Blog

SICA would like to congratulate our Member on the recent VRCA Awards of Excellence. See More here

PROJECT OVERVIEW
Client: Interior Health Authority (Partnerships BC)
Location: Penticton, BC
Contract Type: Construction Management
Size: 40,000 sq. ft.
The Penticton Regional Hospital Phase 2 project involves the renovation of vacated areas in the hospital for the expansion of the emergency department into a space almost four times the size of the current department. Additionally, a brand-new pharmacy is created in the old surgical suite.

Challenges and Resolutions

CPH worked very closely and collaboratively with HHAngus & PARKIN as much as possible to use the capacity of the existing systems in the old hospital facility. For example, chilled water and heating. Where the capacity of the new emergency area was exceeded, additional equipment was ordered to compensate for the new load. We were also able to add an entirely new air handling unit to serve the new area being renovated in the new facility. This allowed us to demolish the old air handling equipment so there is a much newer and more efficient means of space conditioning There were significant challenges maintaining function of an existing emergency department while renovating the same space. This meant many phased partial turnover of the emergency department to provide the facility with a prescribed number of emergency patient rooms. Phased turnovers for occupancy meant full commissioning of each partial turnover as the job progressed, which required planning and coordinated shutdowns when tie-ins to infrastructure was being completed for each phase. For example, when tying into the medical gas systems in the project, there was no way of isolating the line, so the project team needed to temporarily backfeed the ICU with med gas while the entire system was shutdown to add valves and complete tie ins for the new renovation. There were also significant challenges with abatement of hazardous material. We mitigated this process through the project by ensuring all the infection controls were monitored on an ongoing basis. The health authority also completed inspections on a daily basis to ensure that all means, and methods were being implemented to ensure complete infection control of hazardous substances within an active hospital.

Safety

CPH believes their people are their biggest asset, their well-being and safety is one of their fundamental core values. They believe that excellent health and safety performance is key to their success. They operate on the premise that all incidents and injuries are preventable. Their goal is to perform their work with no harm to people, no damage to property, and to the environment. It is their policy through leadership, training, and application of their management systems, to ensure that Health and Safety are fully integrated into the conceptual design, engineering, and execution phases of all their projects, and nurtures a positive safety culture throughout the company and their subcontractors. They are committed to conducting business in a way that is proactive about protecting the health and safety of their employees, subcontractors, clients, and the community. Executive Leadership Team, management, and employees are committed 100% in a collaborative effort to being an industry leader in health and safety and in turn ensuring a safe and healthy workplace. A job is only well done if it is done safely. Each and every individual is responsible to confirm the understanding and execution of HSE roles and responsibilities, there is no exception. Their employees are responsible, authorized, and required to "STOP" work immediately if they become aware of an unsafe act or condition that could place anyone in danger or if they are not confident in the work plan. 

Hazard and Risk Analysis 
The foundation of the risk assessment program is Hazard Identification, Analysis, and Control process that enables them to identify the potential hazards that will be pertinent to the scope of work, quantify the potential risks associated with these hazards based on frequency and severity and identify controls required to mitigate or minimize these risks to a workable level. 
Pre-site Hazard Assessment 
Projects begin with a Pre-site Hazard Assessment that identifies potential hazards associated with the scope of the project. These hazards are in conjunction with the hazards identified at the “design for safety” stage. They support and integrate the Design for Safety process when they apply engineering principles and standards for designing features into the scope of work. Design for Safety results in safer operability and maintainability. 
Site Specific Health and Safety Plan 
Findings from the Hazard Assessments and JSA’s provide the basis for a site-specific Health and Safety Plan (SSHASP)) which is prepared for each site. All employees, subcontractors, and visitors to applicable sites are required to be orientated to the SSHASP alerting them to the specific requirements of the site and all the associated hazards. 
Field Level Risk Assessments 
They recognize new hazards can be introduced at any point throughout the day if there is a change in operation or change in conditions. In these circumstances, a field level risk assessment must be conducted to identify the potentially new hazard and the necessary controls required. This is done electronically and live before all tasks enabling interjection and support from a high-level experienced team to maintain standards above and beyond the minimum requirements. 
Audits and Inspections 
Their Safety program and performance is recognized by the provincial regulatory authority attaining 97% in our latest COR audit in BC. 
Subcontractor Management 
Subcontractors on the company’s jobsites are responsible for meeting all health and safety requirements set out by CPH and adhering to Jurisdictional regulations and guidelines.

Project Team

CPH
SITE SUPERINTENDANT – Rob Mace
PROJECT MANAGER – Shawn Parkes 
SUBTRADES KEY TO THEIR SUCCESS 
HVAC – TRIDENT MANUFACTURING 
MECH. INSULATION – AARCWEST
AUTOMATION – ESC
BALANCING – INLAND TECHNICAL
FIRE PROTECTION – OKANAGAN FIRE PROTECTION