Danger: Don't Touch

Posted in Tubeworker's blog on ,

We all know that cleaning standards are not great on the Underground (not because of the cleaners themselves, but because of cowboy contractors and management's general disregard for safety standards). But few of us would have considered that we might risk facial paralysis just by touching some kit.

But that's what may have happened last week. In the area of Farringdon station, a person used an SPT and was taken to hospital after experiencing paralysis in their face. The SPT housing was - like most of them - filthy, and was in contact with water.

There's no conclusive proof of the nature or cause of the injury as yet, but the SPT concerned has been taken out of commission. The very least we should expect is a thorough investigation and a much more comprehensive cleaning regime (yes, that will involve more resources and more cleaners). And until then, you might consider it sensible to use gloves or medicated wet wipes when touching an SPT.

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