Skip to main content

Currently Skimming:


Pages 154-174

The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.


From page 154...
... 154 TCRP Project F-25, "Improving the Safety, Health, and Productivity of Transit Operators Through Adequate Restroom Access," was designed to characterize operator restroom access practices, limitations, impacts, and costs in public transit agencies (TAs)
From page 155...
... Technical Report on Data Collection and Survey Results 155 adjusted to make sure that there was at least one TA from each U.S. state and Canadian province.
From page 156...
... 156 Improving the Safety, Health, and Productivity of Transit Operators Through Adequate Restroom Access The survey data were collected via SurveyMonkey and downloaded as a Microsoft Excel file for analysis. Respondents were also provided with a Microsoft Word document to fax or email back, and these data were entered manually.
From page 157...
... Technical Report on Data Collection and Survey Results 157 officers (presidents, a vice president, and secretary treasurers) and two each of business agents, shop stewards, and trustees.
From page 158...
... 158 Improving the Safety, Health, and Productivity of Transit Operators Through Adequate Restroom Access the age of the operators ranged widely among TAs. The average proportion of middle-aged operators (age 40–55 years)
From page 159...
... Technical Report on Data Collection and Survey Results 159 leaders, may have done so even if the issue was not as important to them. In support of the former interpretation, LURs reported that restroom access was a problem more frequently than TARs (average = 3.45 and 2.89, respectively, with 2 = rarely, 3 = sometimes, and 4 = frequently)
From page 160...
... 160 Improving the Safety, Health, and Productivity of Transit Operators Through Adequate Restroom Access are frequently longer than meets comfort and attentive driving needs. Less than half of all survey respondents reported that bus drivers can usually or always access restrooms within 15 minutes of needing one, and almost 10% report that the wait is usually from 30 minutes to over an hour.
From page 161...
... Technical Report on Data Collection and Survey Results 161 might, for example, be said to pick downtown routes by choice, for safety as well as restroom access. They need restroom access for menstrual cycle demands as well.
From page 162...
... 162 Improving the Safety, Health, and Productivity of Transit Operators Through Adequate Restroom Access TCRP F-25 Research Question: How does restroom access affect transit operator health? How does inadequate restroom access affect medical condition incidence and treatment?
From page 163...
... Technical Report on Data Collection and Survey Results 163 menstrual products. Pregnancy not only increases urinary urgency, but adds needs, as one TA reported: A new issue that has recently come up is providing a room for lactation purposes.
From page 164...
... 164 Improving the Safety, Health, and Productivity of Transit Operators Through Adequate Restroom Access reported looking at health claims information related to restroom access. However, in an interview, an LUR reported that pressure on the union members' premium payments was driven in part by an excess of health problems that might be related to restroom access, including urinary tract infections.
From page 165...
... Technical Report on Data Collection and Survey Results 165 them to forgo using the restroom so as not to delay their bus departure. A common concern was not being able to share facilities with other transit organizations at transfer points.
From page 166...
... 166 Improving the Safety, Health, and Productivity of Transit Operators Through Adequate Restroom Access In terms of discipline, contract operations managers may choose to maintain the same level of discipline actions for counseling of operators for causing trip delays [when] using the restroom.
From page 167...
... Technical Report on Data Collection and Survey Results 167 care costs for conditions caused or aggravated by limited restroom access, and combined lost time, disability, retention (surprisingly low at 7.1%)
From page 168...
... 168 Improving the Safety, Health, and Productivity of Transit Operators Through Adequate Restroom Access a washroom, on one end or the other, depending on the length of the route. I've got my infrastructure people to make sure that those washrooms are available because sometimes they're commercial facilities that have certain hours of operation.
From page 169...
... Technical Report on Data Collection and Survey Results 169 • Training for operators about policies and options, especially new hires; • Coordinating restroom access with business and outside locations -- locations, times, considerations; and • Maintaining and distributing lists of restrooms (officially or less formally among operators)
From page 170...
... 170 Improving the Safety, Health, and Productivity of Transit Operators Through Adequate Restroom Access The number of departments contributing to restroom access did not depend on the TA size, as might have been expected. Figure A-15 shows the distribution.
From page 171...
... Technical Report on Data Collection and Survey Results 171 to use facilities, but this is no longer the case. Operators decide when and where to stop, usually forming relationships with shop staff.
From page 172...
... 172 Improving the Safety, Health, and Productivity of Transit Operators Through Adequate Restroom Access any operator is free to stop and use a restroom as needed. This improved morale and enhanced communications between operators and dispatchers.
From page 173...
... Technical Report on Data Collection and Survey Results 173 coffee and soda intake. This was covered in new hire training or explained to novice operators by mentors or those more experienced.
From page 174...
... 174 Improving the Safety, Health, and Productivity of Transit Operators Through Adequate Restroom Access Summary The TAs, LUs and industry experts contributing to the project all took restroom access very seriously. They were self-selected for enthusiasm and concern.

Key Terms



This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
More information on Chapter Skim is available.