eMail from Ian Larcher of New South Wales, Australia, 17 Dec 1999  

G'day 

Just been reading your Personal Safety Page with some interest. As a Locomotive driver myself could only agree with most things. Problems I have encountered myself on the job: Gloves: Personally I don't wear them as I find that particularly in the winter time wearing gloves can be hazardous, more so if they are greasy or oily & wet they can become very slippery. Steam Locomotive working: Here in NSW we have not had revenue steam working since 1975 up until a few years back all steam locomotives were crewed by Drivers rostered & employed by the railway. Quite a few upon being rostered to work a Steam Locomotive after not being on one for many years (but under the supervision of a locomotive Inspector) turned up for work wearing our present day uniform (polyester trousers & shirt) result? In one or two cases when firing the polyester melted- not very nice. No one had given it a thought. The same with our high visibility jackets which are now compulsory.  And one which I did not notice on your site, wearing glasses- As those drivers with the necessary steam experience get older some are now wearing glasses- not a problem on Diesel- Electrics or Electrics but a definite hazard on Steam Working- they can get fogged up at crucial times.

eMail Address: metalastic@ozemail.com.au