Airport Safety Week 2023: Day 3

It’s day three of Airport Safety Week and our topic is Hazard Reporting and Psychological Safety.

Hazard Reporting and Psychological Safety

Hazard Reporting: Emergency and Non-Emergency Events

Health, safety and security are our top priorities – they are at the core of every decision we make. We developed the Toronto Pearson Safety Program as part of our commitment to the safety and security of our employees, passengers and everyone who uses our airport. With your help, we can make Toronto Pearson a safer place to work.


Report it to keep Toronto Pearson safe!

If you notice something or someone out of place, a suspicious person, a small spill on the floor, do not assume that someone else has already reported the same issue. It is better to receive multiple reports about the same issue than to have it go unreported and someone be injured as a result.  Keeping the airport safe: It takes one step to report – call it in!

Type

Number

Examples (not limited to this list)

Emergency

416-776-3033
  • Life threatening situations (fire, medical emergency, etc)
  • Harassment/Threat by employee or passenger that puts safety at risk
  • Suspicious person on airport property
  • Individuals vandalizing property

Non-Emergency

416-776-3055

 
  • Urgent but non-life threatening
  • Tools left out in the open with easy access
  • Open construction doors
  • Spills, leaks, mold, bathroom related issues
  • Other maintenance related concerns

Security operations

416-776-7381
  • Concerns with security
  • Unattended items
  • Employee access issues
  • Gatesor doorsnot closing/securing
  • Security doors left open
  • Employee/passenger piggyback through a sterility door

GTAAEmployee Injury, Illness,Near-Miss or Proactive Safety Concern

Health & Safety Report

Proactive safetyconcerns can also be submitted by e-mail to:Safety@GTAA.com

Use the Health & Safety Report Form to:

  • Report employee injury or near-miss (GTAA only)such as slip, trip&fall,struck by equipmentor moving objects,back injuries, illness such as dizziness after exposure to hazardous chemical, etc.
  • NOTE: Non-GTAA employees should follow their company’s injury reporting procedures
  • Exception to reporting through On-line Form: If an employee identifies an unsafe behaviour or unsafe condition (ex: working at heights with no fall protection, a vehicle speeding on the airside apron), proactively report this to the non-emergency number right away (416-776-3055)

 

 

oronto Pearson 

What happens when a safety concern is reported to the GTAA using the online form or Safety@GTAA.com email?

 

It’s a seven-step process:

  1. First response – Thank you for reporting!
  2. Risk analysis – How serious is this event?
  3. Investigation – What happened?
  4. Root cause analysis – Why did this happen?
  5. Corrective action – How are we going to fix this?
  6. Audit – Did we fix the issue?
  7. Feedback – All safe! Thank you for reporting.

Toronto Pearson is equipped with an Airport Lightning Warning System (LWS) which provides alerts to the operational community when lightning strikes approach the airfield. When lightning is detected within an eight-kilometre alert zone, Airport Operations Control sends a notification to the airport operational community noting the presence of convective weather and to be alert to the likely activation of the strobe system. When the system goes into alert mode, strobes located on the terminal buildings and the rooflines of associated airport buildings visible from the apron will flash. 
In an active thunderstorm, the strobes are then active for 10 minutes in between strikes. Once there has not been a strike within 10 minutes, the strobes then turn off indicating there is no active storm within eight kilometres. Operations are then back to normal. Note: When the strobes activate, all airfield staff must follow their company procedures for lighting activity and established Occupational Health and Safety protocols. 

What happens when a safety concern is reported to the GTAA using the online form or Safety@GTAA.com email?

 

It’s a seven-step process:

  1. First response – Thank you for reporting!
  2. Risk analysis – How serious is this event?
  3. Investigation – What happened?
  4. Root cause analysis – Why did this happen?
  5. Corrective action – How are we going to fix this?
  6. Audit – Did we fix the issue?
  7. Feedback – All safe! Thank you for reporting.

