A career as a signaller

[Dorey]

I would of thought you’d be placed on “LOM Instructions”, no way can you be pulling levers whilst your pregnant.

What those instructions would be all depends on what else in our your route locally, how far so you travel for safety briefs? Maybe some kind of admin or briefer role?

Thanks for your response, I'm reassured you think working the box would be a no no. Everything in my LOMs patch is around an hours travel minimum unfortunately. Hopefully I can still do something useful office based even if it's shorter shifts to allow for the commute.

 

[Tom Quinne]

When I was a train guard as soon as the ladies confirmed they where pregnant that was it off trains until they returned from Maternity leave, the risk of then being stood up and being knocked off balance being to high.

Likewise if your box has heavy pulls that’s going to increase your strains and risk on your baby.

Any issues speak to your rep, they can’t discriminate or refuse.

 

[Trackboy]

Does anyone know which are is covered by Liverpool st Grade 9 IECC??

 

[Bald Rick]

Does anyone know which are is covered by Liverpool st Grade 9 IECC??

The GEML from Liverpool St to Marks Tey, plus branches to Romford, Southend, Southminster and Braintree. Six workstations.

 

[Trackboy]

The GEML from Liverpool St to Marks Tey, plus branches to Romford, Southend, Southminster and Braintree. Six workstations.

Thanks mate. Do you work at Liverpool st?

 

[Bald Rick]

Thanks mate. Do you work at Liverpool st?

In the past, sort of! Not as a signaller though.

 

[R.Quintero]

Hi,

Does anyone know what NWR's policy on bereavement leave is please, assuming there is one? Had a look but all I could find was stuff relevant to maternity/paternity pay etc.

Thanks

 

[Tom Quinne]

Depending who it is you’ll get paid leave, again depending on who it is will depend on how long you get.

I’m sorry for you loss.

 

[qwertyberty]

Hi, does anyone know if York ROC staff work 8 or 12 hour shifts?

 

[Mikesig]

Hi, does anyone know if York ROC staff work 8 or 12 hour shifts?

All the signalling staff work 12 hour shifts.

 

[qwertyberty]

All the signalling staff work 12 hour shifts.

Thank you. Would you have an example roster you work?

 

[Mikesig]

Thank you. Would you have an example roster you work?

It really depends on which sub ROC and which link you end up on as they are all different.
Sheffield sub ROC has 4 different links, G3, G5, G6 and G8. All have different number of weeks in their rosters.
On the G8 link we work a 24 week version, basically alternating weeks - 3 days, 3 nights, 3 days, 3 nights etc with a Sunday day shift and a Sunday night shift about every 4 weeks
Some weeks are "spare" so you could be nights or days.

 

[BlockBackBobby]

Hi,

Does anyone know what NWR's policy on bereavement leave is please, assuming there is one? Had a look but all I could find was stuff relevant to maternity/paternity pay etc.

Thanks

1 days leave for near relative or relative of spouse. If you are sole member of family responsible for making funeral arrangements up to five days leave with pay at managers discretion

 

[Javagem]

It really depends on which sub ROC and which link you end up on as they are all different.
Sheffield sub ROC has 4 different links, G3, G5, G6 and G8. All have different number of weeks in their rosters.
On the G8 link we work a 24 week version, basically alternating weeks - 3 days, 3 nights, 3 days, 3 nights etc with a Sunday day shift and a Sunday night shift about every 4 weeks
Some weeks are "spare" so you could be nights or days.

And what are start and finish times, is it 7am 7pm?

 

[Mikesig]

And what are start and finish times, is it 7am 7pm?

Officially it's 0700-1900 and 1900-0700 but changeover happens at 0630 and 1830.

 

[89jordanbj]

Has anybody here applied for the Pontrilas SB vacancy that closed a while back?

I completed the tests at the end of December but had no update since.

Spoke to the recruitment team on a few occasions and they don't seem to know why nobody has been shortlisted as of yet and they have emailed the hiring manager a few times but still hasn't shortlisted anyone or updated the online system.

Was wondering if anybody else had heard anything or whether they are even still looking to fill the positions?

A test of patience but perseverance is key I guess

 

[Javagem]

Officially it's 0700-1900 and 1900-0700 but changeover happens at 0630 and 1830.

