Ear defenders worn by Train Operators

[badassunicorn]

Hello,
So I've seen this a lot recently, mainly on the victoria, jubilee and central lines. The drivers seem to sometimes have head phones on, its not all the time though. Is this to do with the operation of the train or are they just listening to music?
Thanks

 

[Daniel]

Some drivers choose to wear ear defenders as they feel that their hearing is at risk of damage from being in a noisy environment for long periods of time. LU do provide earplugs should a driver request them. I can understand why some drivers choose to wear them, as long as they can still hear the radio, someone knocking on the door etc, in essence as long as it doesn't impact on their job, I personally can't see the problem.

 

[Mojo]

Some drivers choose to wear ear defenders as they feel that their hearing is at risk of damage from being in a noisy environment for long periods of time.

Indeed; whilst I have seen a few Train Operators wearing ear defenders (although I wouldn't say 'a lot' but it is mainly on the automatic lines as you indicate) I've never seen any with headphones on! Managed to have a perfectly normal conversation with a T/Op the other week who was wearing ear defenders, plus the train was also moving.

 

[badassunicorn]

ahhhh i see! I guess on the underground they don't have aws alarms to hear?

 

[Mojo]

ahhhh i see! I guess on the underground they don't have aws alarms to hear?

There are no alarms on the Underground to which T/Ops may have to respond to in normal circumstances such as AWS. Stocks however have sonalerts or other warning tones such as Opo alarm, motoring with doors open, motoring on shed leads, dwell time countdown, alarms for other cab, alarms for secure cupboards, passenger emergency alarm, etc. (although not all stocks have all of these, and there are more), and of course the controller may be trying to get hold of you on the radio and so on.

In any case, having worn ear defenders myself (although not as a T/Op) you are still able to hear things around you.

 

[Dstock7080]

Tube line drivers are entitled to wear ear defenders, consisting of either ear-plugs or full over-ear 'headphone' style.

As has been explained these comply with being able to hear emergency or other regular alarm signals.

Ear protection for SSR lines is limited to ear-plugs.

 

[Met Driver]

I wore ear defenders for a while when I was on the Picc. They were particularly good for blocking out the background 'roar' in the tunnel sections and also lessened the audible effects of wheel flats...! I actually felt I could hear general broadcasts on the radio more clearly while wearing them.