On Day 4 of Canadian Airports Safety Week (CASW), we are reviewing how we keep the airport free of accidents and hazards to operate safely. We all share the responsibility for the safety and security of each person at the airport.
Onsite activities
Toronto Pearson Safety Program Cash Cab
Make sure to watch out for the Safety Cash Cab around the airport and test your knowledge in person for cash prizes.
AVOP Vehicle Inspection Challenge
Join us for a live vehicle inspection challenge to win some of our AVOP giveaways!
No registration is required, just show up at T1 Gate 124 for one of our two challenges:
- 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. or
- 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Online learning
Day 4 – Hazard Reporting and Foreign Object Debris
Today we are reviewing how we keep Pearson safe by reporting potential hazards and reducing foreign object debris (FOD). Today's reminders will cover:
- How to report hazards
- Emergency preparedness
- Keeping the airport FOD-free
Once you have reviewed the day’s learning material, test your knowledge of Hazard Reporting by taking today’s quizzes:
- Hazard Reporting Safety Cash Cab Quiz: Participants in today's quiz will be automatically entered into a prize draw for a chance to win a $100 Gift Card. Read the Terms and Conditions here.
- AVOP Quiz: Those who complete the AVOP quiz will have a chance to win a driving tour with one of our AVOP specialists.
See it, Report it, Prevent it: The importance of reporting potential hazards
If you notice something or someone out of place, like a suspicious person or a small spill on the floor, never assume that someone else has or will report the same issue. It is better to receive multiple reports about the same issue than to have a hazard go unreported until it causes harm.
The below chart offers some examples of when and how to report hazards:
| Type | Number | Examples (not limited to this list) |
| Emergency | 416-776-3033 |
|
| Non-Emergency | 416-776-3055 |
|
| Security Operations | 416-776-7381 |
|
| GTAA Employee Injury, Illness, Near-Miss or Proactive Safety Concern |
Health & Safety Report Submission Proactive safety concerns can also be submitted by email to Safety@GTAA.com |
Use the Health & Safety Report Form to:
|
Want to get more involved?
We offer many opportunities to elevate your safety and security programming by engaging with our team, such as:
- Crew room visits
- Safety Forums for leaders and airport workers
- Shift briefings and job aids
- Courses
- Annual events: National Day of Mourning, North American Occupational Safety & Health Week, Canadian Airports Safety Week
- Our Eye on Safety Recognition Program
If you have a question, would like to attend our forums, or want to participate, contact the Toronto Pearson Safety team at safety@gtaa.com.
Emergency preparedness
Emergency preparedness involves the steps that can be taken to plan, organize, train or equip oneself to be ready for an emergency.
Stay up to date on your training: An important part of emergency preparedness at Pearson is that all employees complete our Facility Control Measure & Evacuation course. This course is mandatory to take yearly for all Toronto Pearson Staff!
Know the evacuation procedures: In the event of an emergency that requires evacuation, the following procedures are in place:
- There are public announcements relating to safety or security inside the terminal in an audio and visual format. There are also strobe lights in key locations that will notify you in a visual format that an evacuation is necessary.
- To assist in evacuation, we use lift chairs, also known as EVAC-CHAIRS. These chairs are an innovative emergency stair chair solution that safely enable persons with disabilities or mobility restrictions to vacate a building in the event of an emergency or evacuation.
- To assist persons who are deaf or hard of hearing during an emergency, we have visual translation services with American Sign Language accessible to our airport first responders.
Foreign Object Debris
What is FOD?
- FOD is any object, live or not, located in an inappropriate location at the airport that can injure airport or airline employees and damage aircraft.
How can FOD cause damage?
- FOD can damage equipment or aircraft physically or financially and can reduce the safety and performance of whatever it comes into contact with.
- Runway FOD has the greatest potential to cause damage, as it can damage an aircraft during a phase of flight. This could lead to loss of life or aircraft and increased maintenance and operating costs. Taxiway and apron FOD may seem less harmful but can still cause significant damage to the aircraft or move onto the runway if not removed.
- We must keep FOD out of the airside with ongoing inspections of work areas and prompt removal.
What should you do to prevent FOD?
- Avoid creating FOD in your daily work
- Check gate areas for FOD before every arrival and departure
- Dispose of FOD in the appropriate bin located at each gate
- Only place FOD in these bins, not waste from aircraft cabins, oil cans or fast food.
- Report FOD that you cannot safely pick up yourself
- Note: Pilots are required to notify the tower if they notice FOD
- Participate in a FOD walk
Remember that all AVOP holders have a responsibility to remove or report FOD. When you spot FOD, stop and pick it up for disposal. If the item is contaminated or too big to handle safely, call the Integrated Operations Control Centre (IOCC) at 416-776-3055 to have someone dispatched to help.
Disposing of FOD – What goes in each bin?
- Garbage bins: regular waste including all food and drink containers or wrappers.
- UPAK containers: large items such as palettes and large cardboard.
- A receptacle arranged through your carrier/operator: all hazardous waste such as oil, skydrol containers and oil rags. Do not dispose of hazardous waste in other bins.
To learn more about FOD, visit the safety stop and download the FOD shift briefing.
Extra Credit
To learn more about how to keep the airport safe and FOD free, take the FOD Awareness Course and the Facility Control Measures and Evacuation Plan Course. Send a screenshot of your completed courses to safety@gtaa.com for a chance to be entered in the daily prize draw.
After you take today’s quizzes and complete the courses, be sure to join us again tomorrow for another learning opportunity and chance to win a cash prize!