august/september green for life 2013

Green for Life August/September 2013 I

August/September 2013 Vol. 1, No. 4 A Landscape Alberta Nursery Trades Association member publication

The Demographic Cliff

Training Tips and Tricks

2 I Green for Life August/September 2013

MANAGING EDITOR Nigel Bowles LAYOUT & PRODUCTION Kyla McKechnie EDITOR Marnie Main ADVERTISING Erynn Watson

Landscape Alberta Green for Life is a professional publication for the landscape horticultural trade in Alberta.

Editorial and Advertising Landscape Alberta 200, 10331 ‐ 178 Street NW Edmonton, AB T5S 1R5 P: 780‐489‐1991 F: 780‐444‐2152 admin@landscape‐alberta.com www.landscape‐alberta.com

Landscape Alberta does not assume responsibility for and does not endorse the contents of any advertisements herein. All representations or warranties made are those of the advertiser and not the publication. Views expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Landscape Alberta or its members.

Material may not be reprinted from this magazine without the consent of Landscape Alberta.

ISSN No: 1929‐7114 (print) ISSN N0: 1929‐7122 (online)

Landscape Alberta Executive Committee

President ‐ Vacant

1st Vice President ‐ Chris Brown CRS Brown Landscape Services Ltd.

2nd Vice President ‐ Dave Montgomery Green Oasis Services Inc.

Treasurer ‐ Arnold van de Ligt Manderley Turf Products Inc.

Past President ‐ Gerard Fournier For Trees Company Ltd.

Landscape Alberta Staff

Nigel Bowles, Executive Director nigel.bowles@landscape‐alberta.com

Marnie Main, Member Services Director member.services@landscape‐alberta.com

Erynn Watson, Member Services Assistant erynn.watson@landscape‐alberta.com

Valerie Stobbe, Trade Show Coordinator valerie.stobbe@landscape‐alberta.com

Kyla McKechnie, Administrative Assistant admin@landscape‐alberta.com

Cheryl Teo, Bookkeeper accounting@landscape‐alberta.com

Calendar of Events

September 11, 2013 Landscape Alberta Golf Tournament

Springbank Links Golf Course, Calgary, AB To register, call 1‐800‐378‐3198

September 16 – 18, 2013 CanWest 2013

Vancouver Convention Centre www.canwesthortshow.com

October 7 – 9, 2013 ISA Prairie Chapter Conference Ramada Conference Centre

11834 Kingsway Ave, Edmonton, AB [email protected]

October 18, 2013 Landscape Alberta/Landscape Saskatchewan

Landscape Awards Entry Deadline For information email admin@landscape‐alberta.com

October 23 – 24, 2013 Landscape Ontario’s Garden & Floral Expo Toronto Congress Centre, Toronto, ON

www.loexpo.ca

November 14 – 15, 2013 Green Industry Conference

Edmonton EXPO Centre at Northlands www.greenindustryshow.com

November 14 – 15, 2013 Green Industry Show

Edmonton EXPO Centre at Northlands www.greenindustryshow.com

November 18 – 20, 2013 Hort East 2013

Moncton Coliseum Complex, Moncton, NB www.horteast.ns.ca

On the Cover: 2012 Landscape Award of Merit Winner Residential Landscape Construction Year‐Round Landscaping Inc. Calderbank Residence

Follow us on Twitter @landscapeab

Green for Life August/September 2013 I 3


Industry and Association News …

Landscape Alberta President Stepping Down We regret to inform our members that, for personal reasons, Dean Falkenberg has resigned from the Landscape Alberta Executive Committee and the position of President. We extend our profound thanks to Dean for his dedication and support during his many years of volunteer service to Landscape Alberta, fellow members, and association staff. We will miss Dean’s enthusiasm and generosity, and we hope that when you next see or talk with Dean that you’ll also thank him for his commitment to the industry over so many years. Thank you, Dean ‐ we wish you well as you move ahead with your new endeavors. Landscape Alberta Flood Recovery Efforts Association members in the Calgary area have introduced the idea of working together on a volunteer landscape recovery project in their community, and we have already garnered support for this generous effort. The City of Calgary has been approached and will help to identify public landscape spaces that are most in need of recovery – they are appreciative of the idea and a project will be set‐tled on soon. If your company would like to participate by contributing labour, equipment, material or support to this effort, please contact our office. If members in other affected communities have similar projects, we will happily assist by providing a central hub for information and co‐operation. The Board of Directors of Landscape Alberta has approved a $1000.00 donation to the Red Cross to assist those affected by the devastating floods in Alberta communities. We thank all our members who are supporting recovery efforts across the province – if you would like to share information about your own community, please email or call us with details. Replantcommunities.com Born out of the June 2013 Alberta flood tragedy, Replant Communities is a movement for the re‐beautification of communities affected by natural disaster. Working in partnership with donors and greenhouses across Canada, the organization seeks to help residents rebuild local green spaces. Lori Bradley, owner of Dentoom's Greenhouses in Red Deer, founded the project with a desire to bring horticultural industries together to provide aid and hope in the midst of disaster. By adopting a plant, or donating towards the efforts of Replant Communities, you can help the recovery and

