Portrait Words Andrew Bennett Photo Andrea Stenson A POSITIVE SIGN OF THE TIMES Communication within the workplace isnt always a straightforward process. However, two colleagues from SNCLavalin in Toronto have helped take interactions between members of their team to a new level, thanks to their use of sign language W hen Ola Lariviere who has a hearing impairment joined the Rail & Transit team, colleague Enrique Sosa Lopez wanted to ensure she had the same access to information as other employees. Both colleagues are working on the Eglinton Crosstown Light Rail Transit Project in Toronto Canadas largest P3 public transport scheme. Previously, a friend of Olas had interpreted for her when she worked in the SNC-Lavalin Mining & Metallurgy division. Since that friend was not moving to her new team, Enrique decided to learn sign language, which he started while working with Ola on a project in Mining & Metallurgy. I thought it would be nice to communicate with sign language rather than writing the message on paper, explained Enrique, an Electrical Engineer in Training (EIT). I found it interesting to learn sign language as my uncle, who is also hearing impaired, used to teach it to me when I was five or six years old. Enrique, who has worked in the Rail & Transit team since November 2015, after serving in the Mining & Metallurgy division, found resources on YouTube, especially an educational channel run by university professor Bill Vicars. Achieving uency I went through more than 60 of the American Sign Language (ASL) lessons in order to achieve fluency. Also, I was lucky enough to have a work cubicle beside Ola, which made practice time more accessible. As a hearing-impaired individual, Enrique became fluent in ASL and employees noticed their interaction, I must rely on all my senses to since he was always interpreting information presented in meetings for her. When Ola was asked to come up with a health and safety message for a perform tasks; however, I do monthly team meeting held by Kevin George, Vice-president, Rail & Transit not understand how people in Engineering for North America, Enrique was asked to interpret for her. general underestimate During her presentation of the Safety and Ethics Moment, Ola said: As a hearing-impaired individual, I must rely on all my senses to perform tasks; daily activities however, I do not understand how people in general underestimate daily activities such as driving, walking with hot beverages in the office, or doing Ola Lariviere household chores. Electrical Draftsperson, If an individuals situational awareness is compromised, he or she Power Supply & Distribution may endanger his or her life and the life of others. Examples of this are listening to loud music while driving when there is an emergency vehicle or forgetting to work safely at home. She added: The same message is true for ethical design in our projects. We must not underestimate the importance of project situations, such as sharing information with our colleagues. We cannot assume that our colleagues will be informed of current changes in design if information is not passed on to them. Situations such as this are easily avoidable and can cause project delays, which makes us less efficient. Since their presentation earlier this year, which was watched by around 150 people at offices around North America via video conferencing, two other colleagues in Toronto have started to study sign language. Commenting on how colleagues reacted to someone with a hearing impairment playing a prominent part in internal communication, Enrique said: People were surprised. For me it was surprising that this was so. Learning sign language didnt take that long. Everyone can learn it quite quickly. He has challenged summer intern students to learn it too, as they often work with Ola during their placements. Enrique added that Ola found his efforts to spread the use of sign language heart-warming. Before, in Mining & Metallurgy, people would usually talk to Enrique or her friend Grace and they would pass messages on to Ola. Learning sign language didnt Now everyone comes to talk to her very freely, and are getting to know her. take that long. Everyone can Ola said: I think the whole team is working closer together. learn it quite quickly Team dynamics Enrique Sosa Lopez I am helping my colleagues to access information faster than before. Electrical EIT, As for our team dynamics, I feel the team has become more aware of Power Supply & Distribution everyones expertise, knowledge and abilities. Enrique added: Olas experience is very diverse in different fields including nuclear, manufacturing, mining and transportation. It makes us think more about every part of the design and how everything works. Shari Schurr, Director of Marketing & Proposals for Rail &Transit Engineering in North America, said: While passing Ola in our office, exchanging smiles, waves and eventually hellos, she appeared to be a warm and friendly colleague with a genuine smile. I didnt realise at first that she was hearing impaired, yet began to understand what we often take for granted. Such as listening to our leaders in an all-hands meeting where I first saw Enrique sign the content of the meeting with her. It was an inspiring story to hear about how Enrique learned to sign, but also that Ola was willing to sign with him and teach us to be more aware of the people around us, the way we communicate and so much more. viewpoint@snclavalin.com snclavalin.com