Fisher Powerline Construction - Progress Through Education and Training

[Figure 1]

Fisher Powerline Construction Ltd. is a Fort McMurray locally owned Aboriginal company specializing in high voltage Powerline Construction and Maintenance.

Committed to safety, controlling costs, and always delivering on schedule, Fisher Powerline Construction (FPC) provides construction and maintenance services on overhead and underground distribution and transmission systems and substations, using both cold and hot line work methods at varying voltages. Based in Fort McMurray, FPC operates in the oil sands and throughout Alberta, providing project and construction management and a variety of high voltage specialty services.

FPC is ISNetworld recognized, and in good standing with WCB, NABBA, IBEW, the Fort McMurray Chamber of Commerce, and Canqual.

FPC is a family-owned business established by Roger and Shyerene Fisher in November 2006, FPC has seen rapid growth in just a few short years. The company opened its doors with two employees and a used digger truck. Today, it employs more than 50 staff and operates more than 40 pieces of equipment.

Shyerene, the company's Vice President, attributes FPC's success to two main reasons. "One is oil - the Fort McMurray region is unique," she says. The second reason is the Fishers' wealth of industry experience. "I had worked for larger companies throughout my career, so I had a lot of contacts, and Roger had a lot of construction contacts," Shyerene explains. In addition, since the Fishers had both worked for larger companies in the past, "we know what the clients' issues are. We knew what to do and what not to do."

Roger, who is FPC's President, has more than 30 years of experience in the Powerline business. "He was a lineman, so he knows exactly what our workers are experiencing," Shyerene says. "He goes out of his way to try and give them the best working conditions and the best living conditions he can, because he knows what it's like to be on the road away from your family."

As just one example, in 2006 the company put into place a policy for employees who want to go to school to get their journeyman's certificate. FPC will compensate employees 40 hours a week straight time wages while they are in school, in exchange for a signed agreement stating that after they have completed their education, they will continue working for the company for at least two years.

This policy benefits both the employees and the company. When workers obtain their journeyman's certificate, notes Shyerene, there is a great feeling of accomplishment. "Journeyman testing is very difficult, so it benefits everybody," she says. "And, once you've got your education, nobody can take that away from you."

[Figure 2]

FPC's first employee, who obtained his journeyman's ticket thanks to this policy, was an Aboriginal worker originally from Manitoba. Since that time, a number of both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal employees have successfully completed the program as well.

FPC has many connections to the Aboriginal communities. Shyerene, who is a registered Métis, is now in the process of becoming recognized as a First Nations member due to recent legislative changes. FPC's workforce is approximately 60 per cent Aboriginal. "These employees support our organization in many different roles, from senior management positions to supervisors, to various positions out in the field," says FPC Project Manager Shawn Woon.

Currently, one of Fisher Powerline's larger undertakings is a 260-kilovolt construction project using bundle conductor and lattice towers. Each of the 795 ACSR sub-conductors is just over an inch in diameter and will see tensions in excess of 5,000 pounds. The towers are more than 130 feet tall and weigh over 20,000 pounds. "Even though this is cold/de-energized construction, hazards are everywhere and everyone has to do their part in order for us to avoid injuries," Woon says. In addition, "we have live line work ongoing and high voltage cleaning of energized equipment up to 260 kilovolts. These projects bring a whole new set of complexities and hazards that must be mitigated."

In all that it does, FPC works hard to be a leader in safety, and has been recognized by Work Safe Alberta as a Best Safety Performer. "We make a commitment to all of our employees that we will make every effort to get them home safely at the end of the day," Woon says. "To this end, we are continuously looking for ways to improve the way we do business and achieve our goal of zero accidents or incidents. We continue to make progress through interventions, monitoring, and continued education and training for our workforce. And, if we continue to perform our work safely, turn it over correctly to our clients the first time, and consistently complete the work on schedule, we can expect continued success and growth. We owe our success to the continued support of both our clients and our employees, and look forward to successfully meeting the challenges of the future."

Contact:

Shyerene Fisher, Vice President Fisher Powerline Construction
T: (780) 713.3474
F: (780) 791.1905
E: sfisher@fisherplc.ca
E: generalinquiries@fisherplc.ca
W: www.fisherplc.ca