Network Rail is trialling new battery-powered hedge trimmers and strimmers that are quieter, much lighter and friendlier to the environment than their petrol-powered counterparts.
The works delivery and signalling teams in the Wessex route have been testing the new equipment for about three months in and around Eastleigh, and they now are being trialled in the Portsmouth and Chessington areas to improve conditions for our neighbours.
Both the strimmers and hedge trimmers are much quieter compared with the petrol models, which is better for everyone who lives close to the railway, and being battery powered means the teams that clear vegetation no longer need to carry fuel, drip trays and spill kits for refuelling.
They are much lighter, which reduces the risk of employees suffering from manual handling strains and from hand arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) although this still requires to be monitored and usage times adhered to.
随着技术的改善，电池供电的便携式工具现在能够运行，而无需为工作人员工作的时间长度进行充电。当员工在无法充电设备的地方工作时，这尤其重要。
到目前为止，审判取得了成功，修剪者和猛虎司机很受欢迎，这些工作人员很受欢迎，如果他们将在覆盖英格兰南部的大部分武器的路线上，将采取决定。
Chris Cornish, programme director for works delivery at Network Rail Wessex, said: “The strimmers and hedge trimmers are much quieter so they’re much better for our workforce, people who live close to the railway and wildlife.
“它们是更轻的，所以它们更容易携带，可以更容易地操纵，并且由于它们是电池供电，它们更加环保。总的来说，这是一个有益于每个人的变化。“