growth of a devastated area. Projects are already underway, with many more to come ‐ please visit replantcommunities.com. Their initial project was the Plant & Color Relief Effort ‐ the plan was to simply provide some color to the lives of flood‐weary residents in Calgary, and in just a few days, over $25,000 worth of beautiful hanging baskets and planters were donated, transported, and distributed to flood‐affected residents. Thank you to all the volunteers who contributed their time, hard work, plant material, trucks, fuel and so much more. Special thanks to Michiel Verheul of High Q Greenhouses (Morinville) and Lori Bradley of Dentoom’s Greenhouses (Red Deer) for launching and co‐ordinating this generous undertaking. Skills Canada Competition – Olds College Team Wins Gold The Skills Canada National Competition took place June 6 & 7, 2013 at the Pacific National Exhibition in Vancouver, BC. Canada's best and brightest skilled trade and technology students competed in this Olympic‐style, multi‐trade and technology event of its kind for young students and apprentices in the country. Over forty different assigned projects were showcased in major skilled trade and technology categories. The competitors were evaluated by independent judges from the respective industry sectors, who based their decisions on industry standards and established work practices.

Over 200 medals were awarded to the top champions in six skilled trade and technology categories. We would like to congratulate Nicholas Arnoldussen and David Grisnich of Olds College on their gold‐medal win in the Landscape Gardener trade. Nicholas and David qualified for nationals after placing first in the Skills Canada – Alberta competition held in May at the Edmonton Expo Centre at Northlands. Congratulations!

http://www.dentooms.com/


Industry Job Board The Canadian Nursery Landscape Association (CNLA) has created a national Industry Job Board that is available to members of Landscape Alberta and each provincial association across Canada, as well as select educational institutions and municipalities. Members can post their job vacancies for a fee of $100 + HST. CNLA's website is regularly visited by thousands of industry professionals, educators, students, and individuals interested in the green industry. Please send your job posting including all of your contact information to: Anne Bowering Communications Coordinator, CNLA Email: anne@cnla‐acpp.ca Tel: 1‐888‐446‐3499 ext.8690

Implementation of the United States new Not Authorized Pending Pest Risk Analysis (NAPPRA) Rule The United States Department of Agriculture has published its Not Authorized Pending Pest Risk Analysis (NAPPRA) rule, which was implemented on May 20, 2013.

The purpose of the NAPPRA rule is to mitigate pest risk. As a result, the U.S. has implemented a new list of prohibited plant taxa from specified origins that are not authorized for importation into the U.S. without the completion of a Pest Risk Analysis (PRA). There are cases where genera from a certain origin are approved for entry into Canada, but cannot be re‐exported to the U.S. from Canada. According to the U.S., in these cases, plants entering Canada after the May 20, 2013 implementation date will not be able to be considered as Canadian origin regardless of how long they have been grown in Canada. This determination also applies to all progeny.

Exporters are required to declare the origin of their product when applying for a phytosanitary certificate, and may be asked to provide documentation to verify the origin of material that is destined for the U.S. If origin cannot be verified to the satisfaction of the inspector, a phytosanitary certificate cannot be issued. Exporters who obtain material from a domestic source, and who may want to export the product to the U.S., should ask for origin information/documentation when purchasing the product in order to support the phytosanitary certification process when they wish to export.

You can view the NAPPRA Final Notice at: http://1.usa.gov/17W0RZs

If you have any questions, or for more information, please email [email protected].

