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A safety net when all else fails

50402 Health concerns in customer reception at Darlington

May 2012 in Train Operations

tagged Supervision and Management Work environment North East

A reporter is concerned about the design and layout of the customer reception office at Darlington station. Their main concerns are as follows:
  • The two desks in the office are straight and at a height of approximately one metre from the ground. This results in staff having to stretch to get to the four monitors and phones placed on the desks. Due to the height of the desks, staff have had to position their chairs lower, which could lead to knee or leg injuries.
  • Filing cabinets are placed directly above where staff sit and cannot be easily accessed. The reporter believes there is a possibility that these could fall and injure those working directly below them.
  • Two computer monitors have been placed directly under the fluorescent lighting in the office, causing screen reflections which reduce visibility.
  • The office does not appear to be cleaned on a regular basis, with thick dust settling in many places.

Due to the gradual introduction of more equipment, the situation has become progressively worse over time. This is not helped by the fact that the office is very small to begin with. The reporter feels a lot could be done in order to make the office safer and ergonomically friendly.

  Could East Coast:

  • Consider replacing the straight desks with curved desks of an appropriate height?
  • Relocate the filing cabinets which are directly above where staff sit?
  • Relocate the two computer monitors which are placed directly under the fluorescent lighting?
  • Inspect the office to see if other ergonomic improvements could be made?
  • Consider implementing a regular cleaning programme for the office?

Response from East Coast

East Coast would like to thank the reporter for highlighting this issue which has been discussed at a local level previously.

There is recognition that this area requires wider improvement and as such a fully adjustable chair has been purchased for use in the customer reception office. In addition three anti-glare screens have been ordered to help counter the glare caused by the lighting.

Concerns regarding the cleaning standards have been highlighted to the cleaning contractors and cleaning is now part of nightshifts specification.

A longer term solution will require significant investment and this funding aspiration has already been put forward for 2012 by the Station Manager. The aim of this is to cover all other aspects of the report made.

50402