What a load of nonsense.

[PFX]

If I come to a set stairs, I will make a quick judgement on whether it is safe for me to use them or not.

Even if their is a handrail, I wouldn't use it as I don't need to.

This is a point that could be taken to the nth degree.

I come to a stair that has signage telling me I should use the handrail. I'm wary that I may come into contact with a nasty germ left on the handrail by someone else. Should I then expect the provision of gloves or an anti-bacterial wipe to clean the handrail? Do I then need COSHH training for proper use of the wipe? Who do I sue if I get sheep scrapies from a dirty handrail?

The H&S argument will never go away until something is done to curb an increasingly litigious culture. Shame really.

 

[martinsh]

It is a passenger's duty to listen to announcements

Really ?! Is it in the Byelaws, or NRCoC ?

 

[pendolino]

I come to a stair that has signage telling me I should use the handrail. I'm wary that I may come into contact with a nasty germ left on the handrail by someone else. Should I then expect the provision of gloves or an anti-bacterial wipe to clean the handrail? Do I then need COSHH training for proper use of the wipe? Who do I sue if I get sheep scrapies from a dirty handrail?

If anyone responsible for safety in a workplace were to insist on those precautions being taken, they need some serious training in the difference between hazard and risk.

 

[PFX]

Too true. I was using that as an extreme example though.

If we were to rewind to the OP's point now in that same vein, would we hear announcements such as?

'We are now approaching, or becoming nearer to if you prefer, Uustinki station halt, or station, or stop, where this service or train, will reach the end of its scheduled route, or terminate. The train supervisor, sometimes known as conductor or even guard, would like to remind PAX, customers, passengers, ladies, gentlemen, girls and boys to ensure that they take all thier possesions, chats and goodles when exiting, leaving, disembarking the train. Thank you for chosing to stay informed and guided through your lives by Ryanrail."

Obviously the fanfare with American/Irish accented maniac screaming to tell you the train has arrived somewhere at sometime would follow.

 

[tbtc]

The H&S argument will never go away until something is done to curb an increasingly litigious culture. Shame really.

This is the problem. These rules (like handrails) often aren't because of H&S legislation, they are to avoid any ruinous court cases.

If the Government changed the law to stop any spurious "where there's a blame there's a claim" cases then that would be a huge step forward. Oddly no Government (of either colour) seems to think this is a priority.

 

[CaptainHaddock]

This is the problem. These rules (like handrails) often aren't because of H&S legislation, they are to avoid any ruinous court cases.

If the Government changed the law to stop any spurious "where there's a blame there's a claim" cases then that would be a huge step forward. Oddly no Government (of either colour) seems to think this is a priority.

Indeed. A sign has recently appeared at the top of the escalator at Manchester Piccadilly warning people "Don't become the next accident statistic on this escalator".

Which presumably is why this company is offering "lift and escalator insurance".

http://www.adlerinsurance.co.uk/ins...ly-experiences-escalator-incidents-/801234348

If you're not capable of using an escalator without falling over, maybe you shouldn't be allowed out in public?

 

[Oswyntail]

.....
If the Government changed the law to stop any spurious "where there's a blame there's a claim" cases then that would be a huge step forward. Oddly no Government (of either colour) seems to think this is a priority.

.....
If you're not capable of using an escalator without falling over, maybe you shouldn't be allowed out in public?

Not that I would defend excessive litigation, but I suspect that, without very specific drafting, any such change in the law would be used to rebuff any genuine claims. I have seen accidents on badly maintained escalators where compensation, IMHO, was fully justified. I can imagine the sort of company that allowed such sloppiness would be just the sort of company to use the prospect of an initial hearing into whether a claim is justified to choke off genuine claims

 

[BestWestern]

Indeed. A sign has recently appeared at the top of the escalator at Manchester Piccadilly warning people "Don't become the next accident statistic on this escalator".

Which presumably is why this company is offering "lift and escalator insurance".

Jesus Christ :roll::roll:

Is there any aspect of any company's activities or indeed anybody's lives where it isn't felt necessary to have insurance nowadays?!

Perhaps locations which currently offer people the convenience and courtesy of a lift or escalator should just install a massive, very long winding slope and erect a large sign along the lines of "sod you all you can bloody well walk" or something similar. I think I might if I were informed of the need to have insurance. I mean, you can't really fall over on a slope, can you. No steps, no edges, no doors, nothing moving, it's just about 'insurance proof' I would think.

