Increasing efforts to protect operators
By Alex Roman, Managing Editor
unknown nodeFollowing the tragic death of Winnipeg Transit’s Irvine Fraser, who was stabbed by a man in February 2017, the agency began implementing eight initiatives to better protect bus operators, including increasing its inspector workforce at stations and onboard buses, expanding its surveillance program, and revamping its training program for operators to include modules on mental health awareness and de-escalation.
“Safety for our operators, inspectors, and all of our riding public is important to us, so it’s something we’re always working on because we want everyone to feel comfortable when using our services,” says Randy Tonnellier, manager of operations at Winnipeg Transit.
Winnipeg is also looking at adding Wi-Fi down the road to further increase its surveillance capabilities, and more recently, has looked to add driver shields on its bus fleet. As of press time, the agency was set to propose the measure to its City Council, and if approved, will look to add the shields on all 630 of its buses.
In Minneapolis, Metro Transit has also upped its training practices, including working with Red Kite on de-escalation training, as well as how to stay positive in a stressful environment.
“To date, more than 200 of our operators have completed that training, and we have trainings scheduled for every month this year,” explains Brian Funk, COO for Metro Transit’s bus system. “We are really excited to help new operators better process what they are seeing day in and day out.”
Funk adds that while serious physical assaults of Metro’s bus operators remains low, the number of disorderly conduct incidents, such as threatening or spitting on an operator, have rose. To combat these issues, the agency recently awarded Bentech an approximately $375,000 contract to install 150 driver shields on its buses.
“We plan on installing the first 150 on the routes where we’ve had the most incidents,” says Funk. “Then, we’re going to look at the data and see if it makes a difference, as well as continue to gather operator feedback, before deciding if we want to purchase more or modify the design of the shields.”
Bob Benninghoff, manager, sales and engineering, for Bentech, says data from the last 10 years proves that the shields can definitely help limit transit agencies’ liability, as well as protect the driver.
“What the shields are very effective at is protecting operators from being sneak attacked from behind while they are driving the bus or a passenger is exiting the bus,” he says.
While Bentech has been working on driver shields since the 1980s, Benninghoff says they have quickly been gaining in popularity.
“What I think has changed dramatically is the rise of the internet, where people now share more incidents, and agencies are able to help share their solutions more quickly than in the past,” he explains. “That’s where shields have finally taken off.”
Benninghoff says production of the shields takes about eight months, with the main design hurdle being adapting the shield to go over fare collection technology.
The company anticipates beginning delivery of Metro’s shields in February.