Thanks for the info, I hope I get in at the ROC!

 

[John Webb]

When I was a Union safety rep from the mid-1970s until I retired in 1997, (not in a railway-related job) recommendations eventually came in regarding maximum periods one should work at a VDU screen without taking a break. The breaks were recommended in order to prevent both eye strain and loss of concentration. There has been frequent reference in this thread to 12 hour shifts; how are these broken up to give the necessary breaks from the VDUs?

 

[Tom Quinne]

X2 60 minute breaks on a 12hr turn.

Minimum is 20 minutes on a 12hr I believe.

 

[Saracen_83]

We have 4 x 60mins break over our 12 hour shift.... if we are on min breaks we have 2 x 20-30min breaks over the shift

 

[baz962]

We have 4 x 60mins break over our 12 hour shift.... if we are on min breaks we have 2 x 20-30min breaks over the shift

Four hours , no wonder nwr are skint lol

 

[ILoveLamp]

Four hours , no wonder nwr are skint lol

Probably better to rest your employees working in a safety critical role than the alternative to be fair.. although it sounds like they can end up with only a 6th of that rest, which is the polar opposite! I have a question though! Who covers the breaks in Single manned boxes??

 

[LOM]

I have a question though! Who covers the breaks in Single manned boxes??

No one. There are no official breaks at single manned locations.

 

[nom de guerre]

No one. There are no official breaks at single manned locations.

A handful of single-manned boxes in South East England receive meal breaks. These remain very much the exception, however.

 

[ILoveLamp]

A handful of single-manned boxes in South East England receive meal breaks. These remain very much the exception, however.

How does this work? A relief signaller?? Or taken when there is a definite break in traffic on the line? Apologies if that sounds odd, just trying to understand how this would take place.

 

[nom de guerre]

We have 4 x 60mins break over our 12 hour shift.... if we are on min breaks we have 2 x 20-30min breaks over the shift

X2 60 minute breaks on a 12hr turn.

Interesting how much variance there appears to be across different routes.

My last VDU box aimed for 4 x 60’ break per 12hrs on day turns (Sundays excepted) but could be as ‘little’ as 3 x 45’ if short-staffed (ie only one relief in). If no relief was available, the SSM would have to pitch in and we received an extra three hours’ pay (very much a local rostering agreement, before anyone asks!).

 

[nom de guerre]

How does this work? A relief signaller?? Or taken when there is a definite break in traffic on the line? Apologies if that sounds odd, just trying to understand how this would take place.

Not at all.

A dedicated relief signaller who travels between locations, specifically to provide meal breaks.

There are persistent rumours down here that this may be rolled out more widely, depending on the ORR’s recommendations regarding fatigue. We’ll see - it remains very much the exception at present.

 

[Llanigraham]

How does this work? A relief signaller?? Or taken when there is a definite break in traffic on the line? Apologies if that sounds odd, just trying to understand how this would take place.

As I understand it, a Relief Signaller drives between each Box, allowing them to take a break, go to the loo and cook a meal.

 

[nom de guerre]

When I was a Union safety rep from the mid-1970s until I retired in 1997, (not in a railway-related job) recommendations eventually came in regarding maximum periods one should work at a VDU screen without taking a break. The breaks were recommended in order to prevent both eye strain and loss of concentration. There has been frequent reference in this thread to 12 hour shifts; how are these broken up to give the necessary breaks from the VDUs?

Signallers at VDU locations (usually) receive breaks, but I suspect this is more related to the demands of the role (typically Grade 7 and above) than eye strain guidelines.

At my previous VDU box, we complained to the company about the (relative) lack of breaks during a prolonged period of short-staffing, and were told that the company considered the role of signaller exempt from eye strain guidelines as - I paraphrase - ‘signallers do not stare constantly at their screens’. (True - but which occupation does ...?).

 

[headshot119]

Not at all.

A dedicated relief signaller who travels between locations, specifically to provide meal breaks.

There are persistent rumours down here that this may be rolled out more widely, depending on the ORR’s recommendations regarding fatigue. We’ll see - it remains very much the exception at present.

The Edge Hill had a similar setup until the boxes got abolished, not sure how long it had been in place for.