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Burnco Rock Products Ltd. Morgan Martel 200, 155 Glendeer Circle SE, Box 1480, Station T Calgary, AB T2H 2P9 Phone: 403‐255‐2600 Fax: 403‐255‐0323 [email protected] www.burnco.com

Burnco Rock Products Ltd. Ryan Dunne 262111 Range Road 10 Balzac, AB T0M 0E0 Phone: 403‐252‐1131 Fax: 403‐274‐2724 [email protected] www.burncolandscape.com

Burnco Rock Products Ltd. Dustin Reid 6924 13 Street SE Calgary, AB T2H 2P9 Phone: 403‐252‐1131 Fax: 403‐252‐1104 [email protected] www.burncolandscape.com

Burnco Rock Products Ltd. Grant Kleine 7811 44A Street NW Edmonton, AB T6B 3A4 Phone: 780‐466‐5200 Fax: 780‐466‐5236 [email protected] www.burncolandscape.com

Burnco Rock Products Ltd. Mike Rice 825 Memorial Drive Fort McMurray, AB T9K 0K4 Phone: 780‐791‐6699 Fax: 780‐791‐5371 [email protected] www.burncolandscape.com

Burnco Rock Products Ltd. Bill Gerrie 4305 77 Street Red Deer, AB T1J 4N1 Phone: 403‐342‐5678 Fax: 403‐309‐0601 [email protected] www.burncolandscape.com

Burnco Rock Products Ltd. Colleen Kwiatkowski 11649 99 Street Edmonton, AB T5S 2L6 Phone: 780‐466‐5200 Fax: 780‐466‐5236 [email protected] www.burncolandscape.com

Burnco Rock Products Ltd. Bill McDonald 2500 West Side Drive West Lethbridge, AB T1J 4N1 Phone: 403‐327‐0808 Fax: 403‐381‐7004 [email protected] www.burncolandscape.com

City Soil Services Perry Terrault 12516 60 Street Edmonton, AB T5W 5J6 Phone: 780‐220‐0473 Fax: 780‐463‐8088 [email protected] www.citysoilservices.com

Clintar Landscape Management

Ryan Jones

3450 48 Avenue SE

Calgary, AB T2B 3L6

Phone: 403‐474‐4164 Fax: 403‐474‐4165

[email protected]

www.clintar.com

On the Green Turf Pros Inc. Tony Siviglia Box 19, Site 2, RR 2 Carstairs, AB T0M 0N0 Phone: 403‐512‐1012 Fax: 403‐337‐5888 [email protected] www.onthegreen.ca

Strike Will Affect Foreign Worker Program Work Permits The Professional Association of Foreign Service Workers (PAFSO) union is taking strike action. PAFSO union members responsible for processing visa applications have been walking out of offices across Canada and overseas. Posted processing times for both temporary and permanent resident visa/work permit applications do not take into account work stoppages, so delays are expected and applications should be submitted as far in advance as possible. Contingency plans are in place to ensure all offices remain open and provide at least a minimum level of service. New “Green for Life Community Award” Launched A new awards program will be launched at this year’s Canada Blooms event, a “Green for Life Community Award” program coordinated by the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association (CNLA) and our ten provincial associations. This new award will recognize projects or geographic segments within a community, region, or municipality that have specific benefit to the public through the development and/or maintenance of green spaces. Projects are entered through your provincial association and only one project per association can be entered per

year. An entry requires the submission of a completed project description form and 5 digital photographs ‐ the entry is evaluated on a defined set of criteria including Community Spirit, Innovative Ideas, Environmental Sustainability and Community Impact. The project that receives the national “Green for Life Community Award” will receive a trip for two to attend CNLA’s National Awards of Landscape Excellence ceremony held annually. Reasons to participate in the “Green for Life Community Award” Program:

Acknowledgement of the respective community/parks/school groups and their special projects

Stimulating community energy and interest

Promoting excellence in environmental initiatives

Recognizing the dedication of valuable volunteers Provincial and National exposure of project entries through promotional materials, media releases and websites

For more information, contact the Landscape Alberta office. 2013 GISC Advertising and Sponsorship Opportunities There are many advertising and sponsorship opportunities available for the 2013 Green Industry Show & Conference. For more information, please contact Erynn at the Landscape Alberta office at 1‐800‐378‐3198.

