Spotlight on CSSE Members
Rafik Kaci
Rafik Kaci is a passionate advocate for the importance of putting health and safety at the forefront of projects both large and small.
“I started out, when I was a young electrical engineer, as a telecommunications cable designer. And then my work moved into the quality field, after which I became a quality manager. I enjoyed the challenges surrounding the design, manufacturing, and quality control and quality assurance of telecommunication cables.”
Rafik has worked as an electrical engineer for more than 30 years since earning his Master’s in Electrical Engineering in France. He began his career as a Quality Manager for Catel, a telecommunications cable company. He then moved to ABB Power Systems, in Montreal, where he spent 15 years as the company’s Operational Excellence, Quality, Health & Safety and Environmental Manager for Canada. “I was in charge of health and safety on our projects, from the design, manufacturing, and construction point of view. Environment and quality were also part of my mandate.”
From there, Rafik moved to Bombardier Transportation, where he worked in its railway division for three-and-a-half years.
“Now, I’m working for an engineering company called SYSTRA, a world leader in the railway industry. I’m involved in the engineering, procurement, and site works phases of projects.”
SYSTRA provides its clients with specific conventional rail solutions for the transportation of both passengers and freight/mining materials. “SYSTRA has expertise in a variety of transportation modes, including high-speed rail, light rail transit, and electric buses, as well as the design, maintenance, and refurbishment of rolling stock.”
Rafik has both CRSP and CHSC certifications, and has attended safety training courses in Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom. He’s become a huge advocate for the importance of health and safety within SYSTRA. “Health and safety is something you need to take into account right at the beginning of a project, not only to comply with contractual agreements, but because not prioritizing health and safety can have an impact on the project itself, on the bottom line of the project, and on SYSTRA’s reputation. So even if your record is good for 20 years, it takes only one incident to destroy your reputation.”
Rafik is a long-time CSSE member and a firm believer in the importance of its work and outreach at the local level. He’s also been deeply involved in the organization’s transformation process this year. “My goal is really about transformation, about making the organization more efficient and effective. And also, when people join the organization, they should see some added value in the ways they connect with health and safety practitioners, share new ideas, and learn from mistakes in order to participate in building a strong safety culture within the organization.
“I think the CSSE is the most important health and safety organization in Canada and should be one of the most important in the world.”