SKS Welding Systems Privacy Policy
Effective Date: May 1, 2023
Introduction
This privacy policy (“Privacy Policy”) describes how SKS Welding Systems Ltd. (“SKS Welding Systems”, “Company”, “we”, “us”, or “our”) collects, stores, uses, and distributes personal information when you access and/or use the SKS Welding Systems websites at www.ca.sks-welding.com (the “Websites”), when we provide any services to you or when you purchase, request, or obtain any goods or services from us, including, but not limited to, from or on the Websites (each our “Services”).
SKS Welding Systems respects your privacy and is committed to keeping personal information accurate, confidential, and secure. We collect, use, and disclose personal information that is relevant for the purposes as laid out in this Privacy Policy only with your consent and only for the Services we provide you, in accordance with applicable privacy legislation. We always ask for your permission before we share or use information for a purpose other than to what you have consented. This privacy policy is based on the principles set out in the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA).
Accountability
SKS Welding Systems has established procedures to comply with this Privacy Policy and has designated a Privacy Officer as the contact person who is accountable for our compliance. Contact information for the Privacy Officer is detailed at the end of this Privacy Policy.
Identifying Purposes of Collecting Information
SKS Welding Systems will identify the purposes for which personal information is collected at or before the time the information is collected. If SKS Welding Systems intends to use personal information for any other purpose, we will seek your consent, as required by law.
While accessing our Websites or receiving Services from SKS Welding Systems, we may ask you to provide us with certain personal information that can be used to contact or identify you. We collect this information for the purpose of providing the Services, identifying and communicating with you, responding to your requests/inquiries, servicing your purchase orders, and improving our services.
Obtaining Consent
SKS Welding Systems will obtain consent before or when we collect, use, or disclose personal information, except where otherwise required or permitted by applicable privacy legislation. You can provide consent to the collection, use, and disclosure of personal information about you expressly, implicitly, or through an authorized representative.
You can withdraw your consent at any time, with certain exceptions by contacting us at privacy@ca.sks-welding.com. You may also choose not to provide us with your personal information, however, if you make this choice, we may be unable to provide you with Services as requested.
Types of Information We Collect
SKS Welding Systems collects personal information when it is provided by you, including but not limited to, information that relates to an individual’s name, contact information, or any other information you provide to us, so that SKS Welding Systems can provide Services.
SKS Welding Systems collects technical information which includes statistical and analytical information and data that is collected when you access our Websites including, but not limited to, usage details, IP addresses, and information collected through cookies, web beacons, and other technologies.
How SKS Welding Systems Uses Personal Information
With your consent, SKS Welding Systems uses your personal information for the purposes of providing you access to our Websites and enabling the provision of our Services. When you voluntarily provide personal information, and any other information, we use this information solely for the purposes of providing access to our Websites and enabling the provision of our Services to you.
Limiting Collection
SKS Welding Systems collects personal information only by fair and lawful means. Upon accessing the Websites or receiving Services, you agree and understand that the collection of personal information is only for providing Services and for record-keeping purposes.
Limiting Use, Disclosure, and Retention
SKS Welding Systems will use your personal information only for the reasons it was collected, unless an individual gives consent to use or disclose it for another reason. SKS Welding Systems will keep personal information only as long as necessary for the identified purposes.
SKS Welding Systems may share personal information that we collect or that you provide as described in this Privacy Policy with our affiliates, contractors, service providers, and other third parties who may be involved in delivering SKS Welding Systems’s Services, providing support, improving our Services, and other business purposes. These service providers are obligated to keep personal information confidential, use it only for the purposes for which we disclose it to them, and to process the personal information with the same standards set out in this Privacy Policy. SKS Welding Systems does not authorize any service providers to use or disclose personal information for their own marketing or other purposes; however, they may collect information that they do not share with us in accordance with their own privacy policies.
We may share personal information between SKS Welding Systems subsidiaries outside of Canada for processing requests for Services as required. We may also share personal information with our financial, insurance, legal or other advisors that provide such professional services to us.
