Jan 29, 2018
Western Canada Tire Dealers is deeply saddened to announce that Olive Storey, former WCTD Executive Director and former owner of Advanx Tire, passed away in Winnipeg on January 22, 2018.
Ms. Storey was widely regarded as a ground-breaker, in that she was among the first women to hold a senior executive position in the tire industry in North America.
Born in Vancouver in 1927, in 1950 Olive married Gord Storey, Dunlop Tires Western Sales Manager. Gord later purchased multi branch Advanx Tire, and also established a wholesale division, Astro Tire Distributors BC Ltd. Olive Storey joined the company and became office manager, until Gord Storey passed away unexpectedly in 1972.
Determined to carry on, Olive ran Advanx Tire for several years. The first female general manager of an independent tire company in Canada, she expanded the retail network and modernized existing facilities, including the head office.
She once credited the company’s survival and success to “great store managers and many committed employees.”
Advanx Tire was purchased by Kal Tire in 1981.
In 1983 Ms. Storey was approached by by Western Canada Tire Dealers and Retreaders Association (now WCTD) to become executive director. She agreed, and thus became the continent’s first female tire association executive director. It was a position that she held for 15 years. During that period she helped shape WCTD into one of the most successful associations anywhere in the industry.
When, in 2011, Olive was inducted into the WCTD Hall of Fame, the late Don Blythe commented:
“It is my opinion there has not been anyone before or after who has contributed more, including financially, to the success of WCTD than Olive Storey…. She put WCTD on the map.”
WCTD extends its sincere condolences to the family.
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A celebration of Olive Storey’s life, conducted by her nephew Father Michael Storey, will be held on Saturday March 3, 2018 at 2 pm at Chapel Lawn Memorial Gardens, 4000 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, MB. A reception will follow. A memorial service and Internment will be held in West Vancouver in mid May (details to follow).
Jan 8, 2018
We are truly saddened to report that Don Blythe passed away on the evening of January 5th, 2017. Don was a former executive director of Western Canada Tire Dealers and an unswerving supporter and industry stalwart for many decades. The association extends its heartfelt condolences to his wife, Laura, and to the family.
Don was deeply respected across North America by many in the tire business and regarded as ‘a fixture’ in the Canadian tire industry.
Don had over 60 years of experience in the industry, much of it as the former Executive Director of the Western Canada Tire Dealers. He began his career with Goodyear in 1957; over the next 15 years, he held various operating and sales positions. In 1972, he moved to OK Tire, and took the position of Tire General Manager. He opened his own OK Tire franchise (in Burnaby, BC) in 1978, and in 1980, he was elected to the OK Tire Board of Directors.
Don returned to the OK Tire home office as Managing Director in 1982, and a year later, he was named President. Also in 1982, he was elected to the Board of the Western Canadian Tire Dealers and Retreaders Association, now WCTD.
He served as the association’s President from 1995 – 1997, and he was the Executive Director from 2003 until he retired in 2009. Don was a leader in scrap tire recycling within Canada, and was instrumental in starting several scrap tire programs, primarily in British Columbia.
Don Blythe was named to the Western Canada Tire Dealers Hall of Fame in 2008; and named to the Tire Industry Association (TIA) Hall of Fame in 2010.
A full tribute and obituary will follow soon. RIP, Don.
Sep 26, 2016
Safety Alert
On two occasions, the shop was airing up a tire and it blew off the rim at around 90 psi.
The tires had been placed inside a certified cage and a locking air chuck attached to an extension hose with an inline pressure gauge was used.
All technicians had received appropriate TIA training.
Good news – no one was injured.
Findings
A certified cage was used, thus preventing any physical injuries.
The rims were not adequately inspected before being reused.
The rims had been exposed to excessive heat causing damage to the rim and making them unfit to be used.
Learning opportunities
The use of the cage prevented potential bodily injury and property damage. This is why a cage is always used.
All rims need to be checked for damage, such as excessive heat, chips, warping, bent, etc. before being reused.
Alcoa rims have safety features:
Prior to 2009, they have a sticker that if exposed to heat will be charred.
After Jan 2009, they have a 1” clear round heat indicator located next to the roll stamp on the inside as well as a 1” clear round heat indicator on the tire side drop well.
For more information on Alcoa rims, please refer to their
Wheel Service Manual.
May 3, 2015
Matt White: Airing on the side of safety
Matt White is the much traveled Director of Tire Service at TIA. WCTD recently caught up with him between trips for just long enough to check in on how things are going—and what’s on his radar…
We started by asking Matt what impact he’s noticed from his activities here in Canada over the last few years.
MW. “I would say, in the last two years, we’ve logged 45 weeks plus of training throughout Canada. What I see is total acceptance. And I see that in the way that people are changing their operations and they way they do business.”
What do you put that down to?
MW: It’s a combination of things. But really it’s everything from the success of the classes to a broader awareness of all that’s related to safety, and a great spirit of collaboration within WCTD. Also, we’ve had few fatalities in the industry in the last few years, which brings a sense of urgency. Having a commitment from everyone involved to move ahead and change things has been really crucial.
