May 12, 2007
MTA Looks at Remote Safety Devices for Track Workers
Reader Steve said he heard a rumor that the NYC Transit Authority was "testing some type of new device that detects trains and warns workers via a clip on unit." And it turns out the rumor was true. The Post reports that the MTA started testing the ProTracker. This is how the ProTran1, which makes it, describes the device:
The ProTran1 ProTracker Train Transceiver is designed to be mounted in the cab of a train and will alert the operator by an audible and visual alarm to personnel near the train tracks.ProTran1 co-developer Peter Bartek told the Post he started work on the Pro-Tracker "after a friend was killed while working on Boston's subway tracks."
The ProTran1 ProTracker Personal Pocket Device (PPD) Is a handheld R.F. transceiver designed to automatically send and receive digital commands to/from the ProTran1 ProTracker Train Unit. This unit will alert the user by an audible/vibrating alarm to an approaching train.
The device was tested near the Church Avenue F stop. The MTA is taking a hard look at safety procedures for transit workers after two were killed by oncoming trains within days of each other. One of the workers, Marvin Franklin, who also studied at the Art Students League, was remembered by fellow artists and friends in the Village Voice this past week. An art scholarship will be formed in his name and his friend Sam Goodsell said, "We're going to make sure something happens. He's not going to be forgotten. He's just too damn good."
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While technology is an almost absolute, Nothing beats human eyes in this field . Their are so many things that can happen with a computer system in the tunnels it's not even funny . What the MTA needs to do is simple, Hire qualified people to do the job down there . That means having a supervisor that will stick to the safety protocols already in place .
No death on the tracks is ever amusing. Because the Track Work is so dangerous (one of the most dangerous jobs) this type technology is needed.
Similar to the technology on your car or on a plane you don’t remove the person you set up layers of protection using technology. When you back up your car do you want to put someone in the back seat watching? No, the driver still looks but he now has technology such as a back up sensor that helps remove human error. You need to put this type of technology in place to enhance the safety especially in transit. That’s why many other transit authorities around the world have adopted this type of technology to enhance their works zones and flagging. WHAT HAS THE RESULTS BEEN (FACT: Since the adoption of this type of technology in other countries it his has dropped work related accidents such as the one in New York to ZERO). The other point is that this type of technology has an error rate of 10,000 years. Yes I said 10,000 years. The study done by TUV states that a human will have an error every 400 to 1000 tasks. Now add the fact that they may be on the tracks with live trains in the subway environment, with very long hours and there you have it. GET SOMETHING OUT THERE TO HELP PROTECT THE WORKER!!!! Don’t get rid of the worker but give them something that will give them a SECOND CHANCE. That’s what the MTA has just successfully tested and I applaud them for it.
Well aren't WE long winded today !!! The point of my post was this . Technology while being a necessary advantage should not be used as a main vehicle of safety support .(Because that's exactly what the MTA will do if they can get the machines to work right) While I to applaud the MTA for it's efforts NOW to try something different . It's going to be used as an excuse to phase out some of those workers in the tunnel . "Peter" You have to take into consideration the prevailing conditions in the tunnels ! This goes way beyond watching out for oncoming trains, Track workers have to worry about Partial Collapses, Sink holes, Fire Hazards, Trip Hazards, Etc. Tossing in a computer is not the answer here "Peter", It's part of the answer ! Yes computers are way more efficient then human eyes . Look at it this way, What happens when that computer system shuts down due to Maintenance,(Them tunnels are very dusty dude) OR Worst-off viral infection at the worst possible time ! Like I said earlier, The MTA needs to put a foot on the supervisors incharge here . They are responsible for their crews and should be held accountable for any mishaps . The incident @Hoyt-Schermerhorn St. was the fault of the crew boss for telling his workers to cut across the tracks instead of walking up and around too the other side ! As they said there boss told them to do it . Get a reliable person as a"Flagger" to do the job and that will vastly decrease the number of accidents on the job ! It's not necessarily a technological problem more then a "Human" problem of laziness . A friend of mine is a motorman and I see the mistakes for myself . Safety precautions not being applied, and so forth . This motorman explained to me all the rules that the workers were suppose to be following and what would happen if they didn't . He stated that if the motormen didn't pay as much attention too the roadbed as they do that their would be way more accidents . That told me all I needed to know about the job .
By the way "Ms. Chung" Try spending more time working on the servers here . It's beginning to reek like all of those spelling errors you commit !