Thank goodness for the insurance companies and their solicitor friends who so honourably take care of our society and punish those big nasty companies/other innocent motorists/anybody else they can get at. After all, you just never know when an occurrence which many years ago would have been referred to as an "Accident" might happen, and you'll need somebody to blame and sue for the life-long suffering which will result from you falling all the way from a standing position to the floor, probably as a result of you failing to look where you were walking and tripping over somebody's discarded crisp packet; that's if you survive at all of course. Thank heavens that the owner of the premises has sufficient insurance to cover your enormously inflated claim and satisfy your blatant, predatory greed. How incredibly negligent of them not have an army of hundred of cleaners poised ready to remove every piece of litter the second it hits the floor :roll:

 

[185]

Piccadilly should have

"Customer Notice: Thieves at work. Don't get robbed!"

*change at Crewe and catch London Midland instead

 

[142094]

Looking at some statistics, escalators seem to be the biggest problem in terms of slips/trips and falls. Mainly the elderly, drunk or young people. And also people who take their shoes off, only to get various injuries at the top.

 

[Bungle73]

You can get insurance for some very odd things; like being abducted by aliens.

Looking at some statistics, escalators seem to be the biggest problem in terms of slips/trips and falls. Mainly the elderly, drunk or young people. And also people who take their shoes off, only to get various injuries at the top.

Take their shoes off?

 

[142094]

Take their shoes off?

Normally those who have had too much to drink (especially those wearing high heels).

 

[Oswyntail]

Normally those who have had too much to drink (especially those wearing high heels).

From personal experience, it is quite easy to get stiletto heels stuck in the grooves on an escalator

 

[Nym]

From personal experience, it is quite easy to get stiletto heels stuck in the grooves on an escalator

It is indeed, I'd tend to avoid the travelators at Piccadilly if using them. Even though I only ever used them regularly when living on the canaries (once, regular enough!).

 

[ChrisCooper]

This thread came to mind yesterday when using the new footbridge at Loughborough. As is common with stairways today, particularly where large flows are expected, the stairways are very wide, i imagine you'd get 4 large people side by side easily. The thing is though the only handrails are at each side. This seems to totally contradict health and safety which advises the use of handrails on stairs, and also segregation of up and down flows (the common for many years keep left/right signs). Oviously it could be argued that handrails are provided so there is no issue, but then what is the point of making them so wide? Based on fairly common health and safety practice the stairs are only safe to use by one flow of people in each direction, so why make them wide enough to multiple flows?

Could make a good money making scam in future though. Fit CCTV cameras monitoring the stairs and then fine anyone who doesn't hold the handrail (using face recognition and ID databases this would be easy).

 

[PHILIPE]

From personal experience, it is quite easy to get stiletto heels stuck in the grooves on an escalator

Such an incident occurred in a theatre in Cardiff last year as I was leaving the performance and people following who were being pushed down fell over the lady resulting in several hospital admissions. The Emergency Stop button was not obviously visible and no members of staff were in attendance. Who would be responsible in the event of such an incident on the Railway. I know the lawyers would have a field day.

 

[PFX]

The thing is though the only handrails are at each side. This seems to totally contradict health and safety which advises the use of handrails on stairs, and also segregation of up and down flows (the common for many years keep left/right signs). Oviously it could be argued that handrails are provided so there is no issue, but then what is the point of making them so wide? Based on fairly common health and safety practice the stairs are only safe to use by one flow of people in each direction, so why make them wide enough to multiple flows?

A man with walking difficulties won a case against, I think, M&S last year over just such a situation. As he was unable to reach a handrail, having chosen to use the centre of the stair, he fell causing some injury to himself. Quite why M&S were held to be responsible for his stupidity is beyond me.

 

[jopsuk]

I've once hit the stop on an escalator on the underground, as I nearly fell over the people in front who were falling over the people in front of them who'd tripped at the top- it's odd the way people don't even think to hit the E-stop.

 

[455driver]

I don't know why people still use the term "Guard" - the grade dissapeared in October 1988 with the introduction of the Trainmans Concept.

So what was I before I went driving, I had an interview for a guards job, I was employed as a guard and on the contract I signed for the employment it said-

"Your job title is - Guard"

If I wasnt a guard what was I?
Polite answers please.

 

[142094]

From personal experience, it is quite easy to get stiletto heels stuck in the grooves on an escalator

I wouldn't recommend bare feet on escalators - a former colleague who works as station staff has seen a fair few incidents where people have had nasty cuts/lacerations on escalators. Indeed he asks people to put their shoes on if he sees them without.

Easy way to reduce accidents on escalators - turn them off.

Someone once sent me this Youtube vid of people using escalators for the first time.

 

[boing_uk]

So why do you consider that my opinion is idiotic? because I consider that rules that insist that you must hold the handrail, or you'll face Disciplinary action, are absurd? And (this was never answered) how the heck do they enforce it?? do they watch the stairs on CCTV all the time? do they encourage fellow employees to grass on you if you do not hold the handrail? I'm sorry, but no amount of being called idiotic will change my opinion that this is one of the silliest manifestations of Health & Safety I have yet seen, or will deter me from saying so.