I fully believe we’re making a difference throughout Canada: in the way that the WCTD safety committee has come together; and in the way people are talking safety all the time. Instead of less training there’s more training, which means companies are committed to a program of ongoing education.
What do you say to people who don’t even have a safety program?
MW: They really need to look into the way they’re doing business. Through the association, they can get help from the safety committee—we’re here to help. That’s why we develop these programs. At TIA our motto is “Safety Starts Here.”
Ultimately, I don’t “sell” anything. My job is to save lives. It’s what we do: work and safety awareness.
What’s so challenging about the tire business?
MW: Everyone thinks it’s “just a tire”. But it’s not. It’s a specific piece of equipment. And in some cases we’re dealing with one of most dangerous jobs in the world—as well as some of the largest tires in the world. The people I’m talking to aren’t “tire boys;” they’re tire technicians with a specific job.
Handling large tires requires specific training, as offered by the EMT course
What’s new?
MW: In 2015 we’ll be revamping the Earthmover Certification Program, which will be the ETS program, with levels 300 and 400. We also plan on revamping the CTS program—Commercial Tire Service. We’re preparing that for release in 2016.
Just released this month was the updated Industrial Tire Service (ITS) program. For 2017 we will be redoing the Automotive Tire Service (ATS) program. We’re showing the members throughout the industry that we are committed to continuous education; and that we keep our programs as up-to-date as we possibly can.
Can you tell us about training for women only?
MW: As you know our president is Freda Boyer. In talking with Freda we have always committed to equality in our industry, so TIA decided to come up with a program for females only. The course is scheduled to take place in Phoenix, October 6-9—which also happens to be Breast Cancer Awareness month. TIA’s goal is to have complete equality, with female instructors throughout the tire industry. As far as Canada and WCTD is concerned, our plan is to schedule a similar program here in 2016, details which will be announced soon.
We’ve always brought the best of whatever works in the States into Canada as soon as possible. I was at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, when a female instructor came up to me and said: “You know, you touched my life six years ago. I was working at a tire shop and had come to a class with you. In no time at all I was training others,” she said.
My feeling was that the momentum was there—and the time was right. Here was somebody who was still in the industry and could be really helpful in passing on the safety message. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter whether it’s a man or woman—nor does race count. In the end, a technician is a technician is a technician.
How do you define what you do?
MW: My job is to travel the world showing people how and why to do things. And I hope they follow the rules. If you lock out the truck properly, it can’t be driven—and nobody’s going to get run over. If you use a remote control air device instead of standing in front of the tire, and it blows, you won’t die.
What I teach are facts, not fiction.
As for The Tracker, I’m glad to be part of it. People come up and ask me when my next article is coming out—which tells me that we are offering a valuable service. And that makes me very happy.
I guess at the end of the day people see me as the face of safety.
And I’m fine with that!
May 1, 2015
Run Over
Incident:
A tractor/trailer unit had been brought to a dealership for a tire repair on the trailer. The vehicle had been moved to the back where there’s a concrete pad specifically for repairs. The tire that needed work wasn’t on the concrete pad, but on asphalt.
Employee “A” installed a lock-out tag and wheel chocks, crawled between the duals and proceeded to work on the tire.
Employee “B” was walking around the vehicle with the customer, noticed that the tire in question was not on the concrete pad and proceeded to remove the lock-out tag and wheel chocks while instructing the customer to pull ahead by 10 feet so that the work could be completed on the concrete pad.
Employee “A” was run over by the trailer duals resulting in several broken bones.
Findings:
- The tire that needed work wasn’t in the correct position to be repaired safely.
- Employee “B” removed a lock-out tag and wheel chocks that they hadn’t placed themselves and did it without consulting Employee “A”.
Learning Opportunities:
- Always conduct a pre-job hazard assessment prior to starting your task.
- Make sure you’re trained to safely perform tasks before starting them. Speak up if you aren’t.
- NEVER:
- Lay between the duals.
- Remove a lock-out tag and/or wheel chocks until you have conducted a 360° walk-around to ensure no one is working on the unit.
So let’s be careful out there.
Apr 14, 2015
Incident:
While changing the 4th tire on a water truck in the customer’s yard, the truck slipped off the hydraulic jack, causing it to land on its rear bumper; and causing one employee to fall and strike their head on the ground, resulting in cuts to the forehead. The worker received medical attention but there was no time lost from work.
Findings:
The hydraulic jack was placed in the middle of the axle when lifting, which is not the proper jacking surface.
• A jacking pad was not used.
• Wheel chocks were not used.
Learning Opportunities
• Proper assessment of the task:
– Jacking/lifting of a vehicle with a partial load or on unstable ground can easily move.
– If the vehicle is unstable (i.e. liquid load), lift only one side at a time, so as to have multiple points of contact with the ground.
– Make sure you’re lifting on a stable service.
– Make sure the jacks or jack stands can handle the vehicle’s weight.
– Never jack/lift from the middle of the axle, use the correct jacking point.
– Ensure the use of wheel chocks to stabilize the vehicle.
– Use jack stands in conjunction with hydraulic jacks to improve safety.
Let’s be careful out there!
