Prime reasons for having the Ergo Committee meet regularly
with the Mechanical Department:
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- The Ergonomics Committee acts as a clearing house for engineers to
identify design deficiencies, in locomotive cabs specifically, that are
systemic and adversely affect the health and safety of engineers which, with
the cooperation of the Mechanical Department, leads to changes and upgrades
that improve the safety for both engineers and mechanical department personnel
(including but not
limited to cab overhead ventilators, excessive and pervasive nigh noise
levels, toilet odors and cleanliness, improper and unauthorized engineer
seats, window shades and glazing, door latch defects, security locks, improper
A/C drains, loud alarms, cab housecleaning concerns, windshield wiper and bell
controls).
The Ergonomics Committee, when closely involved early in the design
phase of locomotive and control car cabs, can identify ergonomic problems so
corrections can be made before the sheet metal is stamped and the problems
become expensive makeovers or impediments to the safe operation of trains
(example: poorly thought
out switchology, legroom, proper position of cab appliances/radios, horn and
brake valves, seats, ventilation, unwanted reflections, and vision
obstructions).
Based on the longevity of the Comet I, GP-40 PH, and F-40 locomotives
the cabs designed today will be occupied by engineers who have not yet been
born so the cabs designed today must be the best, most efficient, and
comfortable cabs possible.
The Ergonomics Committee learns from past mistakes in locomotive cab
design and therefore is able to improve future cab design whereas
manufacturers and outside consultants provide no continuity in locomotive cab
design (this is
exemplified by the Comet V hand brake and wheel slip alarms which were
excessively loud to the point of annoyance and became a safety issue. Even the
manufacturer [Quantum] was not aware of the problem, Toilet size, placement,
and ventilation). Design problems
created in initial construction and identified by the Ergonomics Committee can
be corrected during normally scheduled locomotive and cab car maintenance
periods or in rebuild programs when they are due.
The Ergonomics Committee can pickup design errors that conflict with
FRA regulations and recommendations that outside contractors may miss
(SDU washout,
ventilation system defects, cab seat design, toilet placement, lighting, and
ventilation, ditch light controls).
The proper and early implementation of cab design improvements,
government requirements, and recommendations, and safety related aspects of
cab design can prevent mental and physical irritations which will, over time,
become distractions detrimental to the engineers performance and therefore
become safety concerns as the engineer is hindered in his/her ability to fully
concentrate on the safe completion of their assignments.
(Noncompliance with FRA
requirements and recommendations and problems which affect the ability of the
engineer to perform his/her job safely can lead to expensive and lengthy
retrofits of equipment after the has arrived on the property and is in
service)
We are the only organized committee on New Jersey Transit that speaks
solely for the craft of engineer in the design of locomotive cabs. No other
organization is as concerned for the health, welfare, and safe performance of
the engineer in day-to-day engine service. With engineers spending more and
more time in the seat of locomotives and control cars cabs must be designed to
be clean, quiet, and safe with the fewest number of distraction possible.
Meetings of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen's
Ergonomics Committee and the New Jersey Transit Mechanical Department is a
practical obligation committed to by both New Jersey Transit and the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers that requires both parties to meet to
discuss and correct ergonomic issues with the result that improved locomotive
and control car cabs improve the safety of train operation system wide.
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