Welcome to our New Members

(May 15 - July 15, 2013)

Training Tips and Tricks

Look for innovative ways to engage your staff in training. Everyone learns differently, so try to offer a blended learning approach and take advantage of different options including in‐class workshops, self‐paced online learning, one‐on‐one training, etc.

Focus your training on the important skills that you want your employees to walk away with. The Canadian Nursery Landscape Association’s (CNLA) Landscape OnSites manual is perfect for this. Take 20 minutes each week and focus your training session on all of the technical, safety and operational skills involved in one task. Take advantage of the next On‐The‐Job Training session near you to ensure that the individual running your company’s training program can improve efficiency and learn how to engage employees in the process. Social media could be another avenue to diversify your training. Let your employees contribute online and ask questions to solve problems. Ask your peers about the innovative training tools that they use. When you develop a training program, stick to it. Keep track of sessions your staff attend and have them sign off on the training. Documenting this allows you and your staff to develop goals and track progress. Having this information on hand is also helpful for your Landscape Industry Certified staff to earn and track Continuing Education Units for recertification. Speaking of certification, keep in mind that

becoming a Journeyman Landscape Gardener or earning Landscape Industry Certified designations are great goals to work toward ‐ they encourage professionalism and continual learning. It’s never too late to take action and ensure your employees have the skills they need to succeed. Quick Links: Alberta Apprenticeship & Industry Training: www.tradesecrets.alberta.ca Landscape Industry Certified: www.landscapeindustrycertified.org Landscape OnSites: http://bit.ly/11FeSWB On‐the‐Job Training: http://bit.ly/1cVoX3b


http://www.tradesecrets.alberta.ca

http://www.landscapeindustrycertified.org

http://bit.ly/11FeSWB

http://bit.ly/1cVoX3b


Federal immigration reforms can help the construction industry cope with a shortage of skilled workers

Despite the best efforts of governments, business associations and contractors to promote apprenticeship programs, improve productivity and reach out to under‐represented communities, forecasts continue to indicate that there is an imminent and significant shortfall in domestic human resources. In short, Canada’s labour force is dangling on the edge of a demographic cliff.

According to Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC), the median age of Canada’s working population in 1971 was 26.2 years old. As of 2011, the median age was 39.9 years. Our working‐age population is expected to decrease by 13 percent over the next few decades.

More than 20 percent of the current construction industry workforce is expected to retire over the next seven years. According to the Construction Sector Council, this will contribute to a nationwide shortage of 300,000 construction workers. Industry will feel the impacts.

The Construction Owners Association of Alberta (COAA) is a major group of purchasers of construction services – many of which are involved in developing oil sands in northern Alberta. The industry estimates current and intended investment to be $250 billion, and COAA members have a significant interest in construction workforce issues. In 2011, they estimated that industry

would need almost 160,000 offshore construction workers over the next seven years to meet projected needs.

For years, most of the 250,000 permanent immigrants coming to Canada annually came in under the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) sub‐category. Changes in immigration legislation in 2002 established selection criteria based on the theory that the more education an immigrant had, the more likely he or she would be to succeed in resettling.

Consequently, 46 percent of admissions under the Skilled Worker program held a master’s degree or PhD whereas only three percent of admissions held a formal trade certificate. The result for construction was that fewer than 700 immigrants with trades training were admitted to Canada annually while countless numbers of foreign‐trained doctors, accountants and nuclear physicists were underemployed as janitors, caretakers and taxi drivers. The law at the time also stipulated that all applications be processed in the order in which they were received, which resulted in a backlog of hundreds of thousands of applications.

With apprenticeship training programs running at unprecedented levels and the industry experiencing full employment, many contractors were forced to resort to short‐term international recruitment through the controversial federal Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) program. However, this program was fraught with bureaucratic red tape and delays, too.

The Demographic Cliff By Bill Stewart


Many of the problems associated with the TFW program are attributed to it being jointly administered by two federal departments. Prior to offering temporary employment to a foreign national, the employer must obtain a Labour Market Opinion (LMO) from Human Resources and Skills Development Canada. HRSDC’s role is to certify that the employer made reasonable efforts to recruit within Canada first and that the terms and conditions of employment are not fraudulent and in accordance with prevailing local wage rates and employment standards. Once the employer obtains the LMO, the employer and prospective employee must then satisfy both Citizenship and Immigration Canada and provincial regulatory authorities responsible for accreditation that they are eligible to work temporarily in Canada. Employers experienced tremendous difficulty with the TFW program. The Auditor General of Canada delivered a scathing critique of how the LMO process was administered. An audit noted, “We found that directives on how to assess whether employers meet some or all of the factors outlined in the regulations are not clear or incomplete; interpretations vary from one regional office to another and even within the same office.”

