Gordie Howe bridge team wins IHSA safety award
The Gordie Howe International Bridge project has been named the 2021 recipient of a top award from the Infrastructure Health and Safety Association (IHSA).
The IHSA conveyed its 2021 John M. Beck Award on the project. The award recognizes the contributions a project-based Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC) in the Ontario construction industry has made to health and safety in the previous year.
The judging committee, which includes members of IHSA’s Provincial Labour-Management Health and Safety Committee, highlighted the extraordinary leadership, initiative, creativity, and innovation in developing policy, procedures, tools, or communications for protecting the health and safety of workers on the construction site.
The award is named after John M. Beck, the founder and chairman of Aecon Group Inc.
“The health and safety of our entire team has always and continues to be of primary importance. This award validates the effort and dedication of our joint health and safety teams to ensure that all employees remain safe on the job and can return home to their families at the end of each workday,” says Bryce Phillips, the CEO of the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority, the federal Crown corporation that is responsible for administering construction of the international bridge.
“Safety is a core value at Bridging North America and our success stems from the commitment of our joint health and safety teams and all staff. Relentless and consistent engagement is required to create the safety culture we aspire to achieve,” added Michael Hatchell, the CEO of Bridging North America.
On June 25, BNA and its subcontractors celebrated three million hours of work without a lost time injury. This is in addition to the safety precautions put in place to protect against the spread of COVID-19 as part of a robust health and safety regime to ensure workers are safe on the job site.
The John M. Beck award is the latest honour for the Gordie Howe International Bridge project. In 2021, the project team has also received awards for its commitment to environmental stewardship, the project Community Benefits Plan, communications excellence, and its internship program.
Featured image: Site progress photos from October 2021 on the Canadian side of the Gordie Howe International Bridge project. (Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority)