From our frontline employees to our CEO, it is the responsibility of everyone at Aecon to ensure each worker, including direct employees and subcontractors, gets home safely to their families each and every day.

Our Guiding Safety Principles

• Safety is an inherent part of our corporate culture; it's not just a program
• Managing safety is the responsibility of everyone in the organization
• All injuries are preventable
• Accidents don’t just happen; they are caused

Safety at Aecon

Our proactive Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) program is based on established behavioural safety techniques. Developed in-house, the program meets OHSAS 18001 standards and complies with all jurisdictions, in many cases exceeding local requirements. Auditing is conducted annually by the Infrastructure Health and Safety Association (IHSA), and covers our oil and gas operations, civil infrastructure, ICI building construction, heavy civil and mining projects.
 

Aecon’s implementation of world-class safety systems and best practices enables us to focus on leading indicators that continuously drive improvements, year after year. Company staff includes over 170 dedicated safety personnel at job sites throughout Canada who ensure strict implementation of our program.
 

Aecon has consistently received a safety rating greater than 98% from the Infrastructure Health and Safety Association (IHSA), a testament to the success of our SAFETY FIRST culture. As our company grows, we continue to improve our program and diligence.  After all, when you're building things that matter, safety matters most.

Industry Awards and Recognition

Through the implementation of the Aecon health and safety management system, our company focuses on working with clients, employees and contractors to ensure a safe and healthy workplace. It is this commitment and dedication that results in outstanding performance and recognition from our clients and the industry.

Some recent achievements and recognition include:

• Achieving 3 million hours worked without an LTI at the Bruce Nuclear power plant
• Ontario Road Builders Association (ORBA) Safety award for Karson Construction
• R.H. Carroll Safety Award presented by the Electrical Contractors Association of Ontario
• Multiple Safety flags presented to Canonbie Contracting on behalf of Suncor
• Hamilton Halton Construction Association Safety Award
• Corporate Social Responsibility Award presented by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) for the Quito, Ecuador project
• Grand Safety Award presented to Aecon Buildings in Washington, USA
• Shell VP Safety Award for work performed on the Shell Scotford Upgrader expansion

Training Programs

Quality training programs lay the necessary foundation for our employees to be well-prepared and well-equipped to perform their duties competently and safely.  Across all divisions, Aecon implements a variety of health and safety training programs to help ensure our employees and supervisors understand our health and safety culture, and know how to implement our health and safety management system.

Aecon Common Core Supervisor Training

One of our key programs, Common Core Supervisor Training consists of 12 modules and takes 16 to 20 hours to complete. Modules within the program include:

• Aecon health and safety systems
• Occupational responsibility
• Orientation, education and training
• Hazard identification and control
• Workplace inspections
• Emergency planning, fire prevention and crisis management
• Accident, incident and near miss investigation and return to work
• Public safety, security and environmental protection
• Occupational health
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• Safe work practices and procedures
• Traffic control, heavy vehicles and maintenance
• Aecon also implements mandatory orientation and competency training programs for specific pieces of equipment and tools.

Annual Safety Day

In 2005, Aecon initiated an annual Safety Day, a day in which all Aecon employees celebrate our commitment to safety and specifically focus their attentions on the importance of safe work habits in the work we do.  On this day, site-specific activities take place often including guest speakers, the unveiling of the annual Aecon safety poster and related festivities. A feature each year of this event is the important toolbox talk by Aecon's CEO delivered to all Aecon employees. The event has become a large success in highlighting our core value of putting SAFETY FIRST.
 

At Aecon, SAFETY FIRST is also a family affair.  In addition to the on-site activities marking each Safety Day, we collect safety-related drawings from the children and grandchildren of our employees. Pictures are then selected and compiled into our annual safety calendar, filled with messages about the importance of staying safe in the work we do.

Subcontractors

Aecon is committed to working with our subcontractors to ensure a safe and healthy workplace for everyone involved in an Aecon project.  As part of this commitment, we ensure all subcontractors engaged in providing services are qualified and competent to do so through a unique registration and questionnaire process.
 

The questionnaire asks for information relating to health and safety performance, workers’ compensation details, and health and safety management systems.  Information requested in the questionnaire is mandatory for all subcontractors.