November 28, 2008

Craig Moore takes on executive director role at Ontario Association of Demolition Contractors

PATRICIA WILLIAMS

staff writer

Twelve months prior to his scheduled retirement as safety director at Brampton’s Greenspoon Specialty Contracting, Craig Moore started to think about options for part-time employment.

“I knew I wouldn’t want to just play golf, go sailing or sit around and watch television,” says Moore, who has more than 40 years of experience under his belt in the construction industry.

“As long as I’m healthy, I want to keep going.”

Consulting was one option. But Moore, a fixture in association circles during the course of his career, came to the conclusion that he would play a more useful role representing the industry rather than providing training or consulting services to contractors.

He then approached the Ontario Association of Demolition Contractors (OADC). He suggested that the association create a new position, of executive director. The association agreed.

Days after retiring from Greenspoon in late September, Moore was on board at OADC.

He works a minimum of two days a week.

“My mandate is to work on behalf of the demolition contractors, to keep them informed and to represent them on issues that may affect them.”

The association represents 35 companies from across the province. In the past, Moore said, OADC’s primary focus was collective bargaining.

“Individual contractors would get involved as an issue arose that affected them but not collectively as an industry,” Moore said. “I hope to change this.”

One of his initial priorities is dealing with a proposal from the Interior Systems Contractors Association of Ontario (ISCAO) to create a new trade, called Hazardous Materials Worker.

“There are three jurisdictions that cover this type of work — painters, insulators and demolition contractors,” he says. “We are collectively working together to try to come up with a viable apprencticeship program.”

Other pending issues include a possible re-alignment of safe work associations, such as the Construction Safety Association of Ontario (CSAO).

“There is a concern that the effectiveness of the CSAO will be watered down,” says Moore, a past president of the CSAO.

Moore, a member of the National Demolition Association’s safety committee and also vice-chair of the safety committee of the Ontario Construction Users Council, expects to step up OADC lobbying efforts on pertinent issues.

“There will be more contact with the government via-emails, letters and directly.”

A Canadian registered safety professional, Moore got his feet wet in construction as a steamfitter, serving an apprenticeship with Local 46 of the plumbers and pipefitters’ union.

He has held a variety of jobs since then.

At one juncture, Moore worked as Ontario Hydro’s rigging supervisor at the Pickering and Darlington nuclear generating stations.

He also has been involved in some of the largest asbestos abatement projects in the province.

Along the road, Moore has taught asbestos awareness courses at various locales. He also has been involved in development of various rigging programs.

Moore joined Greenspoon Bros. Ltd. in April, 1995 as safety director, later performing the same responsibilities at Greenspoon Specialty Contracting.

“Craig is an awesome guy,” says former boss Kevin Mitchell, president of Greenspoon Specialty.

“We would have offered him a part-time job if he hadn’t accepted the association position.”

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