Meeting_Body
OPERATIONS, SAFETY, AND CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE COMMITTEE
MAY 16, 2019
Subject
SUBJECT: OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL REPORT ON BUS OPERATOR SAFETY BARRIER USE AND EFFECTIVENESS STUDY
Action
ACTION: RECEIVE AND FILE
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
RECEIVE AND FILE Report on Bus Operator Safety Barrier Use and Effectiveness Study.
Issue
ISSUE
To improve safety, the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) conducted a study to evaluate the use and effectiveness of barriers to prevent assaults on operators.
Background
BACKGROUND
Assaults on bus operators is an ongoing problem throughout the public transportation industry. Many agencies have implemented programs that include the use of bus operator safety barriers to reduce and/or prevent such assaults. Metro began installing barriers in 2015.
The OIG understands that an important goal for Metro is to protect the bus operators from assault. We partnered with an expert on transit safety to perform a study of bus operator safety barrier use and effectiveness. The purpose of this study was to:
* Evaluate the effectiveness of safety barriers in reducing assaults on bus operators.
* Determine the use of barriers by operators, and reasons why barriers are not used by some operators.
* Determine industry best practices.
* Determine operator experience and perception of enhanced security.
* Survey operators, supervisors and managers on the effectiveness of barriers.
Discussion
DISCUSSION
Overall, the report found that the bus operator safety barrier systems were generally effective in reducing the assault rate, but further actions are needed.
Key Findings and Recommendations
* Finding: Safety barriers and onboard camera systems appear to be effective deterrents to assaults on bus operators.
Recommendation: Metro should continue to install bus operator safety barriers and camera monitor systems throughout its fleet, and monitor the effectiveness of both systems in preventing assau...
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