Personal information may be processed and/or stored outside of Canada. While we undertake measures to protect personal information, when it is stored and/or processed in other jurisdictions, the laws of other countries may not provide the degree of protection for personal information that is available in Canada. If personal information is transferred outside of Canada, it may be available to the foreign government of the country in which the information or entity controlling it is situated under a lawful order made in that country and used for purposes other than those described herein. By providing us with your information, you are allowing this personal information to be transferred outside of Canada.
Third Party Providers
Matomo
The Websites use the open-source web analytics service provider, Matomo, who uses cookies to analyse technical data and website usage. Matomo is owned by InnoCraft Ltd. and its privacy policy can be found here: matomo.org/matomo-cloud-privacy-policy/
If you do not agree to the storage and use of your data, you can disable this feature here. In this case, an opt-out cookie will be stored in your browser to prevent Matomo from storing your usage data. If you delete your cookies, the Matomo opt-out cookie will also be deleted. You will then need to reactivate the opt-out the next time you visit our site.
Meta Pixel
The Websites use Meta Pixel, a tool that allows businesses to measure the effectiveness of advertising, owned by Meta Platforms, Inc., whose privacy policy can be found here: www.facebook.com/policy.php; specific information on Meta Pixel can be found here:
https://www.facebook.com/business/help/742478679120153?id=1205376682832142
Use of Facebook Pixel and Facebook Custom Audiences
On our website, the so-called Facebook pixel of the company Facebook (Facebook Ireland Ltd., 4 Grand Canal Square, Grand Canal Harbour, Dublin 2, Ireland) is used. This classifies visitors to our website into specific target groups for the purpose of controlling advertising on Facebook. The data collected (e.g. IP addresses, web browser info, location data, buttons clicked, pixel IDs if applicable and additional characteristics) is not visible to us, it is only used in the context of displaying certain advertisements. Using the Facebook pixel code, so-called cookies are set. In the circumstance that you have a Facebook account and are logged in, the website visit is assigned to the logged-in Facebook user account. We also use Facebook's Custom Audiences remarketing function. This allows Facebook ads to be placed personalized The purpose of this is to improve the user experience by only displaying ads that are of interest to you. For data exchange, your browser automatically establishes a connection with Facebook servers. We then no longer have any influence over the scope and further use of the data. Facebook is responsible for further data processing. With the use of Facebook Custom Audiences, Facebook receives the information that you have visited a corresponding web page of our website or viewed an ad from us. With your registration with Facebook, your visit can be assigned to your account. In the event that you are not registered with Facebook or are not logged in, the provider can obtain and store your IP address and other identifying features. We use these functions to provide you with advertising offers that correspond to your interests. Your data is processed because you have consented to it or we can prove a legitimate interest in processing the data (according to GDPR). We store your data as long as we need it for the respective purpose (display of interest-based advertising) or you have not objected to the storage of your data or revoked your consent. You can deactivate the "Facebook Custom Audiences" function at www.facebook.com/settings/. You can find your ad settings under Facebook at www.facebook.com/help/109378269482053/, provided you are logged into Facebook.
Third Party Links
Our Websites may contain links to other sites that are not operated by us. If you click on a third-party link, you will be directed to that third party’s site. We strongly advise you to review the privacy policy of every site you visit. We have no control over, and assume no responsibility for the content, privacy policies or practices of any third-party sites or services.
Electronic Communications
When you visit the Websites, use our contact form, or send emails to us, you are communicating with us electronically. You consent to receive communications from us electronically. We will communicate with you by email or by posting notices on the Websites. You agree that all agreements, notices, disclosures and other communications that we provide to you electronically satisfy any legal requirement that such communications be in writing. It is your responsibility to ensure you provide an up-to-date and accurate email address regarding electronic communications.
If you have opted-in to receive marketing communications from us, we may send you promotional offers from time to time. You may unsubscribe at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of the message. This prevents any promotional emails from being sent to you unless you explicitly request that we re-add you to a promotion list.
If you send us inquiries using the contact form, your details from the inquiry form, including the contact data you provided there, will be stored by us or our subsidiaries for the purpose of responding to the inquiry and any follow-up questions in the same context. We will not share this information without your consent.