That Was Then, This is Now In spring 2012, the federal government began retooling its policies and procedures for permanent and temporary workers.

To reduce the backlog of 300,000 applications, Immigration Minister Jason Kenney announced that all applications received prior to February 28, 2008, under the Federal Skilled Worker program, would be returned to applicants. This paved the way for the Immigration Department to process applications based on labour market needs, instead of their place in the queue.

In April 2012, HRSDC Minister Diane Finley announced the Accelerated Labour Market Opinion (A‐LMO) program to expedite the processing for targeted TFW applications. The


The introduction of this new and distinct category coincides with a series of other proposed changes to the Skilled Worker program points system grid the government implemented in January 2013. The changes included:

Making language the most important selection factor including introducing minimum language fluency thresholds and increasing the number of points awarded for linguistic ability

Increasing points for younger immigrants on the basis that younger immigrants are more likely to “gain valuable Canadian experience” and will be in the workforce and contributing to Canada’s economy for longer

Increasing points for Canadian work experience and reducing points awarded for foreign work experience

Simplifying the arranged employment process to prevent fraud and allow employers to quickly fill vacancies

Awarding additional points for spousal language ability and Canadian work experience

While both temporary and permanent immigration are important tools in helping employers meet their human resource needs, immigration is not a stand‐alone “silver bullet” solution to solving the shortage of skilled workers in Canada. The C.D. Howe Institute recently calculated that immigration numbers would need to increase to between 650,000 to one million annually to fully address Canada’s aging workforce and the shortage of workers. While other strategies and policies, in terms of apprenticeship, improving productivity and outreach engagement are all key to solving human resource problems, 2012 will be seen as a watershed year since the federal government made remarkable progress in reforming our immigration system to making it more responsive to the needs of Canada’s changing labour force.

Reprinted with permission from Open Mind

Magazine, Issue 1 Spring 2013.

program enabled employers with a positive compliance record of two years to have new applications fast‐tracked. Unfortunately, this program has been temporarily suspended. In July 2012, Minister Kenney announced the extension and expansion to the Alberta Pilot Project, whereby employers no longer need HRSDC approval and an LMO to recruit internationally for skilled workers in seven high‐demand occupations. This move significantly helps companies – particularly construction and maintenance companies – to respond more quickly to the needs of the resource developers. In most cases, TFWs brought in under this stream are allowed to move between employers in Alberta over a two‐year period – a feature unavailable in other TFW streams. While the pilot project provides much‐welcome relief in expediting international recruitment, it is for the most part only available to construction companies and not other industries experiencing acute shortages. Moreover, it is restricted to Alberta operations only. Industry is also critical of provincial regulatory rules that create different credential recognition streams and the process and length of time to recognize trade credentials for optional and compulsory certified trades.

To deal with the bias in the FSW program favouring applicants with university education over those with trades skills and experience, a new dedicated skilled trade class was created in 2012 within the permanent immigrant stream. Rather than having to qualify under the “points system”, applicants in this class are now assessed on whether they have a valid long‐term employment offer or appropriate working credentials and experience in a trade. They must also demonstrate that they have language skills appropriate for their occupation. In December, Minister Kenney announced that 3,000 spots were being allocated to applicants under this stream.

www.greenindustryshow.com 1-800-378-3198

The Green Industry Show & Conference

Journey to Prosperity

November 14 & 15, 2013 Edmonton EXPO Centre at Northlands | Edmonton | Alberta

Register on-line at Eventbrite.com

Industry-leading workshops for landscape, turf, tree, greenhouse, nursery and garden centre professionals.

Plus an exceptional 240 booth trade show!

“More than 20 percent of the current construction industry workforce is

expected to retire over the next seven years.”

