Safety in and around construction sites takes a team effort.

Everyone from workers, to drivers, and pedestrians play a part when crews are building a brand-new transit line.

In the case of the Hurontario light rail transit (LRT), it means long-term construction on Peel Region’s busiest road. So, when safety is taken seriously, it’s good news for everyone.

Late last week (Feb. 18), Mobilinx, the constructor of the Hurontario LRT and its subcontractors achieved a significant safety milestone. They have now gone more than two million hours of work without a lost time injury (LTI).

If you do a little transit math, that means for 3,000 people working 40-hour weeks, it would be more than 16 weeks without an injury.

For those unfamiliar with LTI, this refers to any incident that results in a disability or an employee missing work due to an injury.

Safety in the community

Safety is also imperative off the construction site where drivers and pedestrians are sharing the roadway that, at times, may be partially blocked off by construction along the 18km route.

Part of the work on the Hurontario LRT requires that medians in the middle of the road are removed as utilities are upgraded and the roads are widened.

This work often involves using pylons to separate work areas from traffic lanes, and the repainting of lines on the road.

Jaywalking – crossing the road outside of a designated crosswalk or signaled intersection – is especially dangerous in construction areas as crews and drivers are not anticipating pedestrians.

It’s why the safety culture on the project is so important. A strong safety culture keeps teams safe within the worksites and the public safe in the areas that come close to work. 

On occasion, Mobilinx, may need to remove or work on sections of sidewalk.

Alternatives are always provided when this work is happening, which could be a designated temporary path or signage directing people to the other side of the road where it is safe.

Safety is not the absence of incidents, but rather the continuous focus of collective actions each and every day.

Metrolinx is committed to keeping workers and community members safe while the new transit line is being built.

Follow the project by subscribing to the Peel Region e-newsletter and following the Hurontario LRT on Twitter.