Campaigning for higher health and safety standards at work, and opposing the employers' shortcuts
Readers will remember that in the May edition of Monthly News we reported on a serious breach of safety at Blackhorse Road when the station was left open at the insistence of a DSM despite both escalators being out of action and contrary to the Congestion Control Evacuation Plan (CCEP). Alarmingly, the CCEP was broken again recently, this time at Tottenham Hale.
Madness???
Whoever thought this up …..?
When trains arrive on Stonebridge Park reception roads, drivers on the Bakerloo line are being instructed to cut the high tone whistle out.
Then we have to cut it in.
Then out.
Then in
Then shake it all about!
All because depot staff are accidentally operating the high tone whistle in confined spaces.
Not train operators doing it in error have you noticed.
Your Trains Safety Council reps write ... The letter below from HM Inspector of Railways to London Underground raises serious concerns about how seriously LU treats the safety of its staff and passengers alike. The Rule Book has been thrown out the window and safety systems after a SPAD have been ignored. Please bring this letter to the attention of all our members.
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Bakerloo line drivers were subject to what can only be described as keystone cops style of management during the first day of this weekend’s shutdown.
Seemingly making it up on the hoof, management instructed drivers to keep trains in service even when failing the trip cock tester.
Apparently the requirement for a second person in the cab was sufficient to run a safe railway.
This goes against all the basic principles we are taught when joining LUL!
Please find attached the Special Summer Edition of The Neasden Flyer. You can read the text below:
If you can’t stand the heat, stay out of the WPK depot!
Local Members and Representatives know too well how hot summer temperatures can get underground. So when you are relieved for meal break, you would expect to have your meal break in comfortable, temperature controlled conditions, right?
This memo from London Underground management, dated 16 July 2009, outlines the arrangements for clip-on sunglasses for drivers who wear specs.
Reminder Of Arrangements For The Issue Of Clip-On Sunglasses To Spectacle-Wearing Train Operators
In 2002, in order to assist spectacle-wearing Train Operators to better manage glare whilst driving, the Trains Health and Safety Council endorsed the issue of clip-on sunglasses. Arrangements were put in place for those spectacle-wearing Train Operators who wanted them, to be issued with free made-to-measure clip-on sunglasses via the Department of Optometry at City University.
1) The principal safety legislation in the land, the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (Section 7) states:
The employee has a duty in:
“taking reasonable care for your own health & safety and that of others who may be affected by what you do or don’t do”
2) Under the Employment Rights Act 1996, as amended, employees have the right not to be dismissed, selected for redundancy or subjected to any detriment on the following grounds:
Refusal to work on the grounds of safety - rights for pregnant women and new mothers
At RMT's AGM, the General Secretary presents a written report, and delegates can question and comment on it. These are the two points that I raised:
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There are two issues that are not in the Report, which I think should have been.
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Firstly, refusal to work on the grounds of safety.
Following the suspension of safety reps (Jim Harrington and Clive Steadman's) email facilities on London Underground, the Stations & Revenue Safety Council has produced an open letter to all Health & Safety reps. Please click on the attachment to download a copy.
While Victoria line drivers are being sacked for safety breaches which would not even have occurred had the company fitted correct-side door enable equipment to its trains, it seems that managers can make safety-critical mistakes with impunity. An example of this took place on 7th May at Blackhorse Road station. At about 1700, both escalators failed. The Supervisor tried everything to get at least one of them restarted but without success.