Building Winning Organizations By Kevin Kehoe


The best leaders I’ve observed practice and preach five simple principles. 1. Create value for the customer The customer is not always right. But the customer understands value. According to Adweek, “Today’s consumers are savvy shoppers, buying on pure benefit (quality) and price relationships.” Winning companies make an effort to:

Understand customer value, not just satisfaction

monitor and measure customer value consistently

include everyone in maximizing customer value The best companies deliver superior value, secure loyal customers and do it without adding cost. They deliver enough value to outrun their competition – like the two hunters running for their lives from an angry bear. One hunter says to the other, “Do you think we can outrun this bear?” The other responds, “I don’t need to outrun the bear. I only need to outrun you!” 2. Treat people with dignity Set high standards and expectations for your people. Provide regular and honest feedback. Listen. It’s a simple and powerful formula. Leaders who practice this formula know their staff well, spend time on the job and show little tolerance for deadwood. Does intolerance for incompetence demonstrate disrespect? I have observed managers griping about low morale and, at the same time, employees are mumbling about “some people are getting away with murder.” Clear out the deadwood and within days you hear comments like, “The team works much better now that we got rid of those guys. What took so long?” Treating people with dignity means you should expect excellence, let people know where they stand and listen to their ideas.

3. Share a clear vision A strong vision consists of three components:

Mission – reason for being an organizational ideal

Objectives – achievable and measurable results

Tactics – action items and resources necessary to implement the strategies

A vision is best created by key staff in work sessions where short and long‐term elements of the company vision are determined. To quote one landscape company owner, “What’s important to me is that everyone sees the same picture. When a customer asks our staff what our vision is, and they respond in the same way I would, we have succeeded. If we all share the same vision, then the probability that we will all make the right decisions increases exponentially.” 4. Measure, measure, measure What gets measured gets talked about. And what gets talked about gets done. “How much is your crew’s job cost this week, Mike?” “How much have we reduced lost time due to accidents this month, Sue?” These are the kinds of questions that leaders should ask in order to help measure quality, efficiencies and productivity. Measurements help to get people focused on results instead of task completion. Without measurements, managers end up micro managing when they need to be coaching. Measurements eliminate complacency, foster involvement and promote learning. And fast learning is the surest way to beat the competition and create superior value for the customer. 5. Share the fruits of success Treat staff as owners. Owners share the risks and rewards. When the company does well, everyone wins. The most motivated employees are those who work in a shared risk and reward environment. “I want everyone to think like an owner,” said one manager who installed a pay‐for‐performance program. “Owners take responsibility for their investment, while renters rely on the landlord. I don’t want to be a landlord with lots of renters.” Pay‐for‐performance programs are the wave of the future for two simple reasons:

Most companies cannot afford to give loyal employees 4% to 5% pay raises every year and hope to remain price competitive, and

Along with other noncash reward systems, pay‐for‐performance programs are the most powerful performance motivators we know of at this time.

Kevin Kehoe will be a presenter at Landscape Alberta’s upcoming 2013 Green Industry Conference. His workshop, Managing Work Crews for Excellence, will be held on Thursday, November 14 at the Edmonton Expo Centre at Northlands. www.greenindustryshow.com

http://www.greenindustryshow.com/


Slips and trips are common in our industry, but they are preventable

Landscape crews, professional lawncare crews, and other horticultural employees who work outdoors on wet, muddy and uneven terrain are at high risk of slip and trip injuries.

These injuries often occur at job sites, but they can also occur indoors, especially when “good housekeeping” isn’t a high priority.

Slips and trips may result in broken bones, sprains, concussions, or other painful and costly injuries. These injuries, however, are preventable.

What causes slip and trip injuries?

Running on the job is a major cause of slip and trip injuries.

These injuries can also occur by not being on constant lookout for hazards, such as holes in the ground, “bumps” (sticks, stones, partially hidden rocks), or unexpected changes in the terrain.

Applying fertilizer or other products in light drizzle, working on slippery slopes or when the morning dew is still on the ground can also result in slips and trips.

So can wearing improper footwear or failing to put tools and equipment back where they belong.

Slippery grass clippings, poor lighting conditions, icy spots in winter, spills and electrical cords or hoses left out are among the many other contributors to slip and trip injuries.

How to prevent slip and trip injuries

Pay close attention to conditions. Remember that wet grass can be very slick, and that you need to slow down on muddy or uneven terrain.

Wear boots that have good traction.

Put tools, equipment and materials back where they belong.

Be especially careful if you are applying liquids.

Pay close attention if you are carrying a load that may block your view.