It is not idiotic when a falling employee or visitor has to be extracted from often confined spaces, which may require part of a plant - and perhaps consequently all of the plant - to be shut down to allow emergency services to attend. Notwithstanding the fact that an employee may be off work for some time because of the injury thus meaning transferring workload to other people, perhaps an investigation by the HSE depending on the seriousness of the fall.

It also encourages safer systems of working. If you cannot carry something up a set of stairs without keeping one hand on a handrail, it is too bulky and thus requiring assistance to move said item. It also gets one in to a habit.

Injury accidents in industrial plants can become very expensive. Not only this, but falls from height can be fatal, particularly in industrial environments. When I worked for Huntsman, in common with all the Humber industrial plants, they all had the same rule for use of handrails on stairs. It was not uncommon for staircases in the plants to be quite steep and VERY long, without a break. A fall from these would almost definitely be fatal. Since I worked there, out of habit, I always use a handrail on staircases now as second-nature.

It is NOT about implementing silly rules for the sake of being risk averse. It is about managing risks to employees from themselves and reducing the chances of a very costly interruption to operating processes.

 

[Bungle73]

I wouldn't recommend bare feet on escalators - a former colleague who works as station staff has seen a fair few incidents where people have had nasty cuts/lacerations on escalators. Indeed he asks people to put their shoes on if he sees them without.

Easy way to reduce accidents on escalators - turn them off.

Someone once sent me this Youtube vid of people using escalators for the first time.

How can that be the first time they've used an escalator? And I don't get why they're having so much trouble. :?

 

[PUFFINGBILLY]

When next travelling by our 'iconic' rail service, itself a 'centre of excellence' I shall be a 'temporary dedicated partner' expecting to experience examples of 'best practice' en-route. I will no doubt 'engage' with the 'mobile catering executive' and expect 'transparency' when examining my receipt which will be printed using 'sustainable' 'eco-sourced' paper. Hopefully I won't be 'the elephant in the carraige' and be able to use my time to ascertain whether I have 'a window in my diary' in order to embark on some 'blue sky thinking', taking a 'multi-agency approach' as I prepare a 'keynote speech' 'going forward'. 'Failure is not an option'.

 

[142094]

How can that be the first time they've used an escalator? And I don't get why they're having so much trouble. :?

Be the same as the ones who've never used an automatic door...

Escalators and drunk people can be a nightmare as well. Many a time I've heard "escalator", "drunk" and "accident" in the same sentence.

 

[Oswyntail]

When next travelling by our 'iconic' rail service, itself a 'centre of excellence' I shall be a 'temporary dedicated partner' expecting to experience examples of 'best practice' en-route. I will no doubt 'engage' with the 'mobile catering executive' and expect 'transparency' when examining my receipt which will be printed using 'sustainable' 'eco-sourced' paper. Hopefully I won't be 'the elephant in the carraige' and be able to use my time to ascertain whether I have 'a window in my diary' in order to embark on some 'blue sky thinking', taking a 'multi-agency approach' as I prepare a 'keynote speech' 'going forward'. 'Failure is not an option'.

Now re-write that as clearly and economically without using ANY of your quoted phrases. Some are plain silly, but some have become over-used because they are apt and efficient. I have little time for those who use new phrases simply because they are new. But I have much less time for those who resist innovation simply because it introduces change.

 

[jon0844]

There are many potential accidents where people lack basic common sense.

Carrying a hot cup of coffee between your legs when driving seems very obvious. No real need to tell people that.

However, holding the hand rail on steps? Yes, I'd say that's valid advice to give - irrespective of whether you're trying to cover your backside. Steps can be uneven (there's a bridge at WGC where one step is loose and has been for ages. It can catch you out, and you may slip for no other reason than overreactinv).

I am sure that if you worked on, say, an oil rig you'd hold the rails all the time as you never know what might happen. I've been told as a kid to always hold the rails using stairs on a boat. I bet people don't though, even though you have no idea if you're going to hit a big wave (or go aground perhaps?) and many people wouldn't think of it.

I tend to walk through trains with my hands always moving to be able to grab something if the train jolts. Ditto on a plane. It seems like common sense, but how many people don't? Plenty if you watch.

 

[IanXC]

You can get insurance for some very odd things; like being abducted by aliens.

Why does Volcano Insurance come to mind?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjcuIFrVLAY

 

[jopsuk]

so, this afternoon, was walking down the stairs at Stirling. At the bottom was a chap who'd tried running down to catch a train. He was lying at the bottom, swearing profusely. This was because his foot was at a 90 degree angle to leg, sideways.

Walk down the stairs. Ideally, use the handrail. Don't be that guy.