The Greater Toronto Airport Authority (GTAA) Eye on Safety ceremony was held for the very first time on March 6th, 2015. The event brought together representatives from all areas of the airport, including company executives, managers, and frontline workers.
Howard Eng, CEO of the GTAA spoke to a full room about the importance of keeping safety our top priority. He spoke of the 40,000 workers that all play a role in making this airport a true global hub for Canada. He was not afraid to set goals, with a strong target of zero lost time injuries at YYZ. The GTAA’s plan is to promote health and safety by recognizing employees and organizations who have contributed to a safe and secure culture. All in attendance were called to become ambassadors for promoting a stronger safety culture, as we work towards becoming the safest airport in the world.
At Pearson, we see about 400,000 flights, 35 million passengers coming through our workplace every year. The GTAA and it’s workforce are responsible for the safety of every one of those flights and each and every passenger. All of them counting on us to make sure their travel day is a safe one.
Among the awards handed out, 3 machinists were recognized:
Alan Lamont, Cabin Service Attendant, won an award for Best Safety Initiative. Al made a video of his co-workers in the workplace with a focus on the safety signage. He used the video to promote safe working practices by linking images of safety and a sense of community within his working group.
Sally Crowther, IAM Health and Safety Co-ordinator, won a Safest Worker Award for her leadership skills in the workplace. A good example to follow, Sally isn’t afraid to speak up when she see a safety issue that needs to be addressed. In the last year, Sally has also been recognized by Air Canada with an Award Of Excellence, the top award an employee can receive.
Dan Janssen, Vice President of LL2323, Station Attendant, received an award for Unsung Hero. I was nominated for being an inquisitive person who seeks answers to safety related concerns. Reporting a safety issue ensures you’re addressing the issue before it becomes a bigger problem. Safety reporting is empowering and motivating when you see first hand the change you can create.
I encourage anyone reading this to recognize safety hazards in the workplace and speak up about them. It’s more than just about correcting the problem, it can prevent injury and harm to your fellow co-workers. In our workplace you can report safety issues using an ACF-32 Health and Safety Concern Form, an anonymous report on SIMS (found on the aeronet, safety tab) and with the GTAA using the email report_it@gtaa.com.
Spread the word! Together, we can make Toronto Pearson Airport the safest airport in the world.
Pictured left to right IAM LL2323 members John Ponciano, Vernon Roberts, Miguel Reid, Dan Janssen, Sally Crowther, Alan Lamont and Coby Budgell.