Practice good housekeeping. If you spill something, clean it up. If you spot a potential tripping hazard, eliminate it if possible or bring it to your crew leader’s attention.

Safety Tips: Slip and Trip Injuries

Almost any firm or individual performing services can be the cause of economic losses when things go wrong. If resulting losses are sustained by clients or other third parties, would your business have the resources to defend a claim—no matter how baseless it is? The right errors and omissions policy may pay for resulting judgements against you, including court and defence costs, even years after a job has been completed.

In the design field, Landscape Designers, Land Planners, Tree Specialists/Arborists, Irrigation Designers, Landscape Gardeners, Horticultural Consultants, and Water and Land Drainage Consultants are all susceptible to errors and omissions (E&O) claims. To complicate matters, professional services are often excluded from coverage in Commercial General Liability policies. If you are performing professional services without E&O insurance coverage, you are running a serious risk. Professional Liability policies are designed to provide coverage for claims or damages and may be triggered simply by a demand for money or services as the result of an alleged negligent act, error, or omission in the performance of professional services. Errors and omissions insurance protects your company if a client alleges that you were professionally negligent or failed to perform professional duties as outlined in a contract. Even if these accusations are unwarranted, the ever‐increasing cost of legal and defence fees can

quickly affect your company by inflicting financial hardship on you, your family, and your employees. Has a client ever accused your design services of causing property damage, bodily injury, or financial loss? Would you be covered in such an instance? The answer may often rely on whether you completed the installation or if this was handled by a third party.

1. Designing a Landscape Installation of Various Types for a Third Party: If the design installation results in bodily injury or third party property damage, this, along with any resulting financial loss, would be excluded from the Commer‐cial General Liability policy as a professional service. Even if it was the com‐pany fulfilling the job that installed the product incorrectly, your company could still be named in the lawsuit and at a minimum you would incur defence costs to be removed from the action.

2. Designing a Landscape Installation of Various Types to Be Completed by You and/or Your Employees: If the installation is done incorrectly and re‐sults in bodily injury or third party property damage, under the HortProtect Commercial General Liability, this is covered as part of your operations and not excluded as a professional service. If you are not a HortProtect policyholder and provide design services for your company, check with your current insurance broker to see if you are covered for this exposure.

Continued on next page...

Errors and Omissions Insurance for Design Professionals



Claims Examples Claim: Water in Basement A contractor cites design as an issue as they built a backyard landscaping project “exactly per the design.” As a result, the natural flow of water from the downspouts comes towards the house as opposed to away from house and floods the basement. Regardless if design is the issue, a statement of claim has been served and a defence must be brought forward. A Commercial General Liability policy would not respond, and a Professional Liability policy would be required for coverage.

Claim: Vicarious Liability A tree company is hired by Client A to provide services. Client A’s neighbour asks for an impromptu opinion on the stability of a tree on his property. The tree company confirms at a glance that tree looks “okay.” The tree falls over within a month and collapses the resident’s roof. The neighbour sues the tree company for damages. A Commercial General Liability policy would not respond, and a Professional Liability policy would be required for coverage. Even the most skilled professionals can make mistakes and even the smallest mistakes can result in serious consequences. From human error to equipment failure, many circumstances can result in a lawsuit. E&O insurance should be considered essential coverage for any professional service providers. This article is not intended to be a comprehensive resource on the subject of E&O liability. It is simply a general overview of some of the key issues and considerations facing design professionals today. Marsh Canada recognizes the importance of managing the risk associated with this exposure and has full advisory capabilities on both potential liabilities and appropriate protection. If you are interested in obtaining additional information on the subject of E&O liability, please contact your local Marsh Canada representative. Marsh offers general liability and vehicle coverage as part

of the HortProtect Insurance program, exclusively for

association members across Canada through the

Canadian Nursery Landscape Association (CNLA). The

Marsh representative for Alberta is Leah Lefebvre and she

can be contacted at 1‐877‐484‐1966 or

[email protected].

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rt M

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Entry forms and guides are available online at www.landscape-alberta.com.

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For more information, contact Kyla McKechnie at [email protected] 780-489-1991 or 1-800-378-3198

“Even the most skilled professionals can

make mistakes and even the smallest mistakes can result in serious consequences.”


august/september green for life 2013

Documents

life augustseptember

years ofvolunteer service

dean falkenberg

deans enthusiasm