Potential Safety Risks In Bus Maintenance: AG

Below is an excerpt from the auditor general’s report on bus maintenance that is to be presented to audit committee on Sept. 20:

Quote from auditor general’s report:

“… we found one (1) instance where there was no evidence of supervision of an apprentice performing a rear brake replacement, a critical safety component of a bus. … Apprentices who are working without the direct supervision of experienced, licenced mechanics, especially on critical safety systems, could potentially cause safety risks and expose the City to liability risks in the event of an incident.”

Evidence of apprentice supervision by a licensed mechanic could not be consistently demonstrated.

Due to a fraud and waste line allegation, the office of the auditor general examined whether 310T apprentices were completing work on buses, including critical safety systems such as brakes, without supervision. While Skilled Trades Ontario does not outline specific expectations for apprentice supervision, based on industry best practices, we expected to see evidence of sign-off by a licensed mechanic when apprentices work on safety components and formalized apprentice supervision processes.

Through interviews with management, we learned that specific tasks within the garage require supporting documentation to demonstrate work completed, including check sheets and inspections. While apprentices can sign these documents, a signature of a licenced 310T mechanic is required, as well as the garage supervisor. Although garage supervisors, who have 310T licenses, are expected to sign the check sheets, our interviews indicated that their sign-off represents high level oversight and not detailed supervision of the work completed.

The primary day-to-day supervisory 3 A Truck and Coach Technician inspects, repairs and maintains commercial trucks, emergency vehicles, buses and road transport vehicles by performing work on structural, mechanical, electrical and electronic systems. Investigation of and coaching responsibility for apprentices is with the 310T mechanic overseeing the work, who is expected to closely collaborate with the apprentice on their shift. During the investigation, we observed that there is no formal documentation outlining specific responsibilities and expectations for apprentice supervision.

In our detailed testing, we found that apprentices are not consistently evidenced as being supervised as jobs that require an inspection check sheet are not always being signed off by a licensed 310T mechanic before the bus goes back into service.

In 53% of the inspections tested, the 310T apprentices were signing preventative maintenance inspection check sheets where no licensed 310T mechanic had signed off. In one (1) case, the inspection check sheet was neither signed by a 310T mechanic nor a garage supervisor. We further reviewed work order details in M5 and noted that the licensed mechanics often did not have labour time allocated to the job performed by the apprentice, which could have provided evidence of such supervision.

Additionally, we found one (1) instance where there was no evidence of supervision of an apprentice performing a rear brake replacement, a critical safety component of a bus. While apprentices need hands-on experience working on critical safety systems, they must be adequately supervised as they do not have sufficient knowledge and experience to complete these tasks on their own. Apprentices who are working without the direct supervision of experienced, licenced mechanics, especially on critical safety systems, could potentially cause safety risks and expose the City to liability risks in the event of an incident.

For You:

Has Amicar’s Best-Before Date Expired? THE VOTER

OC Transpo In Death Spiral: PATTON

Rail Construction Director Morgan Quits

Bookmark The Bulldog, click here