canadas-covid-19-economic-response-plan-support-for-canadians-and-businesses.html#Support_for_Canadians

Best Regards,

Management
RJS Construction Ltd.

This year RJS Construction received our certificate of accreditation from ContractorCheck. What this means is that RJS was able to complete its standards of policies and procedures to ensure we are able to meet the highest level of safety for our workers and contractors. We use these safety standards on every portfolio we work on. This includes three of our current projects, Aevitas Waste Management, University of the Fraser Valley and Cougar Creek Housing.

What is ContractorCheck?

ContactorCheck assesses different work sites across Canada to make sure they meet the legislative and client requirements of safety. When you get a ContractorCheck you do:

• A full-scale assessment of health and safety, 
• Provide documentation to prove you are upholding training and policy requirements,
• Get accredited to show you meet impeccable  standards

We’ve been loyal to ContractorCheck since 2017 and we’ve made sure to get our certificate renewed every year since then. The same process of getting our documents checked, work environments assessed, and onsite surveying is a part of our four core values: Be Honest, Be Respectful, Be Accountable, and Family First. 

Why is this Important?

We don’t want anything to slip through cracks when we are on-site. So we do routine checks with ContractorCheck to follow compliance and safety standards. We believe accountability is the best and only way to keep a company honest, safe, and respectful to its workers and clients. Not following standards and procedures can mean more injuries to workers, fines, and eventual closures to businesses. If we weren’t following standards and procedures, then it could mean we’re more at risk of work-related injuries and fines. 

Three projects we’re working on around the greater Vancouver region that do pose more challenging safety risks are Aevitas Waste Management Inc, University of Fraser Valley Trades and Technology department, and finally, Cougar Creek Red Door Society and BC Housing project.

Let’s go over the key ways we keep our staff safe in more challenging work environments. 

Aevitas Waste Management: How to Manage Cold Weather

It’s been a cold winter throughout 2020 for the lower mainland, and in response, we prepared our team for the harsher elements. While we may be a hardy bunch of contractors, being in the cold for prolonged periods of time can lead to illness, frostbite, and even hypothermia. 

Our site for the Aevitas Waste Management Inc. is mostly all outside, and we are currently working outdoors on their plumbing and retention tanks.

This is why RJS follows ContractorCheck’s compliance with the Canadian jurisdiction mandate for working in the cold. We provided staff with the proper clothes for sub-zero temperatures and we provided warm zones for when they needed a break. Most importantly, we trained our workers to follow weather conditions and be vigilant about signs of freezing and hypothermia, before it’s too late. 

Doing all of this ensures our sites are safe and productive for our team come rain, snow, wind or shine.

University of Fraser Valley: Working with Electricity

A part of accountability is to be able to train staff in any sort of working environment. How we train our staff has to reflect a changing work environment that can involve working in more dangerous settings such as ones involving electricity. In 2019, ContractorCheck found out the majority of accidents involving machinery on-site could have been prevented if there had been proper training in place.

This is why getting accredited every year is critical. It allows our journeypersons to maintain the highest level of safety requirements at all times. For example, we’re currently working on installing ventilation and electricity at the University of Fraser Valley’s Trades and Technology department. Identifying potential hazards such as working with electrical systems, confined spaces and exposure to silica dust and asbestos, are just some of the things RJS is taking seriously for the safety of our employees.

Reducing our risk of electrical injury means we’re always ensuring that safety equipment is being provided and proper training is being adhered to. We’re very proud to say we’re incident-free thanks to a high level of training and safety precautions for our staff.

Cougar Creek: Creating Safe and Open Dialogue

A construction site may not be like a typical office environment with boardrooms and water coolers. However, it’s still a workplace and should be treated respectfully. It’s not only physical safety we have to watch out for on-site, but the mental and emotional safety of our contractors and residents as well. 

We are proud to be building more affordable housing for families with the Red Door and BC Housing Cougar Creek expansion project. We are doing this while its current tenants still live there, and we’ve put in place resources so both tenants and employees can express-open and safe dialogue of concerns and questions.  

On-site we organize daily meetings and log any complaints or concerns to our direct supervisors for action to be made quickly. We recognize accountability to our work expands beyond our staff and to the residents, we see on a daily basis. To respond quickly and efficiently to everyone we recommend speaking with the RJS onsite attendant or to call us at 604-576-6166 or email us with questions at info@rjs-construction.ca . 

Accountability and family work hand-in-hand at RJS. In order to keep us united, we must create a safe and open space for dialogue. This ensures everyone feels they are a part of the team and can move forward as one.

At RJS We Measure Twice, Cut Once

There’s a saying that goes: measure twice, cut once. It’s no surprise we have to measure every risk before we can make any sort of action on site. The accreditation from ContractorCheck gives us that second measure so we can be even more confident with the cuts we do, so to speak.

We are putting in the extra work to cover all bases at sites such as Aevitas, UFV and Cougar Creek. We know by doing so it will create a safer and confident work environment, for not only us but for everyone around.