Employees report they are often asked this question when they tell someone new where they work. For people who are not in or around the construction industry, this is a good guess. The employee’s response is something along the lines of “No, we are a fall protection company.” This answer raises more questions, as they wonder how this has anything to do with “Strands.” Let’s dive into it.

NSGC began its journey in 1970 with the first company, Northern Strands. Back then, the company focused on supplying wire rope to the local mining industry, which gave the name a simple description: a company supplying wire rope in North America. Later, Northern Strands expanded to offer a range of complementary products and services for mines worldwide. As the scope of work widened, new companies were established (Fortis Mining Engineering Manufacturing and Certified Sales and Rentals) to support NSGC’s vision of being the only call you’ll have to make.

After NSGC specialized in the mining industry, with some of the strictest regulations, the need for safer products and services in the construction and agriculture industries became apparent. Drawing on the expertise of the teams built within the companies, we expanded our focus from thousands of feet underground to hundreds of feet above.

Northern Strands Winnipeg was established in the summer of 2020 in response to the demand for working-at-height specialists and training in Manitoba. In our case, the strands of wire rope that connect Winnipeg’s working-at-heights experts to NSGC run from the rigging on suspended access platforms to the internals of a self-retracting lifeline.

The Winnipeg Team started with one guy willing to relocate from Saskatchewan, David. With his determination and drive, he has worked hard to meet the specific needs of local workers. He started in a small office meant only for one person and moved to a building housing suspended access and fall protection equipment, a training room, an office area, and a showroom for specialized personal protective equipment for professionals working at heights.

The Winnipeg branch focuses solely on the safety of workers who spend their time on top of or hanging from tall structures. We care that you return home to your family each night. By staying up to date with the latest laws, standards, and regulations, we consistently provide services that incorporate the latest safety measures while you work at heights. With the support of an extended team of experts from the Group of Companies, which includes designers, engineers, and a fabrication team, we can assist with and consult on everything from personal equipment and training to the design and installation of engineered fall protection.

We look forward to many more years of growth and working together to keep you safe.