A career as a signaller

[Tom Quinne]

That breaches the equality act. Reasonable adjustments are allowed.

Used to be firefighters were pensioned off if they needed glasses. Now they can and also wear hearing aids if needed.

So basically youve been subjected to discrimination on the grounds of disability. See your rep.

Reasonable adjustments yes, but if if potentially effects your safety then I’m sure they can get round any discrimination grounds.

How are firemen meant to wear glasses with BA equipment, what if they lose their hearing aid at a shout ? Sounds like like the service is potentially putting firefighter safety ahead of being inclusive.

 

[Peterperfect]

Reasonable adjustments yes, but if if potentially effects your safety then I’m sure they can get round any discrimination grounds.

How are firemen meant to wear glasses with BA equipment, what if they lose their hearing aid at a shout ? Sounds like like the service is potentially putting firefighter safety ahead of being inclusive.

They do. Either with inserts in the mask or special masks with a visor with the prescription.

As for the hearing aids. All perfectly acceptable fighting fires these days and NR really need to get with it. Next youll be saying SE Asians are traditionally small and shouldnt be signallers because they cant see out the window or pull the levers.

Weve moved on thankfully from discriminating on the grounds of a whim.

 

[Tom Quinne]

Thankfully we now have workstations in ROCs that that raise or lower to suit the person using the desk, so SE Asian friendly.

Anyway, before i get banned....

 

[Narom]

Completely irrelevant and entirely not signaller related but they haven't just changed policy because it's the modern world. Tech has caught up, hearing aids and glasses that aren't affected by the extreme heats they can experience.

The only thing they don't like are colour blindness which I'd have thought was the same for the railways. Glasses don't just fail and hearing aids are more reliable than they used to be.

But how relevant are the hearing tests to the jobs? Are you likely to come across the low or super high frequency tones a hearing aid would struggle to pick up?

 

[Tom Quinne]

I’ll have myself really unpopular here (I’m someone with a partial blindness) there are some jobs that I can not do end of.
I don’t cry discrimination or demand “reasonable adjustments” I accept it and move on.

Thankfully I extremely lucky my current role permits my issue, however I have restrictions on where I can work due to them, I accept this.

As far as I’m concerned a fireman who needs specialised/custom kit to carry out their role places a extra cost and risk on their colleagues. If there issue is sadly caused through a on the job accident, then they should be given a healthy pension and allowed to leave or better still redeployed to a role on their salary scale that they can fully undertake.

I wouldn’t want a 4ft 2in, 3 stone wet through firemen trying to drag me out of a burning building, injury themselves then put another firemen in harms way to rescue us both through nothing more a pleasement to a section of soceity thah can’t accept they just can’t do a role due to their physical state.

What next? Fireman in wheelchairs ?

 

[Peterperfect]

I’ll have myself really unpopular here (I’m someone with a partial blindness) there are some jobs that I can not do end of.
I don’t cry discrimination or demand “reasonable adjustments” I accept it and move on.

Thankfully I extremely lucky my current role permits my issue, however I have restrictions on where I can work due to them, I accept this.

As far as I’m concerned a fireman who needs specialised/custom kit to carry out their role places a extra cost and risk on their colleagues. If there issue is sadly caused through a on the job accident, then they should be given a healthy pension and allowed to leave or better still redeployed to a role on their salary scale that they can fully undertake.

I wouldn’t want a 4ft 2in, 3 stone wet through firemen trying to drag me out of a burning building, injury themselves then put another firemen in harms way to rescue us both through nothing more a pleasement to a section of soceity thah can’t accept they just can’t do a role due to their physical state.

What next? Fireman in wheelchairs ?

Tom im surprised that you of all people who is allowed a reasonable adjustment would take such a view. Just because someone isnt perfect doesnt mean they cant do the job to the desired standard.

I am at a loss to see why someone who wears a hearing aid cant become a signaller!!!

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&sou...aw124kik45D-q50rMELglkMU&ust=1548102265635124

 

[Tom Quinne]

No, no I’m not suggesting that heads aids shouldn’t be allowed. I work with a chap who sadly through cancer lost one eye completely, another with serious hearing lose an has an aid.

I even know of one Signaller who is in a wheelchair, but undertakes the job without issue.

My point was (made badly) that some jobs like firefighter are unsuitable for someone who isn’t in tip top physical condition.

 

[Peterperfect]

No, no I’m not suggesting that heads aids shouldn’t be allowed. I work with a chap who sadly through cancer lost one eye completely, another with serious hearing lose an has an aid.

I even know of one Signaller who is in a wheelchair, but undertakes the job without issue.

My point was (made badly) that some jobs like firefighter are unsuitable for someone who isn’t in tip top physical condition.

Fair enough Tom.

Although your average firefighter is now expected to go to 60 before retirement. The govt have screwed that up as well.

Onwards and upwards.

 

[Tom Quinne]

Likewise Police Constables are now going to be chasing after on foot 18 years olds well into their 60s.

TJIF....

 

[Narom]

I wouldn’t want a 4ft 2in, 3 stone wet through firemen trying to drag me out of a burning building, injury themselves then put another firemen in harms way to rescue us both through nothing more a pleasement to a section of soceity thah can’t accept they just can’t do a role due to their physical state.

They'll still be expected to pass exactly the same fitness tests as everyone else. They don't make adjustments in that their standards are lower allow people in who shouldn't. They still do the push pull Tests, other assorted strength tests along with a bleep test far above that for the police.

