8 bus concerns
12 September 2024
Here’s what happened after companies received CIRAS reports, from bus depots to driver cabs.
1. Slips and trips
Staff could have broken an ankle in broken drainage grates at a depot. Some had been injured. Inductions warned about it. There were also holes in concrete around grates. Heavy traffic made it worse. The company replaced internal drains with a drainpipe below ground and a level walkway. It replaced external failed drain covers and concrete and planned to replace other covers before they failed.
2. Seat comfort
Drivers couldn’t adjust their seat forward and down. It angled into the backs of their knees. This was distracting and could have led to an accident. The company fitted a tilting seat cradle.
3. Rainwater leak
Rain in the cab could have got into drivers’ eyes and made the steering wheel slippery, causing an accident. The company would check each affected vehicle and the fleet during maintenance. Inspections would check window and panel sealing. In the short term, an absorbent would soak up fluid. The company would remove and reseal affected windows, panels if needed, and fill holes from wear-and-tear.
4. Distracting light
A faulty light above doors flickered and distracted drivers. It might trigger a seizure in passengers with epilepsy. The company checked for loose connections and found an insecure microswitch. They made it secure and checked microswitches on vehicles of the same type.
5. Messroom hygiene
Full bin bags were left in the messroom. There were rats. Running water wasn’t drinkable, and there was no fridge to store bottled water. The company provided a fridge and reviewed cleaning standards with contractors. Bags would be removed when bins were changed, and vermin issues addressed. The cabin was replaced with a new, suitable site.
6. Bus capacity
Company policy was for unlimited buggies to be able to board a bus, if not in the aisle. It would take significant time to evacuate them in an emergency. When busy, there was less space for buggies to alight. There had been passenger altercations. The company put a revised sign on its buses that two buggies was the maximum, with further detail.
7. Broken demister
Demisters were only blowing cold air. This couldn’t stop a windscreen fogging up. A new demister matrix had been fitted before the report. After it, an inspection found it blew warm air. But the company then also fitted a booster pump to increase air flow and circulation.
8. Hot cabs
The air-cooling system in buses often blew hot. This could cause fatigue and heat exhaustion. Systems met the specification, but couldn’t lower the temperature enough in extreme heat. The company fitted fans in driver cabs, and was working with contractors to identify inefficient systems before hot weather. In the longer term, a contractor was working across bus operators on how to retrofit climate adaptation improvements involving the temperature dropping further and in less time.