Four terminals, one milestone
Reaching one year without an injury is an important accomplishment. Achieving that across four CN terminals is even more impressive.
In September, Taschereau Yard became the final terminal in CN’s Greater Montreal Area (GMA) to reach the one-year mark, joining the Rivières-des-Prairies, Coteau, and St. Lambert teams, who also celebrated their own milestones earlier this year.
Safety through shared leadership
GMA General Superintendent, François Boucher, credits teamwork and transparency for this collective success: “Safety leadership is something we all share,” he says. “There’s a real willingness to talk openly about safety at all levels, stay focused, and be transparent about issues. Everyone is invested in working safely together.”
A dedicated Health and Safety Committee anchors the effort with monthly themes addressing potential issues. For example, if slips and falls are a concern, prevention efforts ramp up to ensure the topic is well covered in upcoming months.
Each morning, GMA teams review the previous day’s successes and challenges, sharing lessons learned during safety briefings. Monthly safety challenges also keep teams engaged and motivated, encouraging friendly competition while reinforcing safe work habits across terminals.
Experience that inspires
Regular safety summits, attended by both union-represented and management employees, break down barriers and encourage frank conversation. Employees share stories about near-misses so others can learn. Support from the training team in the field provides insight and another layer of collaboration.
For Conductor Nelson Beveridge (pictured above, on the right), with an incredible 52 years of service, the transformation has been remarkable: “I’ve been part of many safety programs, and the GMA seems to have tapped into what works,” says Nelson. “We keep safety at the forefront, follow rules to the letter, and look out for one another so we all go home safely.”