Safety Stop: Your one stop for Safety

Whether you’re new to working at the airport or returning after a break, we have everything you need to know about keeping safe at Pearson right here. Your safety is our top priority.

Welcome to Pearson! At the airport, we are committed to the safety and security of our employees, passengers and guests who visit Toronto. Travel is back and that means we have a lot of passengers, baggage and cargo to moving through the airport. You are the first step in keeping safe at work.

Here are a few things you should know when working at the airport:

  • A little kindness goes a long way. Be respectful of your fellow airport workers. We’re all in this together. Threats and abusive language are not tolerated at Toronto Pearson.
  • Let’s keep everyone safe. Display your Restricted Area Identify Card (RAIC) clearly when you are working to show your fellow airport employees you have the appropriate clearance.
  • Take a “Safety Stop” before you begin your task to ensure you have the right tool, the right knowledge and the right protective equipment to complete the task safely.
  • Wear the right Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for the task at hand. This could include safety shoes or boots, eye and ear protection, and gloves as per your company’s protocol and tasks. 
  • When working airside, safety vests must be worn properly at all times. Vests help to ensure that all vehicles, including aircraft, can see you.
  • In preparation for the day, ensure you have completed your personal health check and are fit for access.
  • Safety is a joint effort! Reporting concerns as you see them helps to keep us all safe. If you see something, say something. Learn about how to report concerns
  • Foreign Object Debris (FOD) refers to any object found in a location that can potentially cause damage to aircraft or result in an injury. Let’s keep our home clean and dispose of FOD when you see it. Get more info on FOD
  • Smoking and vaping are prohibited inside the building and secure areas. Designated areas are located on the arrivals and departures curbs.

Mandatory training

We all play an important role in keeping our airport safe and secure. To help us reduce workplace injury and promote a culture of safety, employees are required to complete the Airport Security Awareness (CASAP) modules, along with a new online Health and Safety Awareness course.

Review all of the courses we have available for Pearson employees.

Pressure to Operate

We know working in aviation is fast-paced and there is pressure to operate quickly, directly contributing to safety incidents by interfering with our ability to complete tasks correctly. Even when working under pressure, it’s important to take a safety pause before starting your task. This means taking a moment to think through the task, consider the hazards and use safe practices and procedures to complete the task.

Safe Movement

Keeping people, vehicles and planes moving safely is critical to our overall security and safety as an airport. There are a few things to remember when moving around the airport:

  • Unauthorized movement of passengers and employees between security areas disrupt airport operations, often causing flight delays. Swipe your RAIC every time it is required. Always monitor the door and wait for it to lock behind you to prevent unauthorized entry of passengers or other employees.
  • Driving airside is an important role of many jobs at the airport. When driving, practice safe driving behaviours such as wearing a seatbelt, following speed limits and pay attention to the signs on the apron. Remember that aircraft and marshalling crew have the right of way.
  • Slip and falls can happen at any time of year, especially during rainy and other severe weather conditions. Avoid distractions and practice safe behaviours such as walking around equipment and using both hands when getting in and out of vehicles.

Weather impacts

  • Severe weather reduces the airport’s capacity for flights and can impact the flow of aircraft, passengers and baggage. Severe weather can include extreme cold or extreme heat alerts, high winds, lighting activity within 8km of the airport and more.
  • Keep your cool when it’s hot by avoiding heat stress. Learn more about heat related illnesses and how to prevent them.

What you can do to mitigate the impacts of weather:

  • Plan accordingly and be aware of your surroundings; weather can change without warning and what was forecast may turn out to be more severe and hazardous than expected.
  • Wear appropriate clothing for the weather when outdoors.
  • Pay attention to the strobe lights on the apron. Strobe lights are activated when there is lighting activity within 8km of the airport. When you see these strobes, please follow your company’s SOP, secure equipment and take shelter
  • Drive according to weather conditions, decrease your speed and be aware of aircraft and vehicle traffic in reduced visibility. In the winter, give way to equipment that are in the process of removing snow or treating the surface.
  • During high winds, stow or secure loose ground service equipment and ensure parking brakes are engaged.
  • Take shelter from severe or hazardous weather. When the Lightning Warning System (LWS) strobes are activated, there has been a cloud-to-ground lightning strike reported within an 8 km radius of the airport.

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Explore the rest of the Safety page for information on:

Reach out to the Pearson Safety Team to connect, ask questions or learn more about Safety at Pearson: safety@gtaa.com.

Shift briefings and campaign materials

Review the Shift Briefings below for more about each topic.

Print these posters and campaign materials for your team.