For the second year in a row, the Northern Strands Group of Companies(Northern Strands, Fortis Mining Engineering & Manufacturing, Certified Mining & Construction Sales & Rentals), was invited to participate in Children's Wish Exile Island.  On March 10, 2017, The Children’s Wish Foundation challenged 15 local business and community groups to gather a Cast of 10 and take part in an action packed day of fun and friendly competition all in a united effort to grant 15 heartfelt wishes. Modeled after the popular television show “Survivor”, all the “Cast”-aways were sent to Legends Centre, Warman, SK to compete in a series of mental, physical, creative and strategic challenges. Each team was paired with a local Wish Child who cheered us on and inspired these brave competitors.

Here is a link to a story the Clarke's Crossing Gazette did on Exile Island this year http://www.ccgazette.ca/wp/?p=9125

The child we are aligned with this year for Exile Island was Aurora.   Her favorite movie is Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2.  Luckily, this year's Exile Island theme was movies!  Her favorite movie is about food coming alive...Thus Team Meatballs was born!  Our team theme and costumes were based on the Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2 movie. We won two team awards at Exile Island. Set Design/team area and the one we are most proud of Top Box Office/most money raised!  See the pictures below of our time at Exile Island...

We are proud to say that for last 4 years in a row we have donated over $10,000 towards granting a Child's Wish!

We also have a very unique way of giving back to the community. We use our Safety Training Ambulance to raise money at events like Craven Country Jamboree and other similar events. Our Trainers donate their time as first responders at these types of events. They offer basic medical care out of the ambulance. Any money we are paid is donated back to Children's Wish. Even if the event cannot afford to pay, our Trainers will still volunteer simply to help those in need.

Every year our efforts have helped give hope to a local family that needed it the most. We believe one of the key reasons we are so successful in encouraging our employees to donate their time is the connection we make with the child we are aligned with. By doing events like Exile Island you can see the difference you are making in the child and their family's life.  

We would like to thank Novatex Industrial printers for making our great banner and The Cherry On Top - Sweet Treats by Erin for making our creative cupcakes.  See pictures below.

Northern Strands Group of Companies is proudly Saskatoon, Saskatchewan owned and operated.

Spring is just around the corner.  In Saskatchewan spring means muddy roads and fields.  Many trucks, trailers and heavy equipment will be stuck in the mud and need to be towed out with either recovery straps or recovery ropes.  Northern Strands has the highest quality heavy duty tow straps and heavy duty tow ropes in the industry, with many of our towing and rigging products manufactured in our rigging warehouse.  Our high quality tow ropes and tow straps have a high breaking strength, are safety certified and tested.  All of our towing and rigging products are certified for job sites and we will provide all necessary paperwork.  Northern Strands takes our commitment to safety very seriously.  We are a COR certified company and a Mission Zero members. 

Right now we have 2 ply tow straps, double braided polyester tow ropes and 8 strand tow ropes on sale(while quantities last).  With any tow strap or tow rope sale we will give you a free Vehicle Recovery and Towing Guide.

Check out the links to our flyers below.

8 Strand Tow Rope: http://northernstrands.com/pdf/ropecordage/8strandtowrope.pdf

Double Braided Polyester Tow Rope: http://northernstrands.com/pdf/ropecordage/doublebraidedpolyestertowrope.pdf

2 Ply Tow Straps: http://northernstrands.com/pdf/towstraps.pdf

Call or come in to request sale pricing on our vehicle recovery ropes and straps.

Phone 306-242-7073 or email info@northernstrands.com to request pricing on specific products. 