Cookies
A “cookie” is a small piece of information that our web server automatically sends to your browser for storage on your computer, which then permits our web server to recall information about your preferences. We used cookies to collect information in order to improve our services for you. We will ask for your consent to use cookies. You can instruct your browser to refuse all cookies or modify your cookie settings. If you do not accept cookies, you may not be able to use some features of our Services and we recommend you leave them on.
This Privacy Policy applies to cookies placed on your computer by us, but does not cover the use of cookies by any third-party. For the privacy practices of such third-parties, you should consult the applicable privacy policy for the relevant third-party.
Maintaining Accuracy
SKS Welding Systems will keep personal information in its possession or control, accurate, complete, current, and relevant, based on the most recent information available to SKS Welding Systems. You are responsible for notifying SKS Welding Systems about the accuracy and completeness of your personal information and may have it amended as appropriate.
Safeguards
The safety and privacy of personal information is our top priority. Personal information will be protected by security safeguards appropriate to the nature and format of the information being stored through physical, electronic, and administrative measures designed to secure personal information. We strive to protect personal information from theft, loss, and unauthorized access, copying, modification, use, disclosure and disposal. We conduct audits and complete investigations to monitor and manage our privacy compliance. We ensure that all of our officers, directors, employees and agents protect your privacy and only use personal information for the purposes to which you have consented.
There is no guarantee that data may not be accessed, disclosed, altered, or destroyed by breach of any of our physical, electronic, or administrative safeguards. We follow all privacy and security requirements as outlined in legislation. By sharing your personal information with us, you acknowledge that your personal information may be at risk should an external party breach our systems. As required by law, we will inform you of any breaches which would create a reasonable risk of harm to you. We will take reasonable steps to mitigate such risks and to prevent them from occurring again in the future.
TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, WE EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM ANY GUARANTEE OF SECURITY IN CONNECTION WITH YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION.
Openness about Policies and Procedures
We will readily make available specific information about our policies and practices related to the management of personal information. Individuals will have access to this information through this Privacy Policy or by contacting our Privacy Officer. The information will be available in a format that is easy to understand.
Providing Individual Access
Except as restricted by law, upon written request by the individual or substitute decision maker, an individual will be informed of the existence, use and disclosure of her or his personal information and will be given access to that information. An individual will be able to challenge the accuracy and completeness of the information and may request to have it amended.
Incident Reporting
A ‘data incident’ involves an unauthorized access, use, or disclosure of personal information, loss of personal information, or other breach in the protection of your personal information. In the event of a data incident, we will investigate to assess whether the incident poses a risk of serious injury to you. In these circumstances, you will be notified at the first reasonable opportunity.
Children's Privacy
Only persons aged 18 or older have permission to access our Websites and Services. Our Services do not address anyone under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personally identifiable information from those under 18. If we become aware that we have collected Personal Information from individuals under age 18 without verification of parental consent, we take steps to remove that information from our servers.
Updates and Changes to our Privacy Policy
It is our policy to post any changes we make to our Privacy Policy on this page. We include the date the Privacy Policy was last revised at the top of this page. You are responsible for ensuring you periodically visit our Websites and this Privacy Policy to check for any changes. Your continued use or access to our Websites and Services after the effective date signifies your acceptance or and agreement to any changes in the Privacy Policy.
Questions and Compliance
We welcome your questions, comments and requests regarding your personal information, this Privacy Policy and our privacy practices.
You may contact us as follows:
Ken Pratt
Privacy Officer
You have the right to complain to the Privacy Commissioner of Canada for breach of your privacy rights.
If you feel we have not met our legal obligations under this Privacy Policy or applicable privacy laws, please contact our Privacy Officer. If you are not satisfied with the resolution we have provided, the Privacy Commissioner of Canada can be reached as follows:
Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada
30 Victoria Street
Gatineau, Quebec
K1A 1H3
Canada
Toll-free: 1-800-282-1376
Phone: (819) 994-5444
Fax: (819) 994-5424
TTY: (819) 994-6591