The
drivers’


union
ASLEF
is
calling
for
radical
improvements
to
the
provision
of
toilets
for
drivers,
because
the
lack
of
hygienic
facilities
is
a
‘real
problem’.

ASLEF
will
be
launching
a
report
called
Dignity
for
Drivers
at
the
House
of
Commons
tomorrow,
to
coincide
with
World
Toilet
Day.

The
union
reports
that
many
drivers
have
to
use
unsuitable
containers
or
even
a
bush,
while
some
deliberately
dehydrate
themselves,
which
can
affect
concentration
on
their
safety-critical
job.

It
is
calling
for
clean,
hygienic
toilets
offering
privacy,
as
well
as
warm
running
water,
a
sink,
soap,
and
safe
sanitary
disposal.
One
in
eight
drivers
suffer
from
a
disability
and
have
found
their
health
has
been
worsened
by
their
inability
to
use
a
toilet
during
the
working
day.

ASLEF
general
secretary
Mick
Whelan
said:
‘It
cannot
be
right
that
train
drivers
are
often
left
with
no
dignified
or
hygienic
options
for
carrying
out
basic
bodily
functions.
And
this
problem
only
serve
to
undermine
efforts
by
stakeholders
in
the
rail
industry
to
recruit
a
more
representative
number
of
women
to
the
driver’s
seat.

‘Some
train
drivers
choose
not
to
drink
tea
or
coffee
or
water
–
“deliberate
dehydration”
–
to
avoid
having
to
go
to
the
toilet.
Not
maintaining
good
fluid
levels
has
an
effect
on
concentration,
and
harmful
long-term
effects
on
health,
too.
Driver’s
cabs
can
reach
temperatures
of
30°C
in
the
summer
heat.

‘Some
drivers
are
having
to
change
sanitary
towels
in
bushes
by
the
side
of
the
track
–
that’s
outrageous
in
a
first
world
country
in
the
21st
century.
Who
wants
to
urinate
in
a
bush?
One
woman
driver
used
her
hard
hat.
It’s
time
our
industry
realised
its
obligations
and
did
the
right
thing
–
not
just
for
drivers
but
for
the
passengers
and
goods
they
move
around
this
country.

‘We
need
to
address
this
issue
and
address
it
now.
Long-term,
the
answer
is
to
design
out
the
problem.
When
the
train
operating
companies
and
freight
operating
companies
are
commissioning
a
new
train
they
should
build
and
design
it
with
a
staff
toilet
on
board.

‘And,
in
the
meantime,
companies,
when
retrofitting
old
stock,
need
to
come
up
with
a
solution
to
the
problem.
Some
firms
are
fitting
camping
toilets
on
old
trains
and,
while
not
great,
freight
drivers
say
a
camping
toilet
is
better
than
a
bush.

‘This
report
makes
grim
reading.
But
read
it
you
should.
Because
only
then,
when
the
extent
of
the
problem
is
understood,
can
we
begin
to
put
things
right.’