We have officially launched Northern Strands new website!  There are a number of important new features and tools we've added to best serve our clients:

• The new website was built with the latest website design software.  This means our site is responsive/interactive.  This has numerous benefits.  Most importantly, our site is mobile friendly.  This means that if you access our site from a phone or tablet it will auto format like an app!  This makes our site much more user friendly.
• We now have a Rigging Calculator  http://northernstrands.com/sling-calculator.aspx  and a Wirelock Socketing Calculator!  http://northernstrands.com/wirelock-socketing-calculator.aspx  If you open either on your phone or tablet they will appear just like an app.  Best of all, our Rigging and Wirelock Socketing Calculators are free to use!  
• Our website now has Custom Quotation Form fields for clients to easily enter information when they want custom products.  No downloading of documents needed.  You enter the information right into the webpage.  This will enable us to give our clients fast and accurate quotes.  Custom Sheave Quotation Form  http://northernstrands.com/blocks-sheaves.aspx  Custom Material Basket, Man Basket, Spreader beam and Jib Crane Quotation Forms  http://northernstrands.com/material-handling.aspx 
• Many new and revised tabs. With some of the most significant changes being the adding of an Equipment Testing & Certification tab  http://northernstrands.com/equipment-testing-certification.aspx and more detailed information on our Mining Wire Rope, Attachments & Equipment products and services http://northernstrands.com/mining-wire-rope.aspx
• All of our updated Northern Strands brochures and flyers can be found and downloaded from our Media page http://northernstrands.com/mining-wire-rope.aspx  
• Northern Strands offers hundreds of products and services across our five divisions.  If your having trouble finding what your looking, try our new search bar in the top right hand corner. 
• Plus many more improvements!

There are many different methods of attaching an anchor point to a structure in order to use the anchor for fall protection.  Determining the method of fall protection anchor installation should be done by a qualified engineer.

In section 116 of the OH&S fall protection regulations it states that “ an Anchor point or Anchor plate means a secure connecting point capable of safely withstanding the impact forces applied by a fall protection system”.

It is extremely important that the structure we are attaching our fall protection anchors to is strong enough to handle the loads implied in the case of a fall.  It is great to be tied off, but if what we are tying off to isn’t strong enough to hold the worker bad things can happen.

Not only should fall protection anchors be inspected annually, the structure they are attached to should be inspected on an annual basis to ensure they are safe to use by a qualified person.  A visual inspection should be done on any anchor and attachment method prior to use by the worker.

If you are purchasing a pre-engineered fall protection anchor or fall protection lifeline system ensure whatever you are attaching these fall protection products to is going to withstand the forces incurred during a fall.  The fall protection product you are using may be engineered but is what you are attaching to engineered?

Our Northern Strands Fall Protection Division can design and install fall protection systems.  Plus, complete fall protection rescue plans and fall protection recertification.

At Northern Strands our Fall Protection division regularly receives questions regarding OH&S fall protection regulations in Saskatchewan. One of the most popular questions being, "When is a fall protection control zone required?"

OH&S regulations state the following regarding control zones:

OH&S Reg. 116.2

1. An employer or contractor shall ensure that a control zone:
   1. Is only used if a worker can fall from a level surface in a work area; and
   2. Is not less than two meters wide when measured from the unguarded edge.
2. When crossing a control zone mentioned in subsection (1), a worker:
   1. Subject to subsection (4) in not required to use a fall protection system, other than the control zone, to enter or leave the work area; and
   2. Shall follow the most direct route to get to or from the unguarded edge.
3. An employer or contractor shall ensure that a control zone is clearly marked with an effective raised warning line or other equally effective method if a worker is working more than two metres from an unguarded edge.
4. An employer or contractor shall ensure that a worker who has to work within a control zone uses:
   1. A travel restraint system; or
   2. A means that is as equally effective as a travel restraint system and that prevents the worker from getting to the unguarded edge.

If you are working on a flat roof and do not have this in place there can be consequences such as fines for the worker and the contractor or owner. It's the law and we see too often roofs where people are working or required to work without control zones. Control zones are inexpensive and easy to install. Make sure you are aware this is not a suggestion but a requirement when working on a flat roof.

To learn more about control zones and Fall Protection Systems contact our Fall Protection Divisions

Phone 30-242-7073

Email lifelines@northernstrands.com

Or visit our fall protection webpage http://northernstrands.com/fall-protection.aspx

Northern Strands is proudly Saskatoon, Saskatchewan owned and operated.