Alcohol

[Bubba]

I know that when being a driver there is a very strict policy on alcohol. What is the actual policy though? No alcohol within the last 24hours? 12 hours? Can anyone advise?

 

[driver9000]

Its the content of alcohol in your blood stream rather than a specific time limit prior to booking on. The limits are lower than for roads but I don't have the limits to hand. This is one of the areas where your own professional attitude comes into play and you have to manage your own lifestyle to suit your work. Personally if I am working the next day I won't touch alcohol.

 

[nr_signaller]

Its sonething like 1/4 of the drink drive limit. So yes drinking the night before could well mean still being over the limit the next day

 

[tirphil]

I think its 29mg as opposed to the road drink drive limit of 80mg.

 

[A-driver]

28mg but no alcohol at all advised for 12 hours prior to booking on.

To be honest any rail staff with any common sense won't go near the stuff if they are working the next day-not worth the risk.

 

[Bubba]

Obviously it depends on the shift start time though surely? For instance, say the shift starts at 2pm, then surely it would be OK to go out for a couple of hours the night before. As long as its not an all night bender, nightclub, etc.

 

[Harlesden]

Anyone so dependent on alcohol, to the extent of being unable to do without it for a straight 24 hours should forget about becoming a driver or a signaler or even a member of a maintenance crew.

 

[Greenback]

I've always been a bit dubious about the 12 hour advice. Some people may take that to mean that it's OK to go on an 8 hour drinking session as long as they stop exactly 12 hours before they book on.

There ar etoo many variables involved in alcohol consumption to take any chances at all when the consequences of being over the limit are so serious. I agree with those that stay away from alcohol completely for 24 hours before working, but the choice is a personal one.

 

[myboysam]

I'm not long into my training but it is hammered home from the off that while there is a limit, you should just avoid it all together at least 24 hours before your book on time.

 

[A-driver]

I only drink on long weekends/before a rest day. If on lates (2/3pm starts) I may have a beer the night before but no more than that. If I'm on earlies then I don't go near the stuff.

In reality if you have to actually think about if you are below the limit you a better off calling in sick than risking loosing your job and being prosecuted. If you just stay away from it altogether when working then you hva e nothing to worry about.

 

[185]

The correct written instruction for drivers and guards is no booze in the 8 hours prior to book on time, although the 12 hour rule is a sensible one to follow.

The railway limit is just over 0 milligrammes. The road limit is 35. This led to a guard last year blowing around 31 times the limit. Simple fact is.... once you start as traincrew - nights out are often two or three pints long. Anyone who goes for more doesn't last very long.

 

[Flamingo]

Alcohol goes out of your system at a rate of 1 unit per hour once you have stopped drinking for one hour.

The permissible alcohol limit on the railway (which is for all practical intents and purposes zero) basically means I would never dream of drinking within 12 hours of a shift, or drinking more than 2 pints (or equivalent) in the 12 hours before that.

Most staff I know have the same attitude. You never know what is going to happen that might mean you become liable for an immediate drugs and alcohol test. If you fail it, it not only means instant dismissal, no excuse or appeal, but can also be arrested under railway bylaws.

 

[reapz]

beer and big disels dont mix

 

[A-driver]

The railway limit is certainly not 0mg...your body naturally produces alcohol, I believe everyone has around 12mg in them,,,even t totals. As I said earlier, it is around 28 for drivers.

 

[Yew]

Are there any restrictions on staff smoking?

 

[Sadsmileyface]

For me, I always used a 12 hour rule. 12 hours from bottle to throttle. For me, I basicly estimated that for every drink I had, it would take an extra hour to leave my system. Probably no basis in reality, but it was helpful as a guide.

Are there any restrictions on staff smoking?

What kind of "smoking"?

 

[66526]

I only drink heavily if I'm rest day the next day. The risk is so huge it just isn't worth taking and anyone who thinks it's worth it shouldn't be driving trains.

 

[GB]

The limit is the same for all safety critical staff whether you are a driver, shunter, dispatch or signaller etc etc and differs depending how its measured (Breath, Blood or Urine).

The actual limits are...

More than 29 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood, or
More than 13 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, or
More than 39 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of urine

Compare this with the road limit...

More than 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood, or
More than 35 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, or
More than 107 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of urine

All this is set out in Railway Group Standard GE/RT 8070.

 

[cuccir]

The railway limit is certainly not 0mg...your body naturally produces alcohol, I believe everyone has around 12mg in them,,,even t totals. As I said earlier, it is around 28 for drivers.

I think it's also intended to allow you to eat things like liquor sweets and trifles!

 

[Hydro]

Are there any restrictions on staff smoking?

Moroccan woodbines? Yes - you can't do it.

Marlboro or Benny Hedgehogs? Smoke as much as you want.

 

[driver9000]

Are there any restrictions on staff smoking?

Only in the respect that its banned where ever the smoking ban is in force (ie indoors, on trains etc)

 

[A-driver]

Big thing with drivers smoking is considering you could be driving for 4-5 hours non stop. If you can't go a few hours without then you will have problems.

 

[dk1]

Traincrew are not allowed to smoke on train or in cabs but most cabs you enter you will find dog ends & even on cold days windows open!!

The drinking thing just makes us binge on days off to catch up

 

[Flamingo]

The railway limit is certainly not 0mg...your body naturally produces alcohol, I believe everyone has around 12mg in them,,,even t totals. As I said earlier, it is around 28 for drivers.

What I meant was taking this into account, there was no margin for adding anything on top of it - I probably should have said zero consumption.