How Metrolinx Works to Create Safer Workplaces and Communities
Spotlighting Health and Safety During North American Occupational Safety and Health Week
This week marks North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week and Safety and Health Week 2024. Both events highlight the importance of workplace health and safety and focus on injury and illness prevention in workplaces, homes, and communities.
At Metrolinx, safety is a top priority. We put safety first at work, on board, and in the community. Recognized as Canada’s Safest Public Transportation Employer, Metrolinx continually seeks opportunities to enhance safety and security for our customers and employees.
“Our belief is that safety is everyone’s responsibility. At Metrolinx, our top priority is to ensure that everyone goes home safe,” said Martin Gallagher, Chief Safety Officer at Metrolinx.
Safer Transit for Our Customers and Communities
Improving safety across the transit network and construction sites is a key priority for Metrolinx.
Enhancing Pedestrian Safety: We are enhancing pedestrian safety at 16 grade crossings across our rail network. These improvements include:
- Pedestrian gates with skirts
- Painted markings
- Tactile warning plates
- Safe waiting areas (refuge areas)
These infrastructure upgrades are being implemented in phases and are expected to be completed by late 2024.
Our Community Engagement teams actively promote rail safety. They hold pop-up events, attend festivals, and speak directly to students in schools across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton areas.
Metrolinx collaborates with local safety and law enforcement agencies throughout the year. Together, we raise awareness about safe behavior around tracks, in stations, and near construction zones.
Our GO Station Ambassadors play a crucial role in ensuring customer safety on train platforms. They assist with boarding and exiting trains and provide necessary information to customers.
Commitment to Safe Workplaces
Metrolinx continually seeks ways to reduce risks and improve working conditions.
Safety Culture Evolution: Farah Kassam, Vice President of Safety at Metrolinx, emphasizes, “To evolve our safety culture, we need to walk together, look out for one another, and speak up for safety.”
Personal Track Safety Program: This program teaches transit staff the fundamentals of rail safety, track protection, and working in a commuter railway environment. Metrolinx contractors and business partners also have access to this training.
Mandatory Rail Construction Safety Training: This training is required for project owners, constructors, general contractors, maintenance contractors, consultants, and workers involved in the planning, design, coordination, or management of construction activities.