Safety &
Security
Keeping you safe and secure at work.
As Canada’s largest airport, safety and security are at the core of every decision we make. Toronto Pearson Safety is the program that details our commitment to the safety and security of everyone who works at or travels through Pearson.
SAFETY STOP
SAFETY STOP
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.
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Review the Shift Briefings below for more about each topic:
Safety Shift Brief – Drones
Safety Shift Brief – Fatigue awareness
Safety Shift Brief – FOD and apron housekeeping
Safety Shift Brief – Heat Related Illnesses
Safety Shift Brief – Impacts of Weather
Safety Shift Brief - Ladder safety
Safety Shift Brief – Need and right
Safety Shift Brief – NPS-V
Safety Shift Brief – Operating under pressure
Safety Shift Brief – Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Safety Shift Brief – Runway incursions
Safety Shift Brief – Safe Movement (Lock then walk)
Safety Shift Brief – Safe Movement (Safe driving)
Safety Shift Brief – Safe Movement (Slips and falls) -
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 and Safety Awareness (CASAP) e-Learning modules. This is required for all new and renewing Restricted Area Identify Card (RAIC) applicants.
List of other courses available for Toronto Pearson employees. -
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.
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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 disrupts 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.
- When driving airside, practice safe driving behaviours such as wearing a seatbelt, following speed limits and paying 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. -
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 lightning activity within 8km of the airport. When you see these strobes, please follow your company’s standard operating procedure (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 is 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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Sign up to receive the quarterly Eye on Safety newsletter to stay up to date on all things Safety at Pearson!
Reach out to the Pearson Safety Team to connect, ask questions or learn more about Safety at Pearson: safety@gtaa.com.
Here are a few things you should know when working at the airport:
When working airside, safety vests must be worn properly at all times. Vests help all vehicles, including aircraft, see you.
In preparation for the day, make sure 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 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 in secure areas. Designated areas are located on the arrivals and departures curbs.
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.
Eye on Safety Newsletter
Eye on Safety is a newsletter that provides tips on how to identify and address common safety concerns at the airport. Learn how to create safe environments for yourself and others each day – at home, while travelling and at work.
Safety & Security Information
Reporting
Here’s how you can report emergencies, security concerns and proactively prevent injuries. For general inquiries about the Toronto Pearson Safety Program or to get in touch with the Safety Team directly, please e-mail safety@gtaa.com.
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416-776-3033
Including potential injury, suspicious persons, vandalism and life-threatening situations.
Do not call 911. -
416-776-3055
Call for urgent non-emergency situations like spills, leaks, or maintenance issues. -
416-776-7381
Call for security concerns like unattended items, gates or doors not closing/securing, or piggybacking, suspicious person, suspicious behaviour, employee airside without RAIC identification, suspicious items.
What happens when you report a safety concern?
When a safety concern is reported, we start a seven-step process to assess and address the issue:
First response – Thank you for reporting!
Risk analysis – How serious is this event?
Investigation – What happened?
Root cause analysis – Why did this happen?
Corrective action – How are we going to fix this?
Audit – Did we fix the issue?
Feedback – All safe! Thank you for reporting.
Proactive concerns, and employee injury, illness or near-misses
Scan this code (or fill out the Reporting Form) to report proactive safety concerns to:
Report proactive safety concerns, like wet or icy floors, dangling wires, or unsafe behaviours
Report employee injury or near-miss (GTAA only) such as slip, trip & fall, struck by equipment or 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 (e.g. 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).
Report proactive security concerns, like anticipating future problems, needs, or changes to Security within the Terminals or Airside.
Training & Courses
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Airport security and safety awareness
Security and safety at the airport are very important. As an employee, you play a key role in promoting a culture of vigilance and reporting of security and safety concerns.
Learn more
Facility control measures and evacuation plan
At any time, thousands of people may be working or travelling through the buildings and terminals at Pearson Airport. During an emergency, it’s important to know how to efficiently and safely evacuate these buildings, so that everyone can be safe.
Learn more
Environmental Awareness
Take this online course to learn about our environmental policies and our environmental management system, the first in North America to achieve ISO 14001 certification.
Learn more -
Active assailant awareness
Learn how to safeguard yourself in the event of an active assailant attack.
Learn more
Human trafficking awareness training
Take this 30-minute interactive e-learning course to help you recognize the signs of human trafficking and how to respond.
Learn more -
GTAA contract worker online learning
GTAA contract workers are required to complete mandatory online training courses.
Learn more
Welcome Team online training
To help support passengers, Welcome Team members must complete these courses.
Learn more
Safety Program
Airport employees share responsibility for the safety and security of each person at the airport. We aim to keep the airport free of accidents and hazards and to operate in a safe manner.
If you have questions or would like to get involved, contact the Toronto Pearson Safety Program team at safety@gtaa.com.
