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Concordia project recognized for its innovative approach to occupational health and safety

Grand Prix de la CNESST praises the university’s commitment to make routine elevator maintenance more secure
October 23, 2023
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By Daniel Bartlett

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Five men line up and pose for a picture while accepting an award From left: Pietro Gasparrini and Abel Costa (EHS); Paul Blouin (Facilities Management); Richard Fontaine (CNESST); and Geoffroy Allard (Facilities Management).

When Concordia’s Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) and Facilities Management teams developed a project to make regular elevator maintenance safer for university employees, the aim was to design less cumbersome and restrictive protective guards.

In machine rooms, guards are fixed barriers or protective devices placed on or around equipment to prevent workers from accidentally coming into contact with the machinery and risking injury. Installed guards are often heavy to maneuver, which can cause workers to reposition them incorrectly after servicing or to remove them altogether.

To eliminate these risks, the project team installed several access doors, hinges, slides and handles on their guards, as well as a simple and quick locking structure. The result is a lightweight system that is easy to remove and replace.

“Everything was installed at operationally strategic points. Access to hazardous areas has been limited and the new guards require less effort from the elevator mechanics,” says Pietro Gasparrini, director of EHS.

The team’s creative approach is also gaining attention from the CNESST, Quebec’s workplace health and safety board. The project was recently named a regional finalist in the innovation category for the Grand Prix de la CNESST. The honour recognizes Concordia’s commitment to improving occupational health and safety at the university.

A man with a blue collared shirt and suit jacket stands in front of a beige background Ehab Shehata

Prioritizing employee safety

For Abel Costa, manager of construction and facilities safety in EHS, the CNESST’s recognition is further proof that the project’s cross-collaborative approach encouraged team members to think outside of the box.

Throughout the project, he worked closely with Ehab Shehata, coordinator in Facilities Management, to develop a solution that helped facilitate the ease with which safety guards could be removed and reinstalled and ensure operational efficiency.

“We aimed to create a work environment that prioritizes employee safety,” Costa says. “Now, we can carry out routine maintenance without having to deal with the complexities and difficulties in removing and replacing the guards.”

He also notes that the initiative can serve as a model for other organizations and institutions.

“This solution can be applied in any workplace that has elevator machine rooms or other big equipment. We hope its impact can extend far beyond the walls at Concordia,” Costa says.


Learn more about Concordia Facilities.


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