Reasonable adjustment's isn't going "well of course you only have one leg, you wouldn't do the bleep test as well so you only have to get to level 3". It's about allowing someone who may have a false leg the chance to get to do exactly the same bleep tests, and if they pass it shows it's not a hinderence.

I'd have hoped oh assist who probably make these rules have done research on hearing aids in hearing tests. Maybe it makes it too easy?

Just goes to show how lucky we are if we don't need one or even a pair of glasses as it's not a worry if something out of our control affects job prospects.

 

[Stuart Calver]

That breaches the equality act. Reasonable adjustments are allowed.

Used to be firefighters were pensioned off if they needed glasses. Now they can and also wear hearing aids if needed.

So basically youve been subjected to discrimination on the grounds of disability. See your rep.

That's interesting, something I'd like to follow up, however, I've since been made redundant. The COSS on the PTS I sat in on was a bit miffed as he could recall teaching to PTS to several people who wore hearing aids. Thank you for the information.

 

[Llanigraham]

Tom im surprised that you of all people who is allowed a reasonable adjustment would take such a view. Just because someone isnt perfect doesnt mean they cant do the job to the desired standard.

I am at a loss to see why someone who wears a hearing aid cant become a signaller!!!

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&source=undefined&cd=&ved=0ahUKEwje0pS-mP3fAhUN3RoKHX1DBzUQzPwBCAM&url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/im-the-one-leg-fireman-579588&psig=AOvVaw124kik45D-q50rMELglkMU&ust=1548102265635124

They can become signallers!! I should know I was one.

However what you cannot do if a hearing impaired person is to get a PTS Certificate. Again I should know, I tried.
The reason given was that no matter what type of hearing aid you have there MAY be occasions when it will not give 100% hearing plus being battery powered there is no way of ensuring that it won't stop working at some inopportune moment. As far as I could find none of that forms any problem with anti-discrimination legislation. Perhaps if you know differently you could quote the EXACT section of the Act that applies?

 

[TRain87]

Think we have go completely off subject, of 'A career as a signaller' lol, an interesting read though!

 

[leomc1627]

Those initial answers are key. But you shouldn't expect to have an answer for them all. Especially the more technical ones at the end.

in all applications I applied for I simply stated the job role that I had gained the experience in no details as I would supply them at interview

 

[LeGrimpeur]

Anyone on here go for an interview for Reigate box today?

 

[Narom]

Potentially a silly question.

How do the smaller rural signal boxes cope with the colder weather we are having? Warm or do you find yourself freezing in a drafty old box?

 

[TRain87]

I think as a network rail standard, each box has an air conditioning unit for hot and cold. I know at Haslemere (old lever frame), Petersfield and Farncombe, these were all fitted

 

[Cavan]

Does anyone have any experience operating a RETB signal box? I see Banavie is advertised today which is unusual being a Scottish high grade box. (G6). Anyone know what roster they work there?

 

[Cavan]

Do any signal boxes in operation still have coal/coke stoves in working order? Toasty in the winter!

 

[Highlandspring]

I think as a network rail standard, each box has an air conditioning unit for hot and cold.

Definitely not the case.

Do any signal boxes in operation still have coal/coke stoves in working order?

Dunkeld, Kilkerran, Barrhill and Glenwhilly for starters.

 

[Llanigraham]

Potentially a silly question.

How do the smaller rural signal boxes cope with the colder weather we are having? Warm or do you find yourself freezing in a drafty old box?

At my Box we had two wall fitted gas fires, which were reasonably effective, plus the ceiling mounted air conditioning unit that could blow hot air downwards, so it was reasonably comfy, BUT you have to remember that you have a large steel frame for the levers that has large gaps in it, leading down to a drafty frame room below, so there are always cold draughts and the floor is invariably cold. My feet were the only thing that got cold, so thick socks and thick soled shoes helped.

 

[john.ump]

Potentially a silly question.

How do the smaller rural signal boxes cope with the colder weather we are having? Warm or do you find yourself freezing in a drafty old box?

Lots of tea and jumpers!

 

[Tom Quinne]

Wait until your in a ROC, sealed windows with AC blazing all year round

 

[Narom]

Cheers for the answers. Still better than being out in it all day like I am now!

 

[galaxynew]

Is anyone registered for the Job Alerts (external)?

I have been receiving a daily email for a couple of years but stopped receiving it early December, have tried to resolve with HR but still not getting any

 

[Cavan]

I think when the job system was updated then the alerts have worked intermittently or not at all. The time changed initially, came at 18.00 then back to middle of the night. Now stopped all together. Also the links in them took you to an internal page that external staff could not access.

 

[galaxynew]

Exactly the issue i have yes, when i did intermittently receive them the links did not work and as you say they have now stopped completely

Not just me then and unfortunately HR do not seem to be able to resolve

As a test, i even set up a new account and job alert but have not received any email for that account either

 

[Tom Quinne]

The best way I found to keep 100% in the loop was to literally check the job site or save Signaller in your search on there every day.

There’s some good jobs on there at the moment as well.

 

[kenneth wright]

Just a bit of advice please guys.I have been short listed for a customer service officer job with east midland trains.Its less money than im on now but better hours.I still want to be a signaller with network rail and I was wondering would this role if I took it would help my chances of becoming a signaller.

 

[Clydefrog]

I'm assuming the 18% flexi is a typo. We do have a few grade 9 links though, London bridge lower level and the core links. Lewisham / Grove Park is a shoe in for a bump up as well once the paperwork goes in given that the rest of panel 5 is coming over from london bridge asc in a few months

Rumour has it that panel 5 london bridge may not be going to TBROC anymore. Could anyone confirm these rumours?