We offer many opportunities to get involved in safety programs or events, such as:
Safety talks
Safety forums
Your company’s safety event
Slip and falls program
Airside Safety
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Airside driving is a critical part of airport operations. Your safety and the safety of those around you while driving is a top priority. Practice safe driving behaviours when driving airside:
- Move your vehicle safely and avoid cut-offs by always yielding to aircraft and marshaling crew.
- When parking, try to leave your vehicle in a way that enables you to pull out from the front.
- Avoid idling; turn off the ignition.
- Before putting your vehicle in reverse, always check your rear and side view mirrors. Take your time when reversing so you can stop easily if needed.
- If backing a large vehicle or in a tight spot, have a colleague direct you from outside the vehicle. Avoid distractions by turning the radio down and asking other passengers to hold their conversations until the vehicle is safely backed up. -
A Runway Incursion is any occurrence airside where an aircraft, vehicle or person is incorrectly on the runway.
To avoid incursions:
- Only cross a runway when it is absolutely necessary. Use perimeter roads to avoid crossing the runway where possible.
- Pay attention to your surroundings. Always know where you are.
- Once you receive clearance to cross, go straight across the runway. Do not go back unless given clearance to do so. When crossing a runway, look both ways, then cross and go immediately.
- Be aware of your speed and drive based on the weather conditions.
- When calling into the tower, be as precise as possible by knowing where you are on the airfield. If you’re unclear of directions, ask for clarification from the tower before proceeding and write down complex instructions.
Refresh your knowledge about airside driving now! -
Let’s work together to keep the apron clear to give snow clearing equipment the opportunity to clean spaces quickly and efficiently.
Before the pushback of an aircraft from the gate, please ensure that:
- the ground power unit (GPU) cables are retracted, secured by the lanyard, and that the weather cap is installed
- the pre-conditioned air (PCA) hoses are securely stowed in the bin
- the visual docking guidance system (VDGS) cord is retracted and stowed properly
- the potable water cabinet (PWC) hose is retracted and the doors are secured in the closed position
- ensure the A/C is not overfilled with water as it results in ice on the gate
- any leaks in the hose/water cabinet should be called into Airport Operations as it can result in ice
- all chocks, pylons and portable service stairs are safely stored in their designed locations
- the passenger boarding bridge (PBB) is returned to the designated parking circle upon retraction from the aircraft
- all ground support equipment (GSE) is returned to their designated parking locations unless directed otherwise by snow removal crews in preparation for gate snow clearing operations -
Slips and falls are a common injury, and they can happen at any time of year, especially during severe weather. With the change of seasons ahead of us, these are some steps you can take to keep yourself safe:
- Wear appropriate footwear
- Use safe walking practices
- Avoid distractions
- Take extra care on moving walkways and escalators – if you have excess baggage, strollers, or other large or heavy items, be sure to use an elevator
- Keep your workspace clear – be mindful of tripping hazards that can be caused by ground service equipment, chocks and cones
- Always walk around equipment, never between
- Call any indoor spills or outdoor areas that need to be treated into operations at 416-776-3055
Slips, trips and falls are common when someone exits a vehicle onto unknown ground.
- Look first before stepping out from the vehicle
- Maintain three-point contact when stepping out
- Use the vehicle for support
- Do not grab objects such as coffee mugs, water bottles, etc., as you are exiting; exit the vehicle first, then retrieve your stuff
- Try to keep your centre of gravity over your support leg for better balance
- Keep your hands out of your pockets
- Look first before stepping out from the vehicle
- During severe weather, take extra precautions when exiting a vehicle
One of the best ways to prevent slips, trips and falls is through regular housekeeping of your work area. You can do this by regularly inspecting your workspace and keeping your work area clean and free of any hazards.
How to keep the airside safe from FOD
Foreign Object Debris (FOD) can be prevented by ongoing inspections of work areas and removing it.
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Keep an eye out for pallets/skids that are damaged or not maintained properly as pieces can break off and result in FOD. Additionally, empty pallets/skids should not be stood on their ends airside as they can be blown around and result in damage to aircraft and/or injury to workers.
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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.
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All Airside Vehicle Operators’ Permits (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.
Gate areas should be checked for FOD prior to every arrival and prior to every departure.
There are bright yellow FOD bins under every bridge available for this use. Only place FOD in these, not waste from aircraft cabins, oil cans or fast food waste. Anything too big for the FOD bins can be dropped into the larger, blue garbage bins at the head of stand.
Check out the Toronto Pearson FOD Prevention & Control Policy.
Special Events
Airport Safety Week: September 18 to 22
Airport Safety Week is an opportunity to promote healthy and safe work practices among all Toronto Pearson workers. Our goal for this week is to educate and engage all airport workers in creating a safe work environment.