June Breakfast Session - Leveling Up Safety

Leveling Up Safety – A Legal Perspective and Case Study in Collaboration on Safety on YVR’s North Runway Rehabilitation Project

YVR’s concrete north runway, built in the early 1990’s, is in need of major strengthening and rehabilitation after decades of use from heavy widebody aircraft. As a 24/7 operation, YVR determined that the customer impact of a full closure of the runway would be too great so it was decided that the nominal 8” asphalt overlay (over 150,000 tonnes overall) would be constructed in nightly closures, six nights per week over a period of six months, with the runway re-opening every morning. Aviation is an industry built on safety and collaboration between multiple parties is crucial to deliver this project safely. Considerations include fatigue risk management for staff working night shifts, the coordination of multiple paving and heavy works crews, mental well-being and the need to have a safe operating surface for aircraft each day. 

Hear how YVR and the General Contractor, Kiewit along with subcontractors, are working collaboratively together to develop and execute on a strategy that includes considerations around safety culture, the use of technology, intricate planning, working in an active runway environment, and a people first approach to carry out this work on critical infrastructure safely and efficiently. 

These large projects also create compliance challenges, particularly around prime contractor responsibilities over multi-employer worksites, potential jurisdictional disputes, and dealing with increased risks of prosecution in the event of a serious incident or fatality. As projects get larger, so does the need for effective co-ordination and co-operation. 

Join moderator Aaron Frost and panelists Daryl Calvert (YVR), Connor Fuller (Kiewit) and Graeme Hooper (Mitha Law Group) for an engaging and jam-packed discussion.

Panelists

Connor Fuller, P.Eng. is a Project Manager at Kiewit with over 12 years of experience leading complex infrastructure projects across Western Canada. He is currently managing the YVR North Runway Rehabilitation Project. Previously, he oversaw a major segment of the Trans Mountain Expansion Project, managing over 500 personnel and delivering ahead of schedule. Connor holds a BASc in Integrated Engineering from UBC. He also helped establish Kiewit’s Western Canada Wellness Committee, promoting mental, physical, and emotional well-being through events and initiatives that connect employees with wellness resources.  

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