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

Graeme Hooper, Associated Council at Mitha Law Group is a litigator focusing on workplace law, especially occupational health and safety. He represents employers before WorkSafeBC, the Federal Labour Program, and multiple tribunals, handling appeals, investigations, injunctions, and prosecutions. Graeme also seeks WCAT certifications in civil suits. A former clerk to British Columbia’s Chief Justices, he maintains a broad appeal practice spanning civil, family, criminal, and quasi‑criminal cases, and has appeared at every court level in B.C. His earlier roles in the public service—Ministry of Public Safety, WCB, Court of Appeal, and Legislative Assembly—equip him to navigate government for clients.

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.  

Moderator

Aaron Frost, OHST, is the Health and Safety Manager for Industrial Scaffold Services and the owner of QWEST Consulting Ltd. Aaron is a safety‑focused operations leader with 20+ years in oil & gas, mining, construction, and forestry. As Environmental Health & Safety Manager at Industrial Scaffold Services LP, he transforms safety culture and ensures regulatory compliance across Western Canada, delivering measurable gains in efficiency and workforce engagement. Honoured as the BC Forest Safety Council’s Safety MVP (2019) and backed by extensive emergency‑response expertise, he merges data analysis, project management, and strategic planning to align teams with corporate goals while minimizing risk. Aaron excels at uniting safety and operations to create resilient, high‑performance workplaces.

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