By Ivan Pereira
The Port Authority has launched a new initiative at John F. Kennedy International Airport to improve safety awareness and reward employees who keep Terminal 4 problem-free.
Representatives from JFKIAT, LLC, the company that operates the international terminal, said the company wants to create a safety culture that will benefit the thousands of passengers from around the world who visit the airport and the workers who spend hours making it run smoothly.
“Since opening 10 years ago, Terminal 4 has sought to build a reputation as the ‘Terminal of Choice’ in New York that provides an efficient travel experience for passengers,” JFKIAT, LLC President Alain Maca said in a statement. “The launch of our safety program will continue that commitment by increasing our emphasis on the safety of all who travel, visit and work at Terminal 4.”
The program is spearheaded by the company’s vice president of safety and performance management, Barbara Margulis, and includes different facets. All employees will be given new training about safety procedures and audits, inspections will be conducted on a regular basis and a safety and risk management system has been developed to identify potential hazards at the terminal.
Maca added that a monthly newsletter, “The Safety Sentinel,” features a “Safety Employee of the Month.” The company selects the awardee, who also receives a $50 award after he or she performs a major safety act at the terminal.
In December, Adam Lomotowski, who works for Swissport International Cargo, was named safety employee of the month for preventing boarding stairs from hitting a parked aircraft. In January, food court worker Edwin Mourino was given the honor for putting out a small fire at the KFC restaurant in the terminal.
Airport traffic manager Leona Findlay was safety employee for helping evacuate people out of the AR-2 roadway when a fire broke out Feb. 2.
Reach reporter Ivan Pereira by e-mail at ipereira@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4546.
