Safety committe minutes

Discussion and Updates: Until mechanical/electronic warnings can be devised or improved, the first step should involve training for Operators regarding awareness and where their efforts should be focused while operating the lift device.
Tommye Gilbreath would like to meet with stakeholders about this issue.
Update 4.28.11 It was suggested we contact other bus operations to see how they may have resolved this issue.
Update 5.19.11 Tillson noted this does not seem to be an issue at C-Tran. Ackerson stated that injuries caused in this way are not considered a preventable accident for Operators in Seattle. It was suggested that some form of lights or strobe lights might be the most effective method. Saporta will report.
Another component to a solution might be Operator training to clarify what is expected of Operators and how they can protect passengers from possible injury by their actions and physical placement on the bus.
Update 7.21.11 Harry Saporta presented some information from other agencies. It seems a visual alert might be more effective than audible. Also a suggestion to paint part of the lift floor in yellow. May require SOP revisions and final outcome will require info outreach and training involvement.
Update 8.18.11 Committee formulated new SOP language for ramp deployment procedure. Will submit to Tony Fuentes.
Update 9.15.11 Committee finalized language as: “Operators of low floor buses are required to leave the seat prior to operating the ramp to safely control and monitor customer movement around the ramp”
Yellow striping will be added when buses are reconditioned. New buses are being spec’d with the striping.
Update 11.17.11 Sent requested changes to Tony Fuentes. Added that Operators should, at a minimum turn sideways in their seat to monitor customers actions around the lift area. Dropped requested requirement to get out of the seat. Changes must be approved by TCRC.
Update 1.19.12 SC members Brian, Laverne, and Joyce joined recently with Tony Roberts and had a three hour meeting to conduct a “job hazard analysis”. Issue much more complex than it looks on the surface. Task not complete as of this date.
Update 3.15.12 Follow up meeting scheduled and then postponed. Will try again late April.

Update 4.7.11 Runyan reported ODOt is considering elimination of the far right lane which would require the buses to stop in a travel lane. This reduces by one, the number of lanes a bus has to cross to service the stop at the curb. Also considered is closing access to the walking trails on the other side of the freeway ramp to discourage pedestrian traffic.
Update 5.19.11 TM Training met with ODOT where they simulated conditions that would exist if a lane is eliminated. Bus visibility was a main focus and it appears there will be some tree trimming and other considerations. Seems they might go ahead with the project. No decision yet.
Update 7.21.11 Table top info holders were displayed at garages affected.
Update 1.19.12 Ackerson reports some progress has been made in planning this project.

Update 3.15.12 Member suggested a large convex mirror be installed to assist visibility when pulling from curb into traffic.
TriMet buses have blind spots around the front of the bus and sides. Question of whether or not they can improve visibility and safety on TriMet buses. Are they also cost effective?
Update 01.19.12 No real movement on this but some discussion about effectiveness and trade-offs. One concern is that if not mounted in a certain way, the wash mechanisms could swing a mirror into the windshield.

Update 2.16.12 Suggestion to place yellow reflective striping on the backs of mirrors so intending passengers standing at a curb will more likely notice a bus mirror as it pulls into a stop and avoid mirror/customer strikes.

Update 3.15.12 Operators recalled a mirror that was mounted on some buses some time ago. It was a round convex mirror, about six inches, mounted high on the right “A” pillar that allowed visibility across the front and down the right side simultaneously. Nobody recalls why they were removed. There was a suggestion to return this mirror to buses or find a configuration that works and test it on 2 buses with a follow up survey.

B907 Bloodborne Pathogen/Biohazard Procedures are being modified to include new procedure for visibly identifying buses that contain a biohazard and where the hazard exists on the bus.
Update 11.17.11 New discussion suggests a visual warning be place on a bus visible from the exterior to warn employees before they enter a bus containing a hazard. Suggested, was a yellow rope or “bungee” cord attached to the door that prevents easy entry without removing the warning. Also suggested is using a disposable card place directly in the hazard showing exactly where cleaning must take place.
Update 1.19.12 No movement but question asked if Dispatch has been made aware of this updated SOP. Some discussion about best method and equipment to alert all staffs to biohazard on a parked bus.
Update 2.16.12 Idea of having a disposable biohazard warning card that can be placed directly in hazardous material seemed popular with the Committee.
Update 3.15.12 Suggestion to use two cards per bus to alert of a hazard. One card by the hazard, and the other layed on the entrance step. There should be a supply of cards kept at the Spotter’s office. Any changes must to presented to the TCRC.

Often, customers will call customer service to loudly complain about an Operator while still on the bus. Sometimes they ask Operators to answer questions that Customer Service call-takers are asking over the phone. This is very distracting to Operators and meant to demean them while they are driving and can be unsafe. Possible solution is to have C.S. call-takers question complainants if they are on the bus, and if so, ask them to call after disembarking.
Update 3.15.12 After inquiring about feasibility of this with Customer Service, the response was that the Manager would go ahead with asking the call-takers to suggest to customers they move away from the Operator and not engage them while calling Customer Service. Committee seemed satisfied with this response.

Operations Analyst Kathy Musa is developing and compiling data to assist in research to prove/disprove Operators exceed speed limits to stay on schedule.

Description of Issue: Operator suggestion to move the position of the passenger yellow line farther back in the aisle by one to three feet.
Date closed:
This issue was introduced to the committee in the February 16, 2012 meeting. By committee consensus, the issue was closed. At this March meeting, there was vote to re-address the issue.