Even so, this job presented unique obstacles. The angled design of the building’s roof masts makes it difficult to reach many of the areas needing remediation. Certified needed to innovate if the work was to be done in time for the stadium to re-open.

“Due to the design, traditional scaffolding or swing stages aren’t feasible for some of our mast work,” says Certified president Byran Place. “We could scaffold the masts, but it doesn’t make sense cost-wise and schedule-wise.”

Instead, the Certified team is using rope access to get workers where they need to be. “It makes more sense for us to do ropes on the mast, because of the logistics of getting people and paint up there,” explains Place.

The new approach is cost-effective and flexible. But, as with any type of high-angle rope work, there can be no compromises when it comes to safety. Certified corporate culture puts safety front and center. So, they weren’t about to risk their workers’ lives, or the company’s reputation as one of the best in the business, on this challenging project.

With the help of SPRAT (The Society of Professional Rope Access Technicians), Certified has been training its workers to safely ascend the masts so they can paint the hard to reach areas 20 stories above the ground. Place outlines the process, highlighting the fact each member of the crew has to prove themselves long before they get a chance to ascend to the top of the masts.

“When we have a new guy on-site, the first thing we do is put him through an orientation. Then we get him tested on ropes in a safe area, to make sure they understand how to use ropes, not just that they have a certification. If you have the certification it allows you to get on site, but we have to see that you are able to move on ropes safely.”

Place adds that the rope skills are just one piece of the puzzle. Potential crew members also have to demonstrate the ability to handle the precise painting requirements for the coating. “Once they pass that, then we teach them the coating specifications (the paint must be applied to a specific thickness for maximum durability). It takes a special kind of person. They have to be strong enough to take on the physical demands of the work and they have to be detail oriented enough to ensure they apply the coating according to strict specifications. If they can’t meet both the rope safety and coating specification requirements, we don’t keep them on.”

That unbending commitment safety and quality doesn’t end once a worker gets the go-ahead to join the rope access team. Certified’s team is a select group.

“We take no risks whatsoever,” says Jeff Lepain, the supervisor of Certified’s mast crew. “Before we start our shift in the morning we meet and discuss the scope of work for each day. We want people to go home the way they came in.”

In addition to a review of the work to be done each day, the crew checks and double checks their gear, using a buddy system, to ensure nothing is overlooked. According to Lepain, the challenges of this job have built a special bond among the team.

“It’s a sense of accomplishment and ownership. We take pride in what we are doing and the quality of the work we are supplying. I’ve been in this trade for over twenty years and the group of guys we have on this project is unsurpassed in my experience.”

For Certified, being awarded the contract is another testament to the company’s reputation as an industry leader.

“I’m pleased to be on a site where safety is paramount,” says Place. “It certainly aligns with our philosophy. As Cliff (Cliff Harper, company founder) likes to say, ‘No amount of money is worth a man’s health.’ It’s also a legacy project. I’m looking forward to going to a football game 10 or 20 years from now and being able to show my kids what we did here.”

Certified Coating Specialists – BC Place Project Facts

Certified Coating Specialist workers using rope access reach the top of the 47 metre tall masts for the new roof being installed on BC Place Stadium.

• Number of Masts: 36
• Height of Masts: 47 metres
• Overall Height above ground at top of mast: 76 metres
• Coating: Two coat system supplied by AkzoNobel
• Number for ropes required to reach top of mast: 2
• High angle access methods utilized by Certified on BC Place project: Rope access, swing stages, ‘Angel Wing’ movable scaffold (for painting the compression struts between masts)

Certified is the industry leading coating contractor specializing in corrosion management, asset rehabilitation, lead abatement, and industrial and marine painting. Certified is a SSPC QP1 and QP2 certified contractor, and in 2009 was ranked as one of the fastest growing companies in Canada by PROFIT.

Mark grew up in the Canadian oil and gas industry with the last decade focused on anti-corrosion in the pipeline and pipe coating industry. As Canadian Manager for ShawCor’s field coating division Canusa-CPS he was instrumental in achieving market growth objectives, new product development, and the commercial introduction of many new products and services. Mark has also used his experience and understanding of coating application to make positive contributions to the industry as a whole by spearheading the creation of the first Field Applied Pipeline Coating Applicator Training Course. NACE will be facilitating the first pilot of this course near Edmonton Alberta September 12-15, 2011.

Mark believes his shift to Certified is a natural progression in his career:

“I spent the last 11 years as the Canadian Manager for the industry’s leading manufacturer of field applied pipeline coatings, and working alongside the world’s leading applicator of plant applied pipeline coatings. It seemed like a natural progression to move to Certified, the industry’s leading coating contractor, focused on field coating applications.” He adds, “I always felt proud to work with the industries best (ShawCor). Certified is the industry’s best coating contractor and my role is to simply help more asset owners understand why.”

As Vice President Business Development, Mark will be responsible for exploring new markets and geographic regions ensuring asset owners across Canada have access to the valued help, answers, and services Certified provides.

“As much as I am part of Team Certified, I work ‘for’ the customer! Understanding needs and what is valued most to ensure Certified is best positioned to provide it”, says Mark of his perceived role in the company. He adds, “understanding an asset owners’ primary interest is the productive life of their asset and the profit it helps generate. My focus is to help ensure Certified’s services will be provided such that the impact on production, profit, and life cycle cost are minimized.”

Mark holds an MBA from the University of Calgary and a Bachelor of Administration degree from Athabasca University. Mark has also been a long-standing member of NACE International, the Canadian Heavy Oil Association, and Ducks Unlimited. Follow Mark William on LinkedIn.

Contact Mark William directly at: 403-620-7657

Darren Ponte (CSO, Project Manager) said it best “as with every project of CCS, safety is of paramount importance and this project clearly illustrates that a project can be completed under a tight time frame with outstanding quality without compromising the safety of the workers or degradation of the environment”.

Consistent with CCS’s mission statement of “exceeding customers expectations” and upon completion of the final inspection by the Owner, consultant and inspection team, Alberta Transportation’s project consultant commented, “The sentiment expressed was how cooperative you (CCS), your field supervisor and crew members were and how the quality of the project is exceptional.”

Mission Accomplished.