|
Post by tubelightonline on Feb 24, 2009 12:56:40 GMT
Travelling between Elephant & Castle and Balham last week, I noticed that the driver of the train I boarded was wearing a set of ear defenders as the train entered the platform; seeing as I have never encountered any other drivers wearing this unusual fashion accessory, I'm guessing that it isn't very common to do so - unless anyone knows differently, of course!
|
|
Colin
Advisor
My preserved fire engine!
Posts: 11,309
|
Post by Colin on Feb 24, 2009 14:01:13 GMT
There are drivers that wear them on the Bakerloo, Piccadilly and Victoria lines too - LU actually issues small yellow plugs (for want of a better description) which drivers can put in their ears.
The four lines do suffer from high noise levels in tunnels on tight bends and over some crossings, but being on the District, I dunno quite what the level of take up is on ear protection as we don't really have an issue.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2009 14:31:43 GMT
I believe the general rule is that they are normally worn on 67/72 stock when there is a droplight problem and it can't be closed. This is particularily the case with the nearside driving positions on 72 stock as it is extramly noisy when they are open. Normally they should be closed as this would otherwise prevent motoring although in certain failure circumstances, they can be over-ridden and remain open such as air-con failure in the cab etc.
|
|
|
Post by 21146 on Feb 24, 2009 15:38:38 GMT
Travelling between Elephant & Castle and Balham last week, I noticed that the driver of the train I boarded was wearing a set of ear defenders as the train entered the platform; seeing as I have never encountered any other drivers wearing this unusual fashion accessory, I'm guessing that it isn't very common to do so - unless anyone knows differently, of course! How effective are these? Would they prevent Code Red, Amber etc; messages being heard? Some west end District Line staff may remember a T/Op who wore two hearing aids (and grew his hair over his ears to cover these) and basically couldn't understand a thing you said unless you directly faced him so he could part-lip read. Many of us wondered how he heard radio messages about reformations, short-tripping, station non-stops etc when the truth was of course he didn't. (This was in the days before regular medical checks for operational grades.) I don't know if he made it to retirement or whether the system caught up with him in time (I can't remember his name but obviously wouldn't reveal it here even I could. ASLEF recently negotiated for drivers with an element of hearing loss to continue in the T/Op grade, subject to certain conditions. Whilst on the subject of the regular age-related medicals that LU staff are allegedly supposed to have, I haven't been sent for one since applying for Station Inspector in 1992, which says a lot about the system!
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2009 15:56:06 GMT
underground bit isnt bad but outside on the northern line the tracks there is this horrible screeching noise that has started recently so that would be a good idea to wear them
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2009 17:23:47 GMT
I would asume that anything worn like this would have to comply with an appropriate safety case. I would argue that (although my opinion), this is a safety issue and if required then appropriate method statements would be in place so that a driver would alert line controllers etc that they are wearing them and that appropriate methods would need to be taken to alert a driver such as stopping them at an appropriate signal if necessary to pass operation details. Not sure if this sort of method is followed exactly but one would asume that this is in place in an enviroment where safety is paramount and it would be allowed to happen if it wasn't.
|
|
Colin
Advisor
My preserved fire engine!
Posts: 11,309
|
Post by Colin on Feb 24, 2009 18:02:12 GMT
For starters, LU do issue ear defender items - admittedly not full on headphone type stuff, but items which will nonetheless impair a drivers ability to hear (hence them being called ear defenders!). Secondly, radio messages are just one of several ways to stop a train. Only the controller (or signaller too on some lines) can issue a stop message by radio, so a request to stop a train for a safety related matter would have come from someone else who is most likely 'on the ground' and trained in the various methods of stopping a train. I'm not gonna start listing all the possible procedures, but believe me, if push comes to shove, there are enough ways/methods of getting a safety related message passed
|
|
Tom
Administrator
Signalfel?
Posts: 4,083
|
Post by Tom on Feb 24, 2009 19:11:20 GMT
I believe the general rule is that they are normally worn on 67/72 stock when there is a droplight problem and it can't be closed. I'm surprised this is the case on 67 stock - you can't get motors with a droplight open beyond a certain point.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2009 2:11:11 GMT
For starters, LU do issue ear defender items - admittedly not full on headphone type stuff, but items which will nonetheless impair a drivers ability to hear (hence them being called ear defenders!) The full headphone type ear defenders are issued to Bakerloo and Victoria line drivers.
|
|
Colin
Advisor
My preserved fire engine!
Posts: 11,309
|
Post by Colin on Feb 25, 2009 2:58:46 GMT
Cheers Jim, I consider myself corrected ;D ;D
|
|
|
Post by suncloud on Feb 25, 2009 8:37:30 GMT
This makes sense as action based on the Noise at Work is based as much on the amount of the working day one is subjected to high noise levels as to the level of that noise. As Victoria spend nearly all their time in tunnel, and Bakerloo a still fairly significant chunk in tunnel...
|
|
|
Post by frankoids on Feb 25, 2009 13:14:01 GMT
There are a small number of drivers on the Northern who wear ear defenders. You can get ear defenders from LU, but I didn't find them very comfortable and bought my own "Bilson" ear defenders. The problem with the ear plugs is that you have to take them out every time you speak to someone whereas with the ear defenders you can just flick them off. As far as being able to hear the Service Controller it is not an issue, the radio can still be heard quite clearly, the defenders just cut out the worst of the rumble and wheel screech.
|
|
|
Post by ducatisti on Mar 5, 2009 10:07:49 GMT
I saw a chap wearing them on a northbound service to High Barnet (got on at Camden, don't know if it was via City or CX).
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 5, 2009 10:15:12 GMT
I believe the general rule is that they are normally worn on 67/72 stock when there is a droplight problem and it can't be closed. I'm surprised this is the case on 67 stock - you can't get motors with a droplight open beyond a certain point. If you read my previous post, I did say that it can be over-ridden in certain cercumstances - there are switches to lock it out, although its not used that often, more so for safety reasons than anything else and probably as a last resort.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 13, 2009 2:26:46 GMT
As far as being able to hear the Service Controller it is not an issue, Apparently not ;D One or two drivers have complained that I'm too loud through the cab loudspeaker, perhaps I should suggest they wear ear defenders!
|
|