Personal Protective Equipment

PPE is any clothing or equipment that is used by a worker to protect them from injury or illness. There are many types of PPE including safety footwear, vests, and ear protection. Always wear the appropriate PPE for the hazards that you may encounter on the job or as required for your role. Read the shift briefing to learn more.  

 

Eye protection 

Did you know that in Canada 700 Canadian workers sustain eye injuries every day due to improper eye protection? It is estimated that 90% of these injuries could be prevented with proper eye wear. If you’re welding, cutting, brazing, sawing, grinding, spray painting, working in dusty environments or with chemical gases, vapours, or liquids, sunlight or harmful light, consult your supervisor or manager for job-specific eye protection.

 

 

Hearing protection and loss prevention

You don’t know what you’ve lost until it’s gone! Sound levels of a jet engine range from 120dB – 140 dB. To get the full benefit of hearing protection, wear them wherever noise hazards are present. At the airport, there are certain areas that may require hearing protection. Examples include airside, mechanical and generator rooms. Wearing your hearing protection in these areas will reduce the amount of noise reaching your ears and the risk of hearing loss.

 

Head protection

In construction zones, hard hats are worn because of the potential for head injury. Situations that could cause head injury on-the-job include working below other workers or machinery, around or under conveyor belts, around exposed energized conductors, and where there may be overhead obstructions.

 

Hand & finger protection

Gloves protect hands and forearms from cuts, abrasions, burns, puncture wounds, contact with hazardous chemicals, some electric shocks and blood borne pathogen diseases. If the job task requires wearing gloves, wear the right gloves for the right job!

 

Foot protection

Wear safety-toed footwear to prevent crushed toes when working around heavy equipment or potential falling objects. Safety footwear must be CSA certified, with a green patch. Inclement weather can create hazards, so be safety conscious and wear slip-resistant safety shoes or boots to prevent slipping.

 

Visibility: Stand out from all the rest, wear your safety vest!

All airport staff are required to wear a high visibility, reflective safety vest when in certain areas of the airport such as on the apron and Baggage Road locations, among others. Speak with your supervisor if you are unsure when to wear your safety vest.

 

What is Psychological Safety and why is it important?  

Imagine a space where every voice is not just heard, but valued, where you can express suggestions and concerns without the fear of judgement. That’s the essence of psychological safety – it’s all about creating an environment where being your authentic self is encouraged.

Psychological safety is the catalyst that encourages open dialogue, fuels creativity, and propels innovation. Feeling psychologically safe helps with reducing stress and improves mental health. Amy Gallo at Harvard Business Review shares three reasons to why feeling psychologically safe is important:

  • Psychological safety leads to individuals feeling more engaged and motivated because they feel that their contributions matter and that they’re able to speak up without fear of retribution.
  • It can lead to better decision-making, as individuals feel more comfortable voicing their opinions and concerns, which often leads to a more diverse range of perspectives being heard and considered.  
  • It can foster a culture of continuous learning and improvement, as individuals feel comfortable sharing their mistakes and learning from them.

Watch this YouTube video to learn more! Understanding and Achieving Psychological Safety by Simon Sinek

Psychological Safety and Hazard Reporting

As we recognize Airport Safety Week, let’s empower each other to create an environment where every voice is valued, and concerns are met with respect. This will promote open communication and increase our collective ability to recognize and report risks. Psychological safety is the compass that guides us towards a safer aviation journey. 

 

Today’s activities and contest

To be entered for a chance to a grand prize draw:

  1. Recognize a fellow employee for the Eye on Safety recognition program
  2. Submit a proactive safety concern
  3. Vote for our TOP 2023 Eye on Safety Nominees! The deadline to vote is September 22, 2023.

Take one of the below courses and submit a screen shot of your completed learning to safety@gtaa.com.

Tune in Wednesday, September 20 at 1pm EST to watch a Canadian Airports Council (CAC) Webinar: Enhancing Worker’s Safety by Evolving Culture - Presentation by Angeline Ram

 

Read the full contest rules.