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I would also point out the safety aspect. If she had gone on to suffer an accident as a result, I would imagine that Southern Railway would be liable.
I would also point out the safety aspect.
Safety aspect would've been the absolute focus of my complaint
I'd suggest reporting this to the HSE.
They have teeth and can genuinely get something done.
@ant77 - I happen to have contact with a senior investigator there as a result of a report I made into a car being badly attempted to be recovered over a non-closed off footpath with a steel cable at neck height - sounds like the company is being dealt with. I could slightly abuse this and ask his advice as to whether your case should be submitted if you like?
Also re the email to the CEO would be highlighting the risk of injury caused by a front wheel coming loose rather than the inconvenience aspect etc. Potential for injury and death directly caused by their staff will get his attention.
She sent me a copy of what she had sent and I also would have put more emphasis on the consequences of riding off with no QR.
To a non cycling CEO this part may be lost on him without further explanation of what it does and the danger of it being removed.
Yes, I'm afraid (as you know already) she totally blew it with her email. The 'stealing'/impounding of a component and the rudeness are all just periphery issues clouding the main safety one that she completely failed to point out.
Oh well, she'll get a bland email response and the employee will feel vindicated with his actions.
She sent me a copy of what she had sent and I also would have put more emphasis on the consequences of riding off with no QR.
To a non cycling CEO this part may be lost on him without further explanation of what it does and the danger of it being removed.
This. It's not a "QR" to a layman, it's the front wheel axle.
She wasn't "lucky the wheel wasn't removed," she would've been exponentially better off if they had taken it. Riding off oblivious to the fact the axle was missing could in a very real sense have cost her her life, her wheel could easily have parted company with the bike with no warning and a truck behind her.
If I were you I'd be VERY robust about the fact that their deliberate actions had put her life at risk, it's little different from stringing barbed wire across a track. It's not "theft of a QR," it's attempted murder.
If I were you I’d be VERY robust about the fact that their deliberate actions had put her life at risk, it’s little different from stringing barbed wire across a track. It’s not “theft of a QR,” it’s attempted murder.
Fully agree.
Not my issue I know, so I apologise if speaking out of turn but I think a follow-up letter to the CEO making the scale of this clear is in order. Ideally sent very quickly - it should be a follow up to the email, not a response to the likely weak initial response from the CEO.
Agreed, I'd email the CEO directly and copy in your mum - "reply all" to the copy your mum sent you, perhaps - saying you're horrifed that someone at HIS company deliberately endangered the life of your mother
Agreed, I’d email the CEO directly and copy in your mum – “reply all” to the copy your mum sent you, perhaps – saying you’re horrifed that someone at HIS company deliberately endangered the life of your mother
Yes - situation might be savable after the initial weak email with this. I'd also see if you could swiftly engage an 'expert' (a cycle shop owner, a cycle club chairman or maybe someone from cycling uk) to also email and cooberate the seriousness of the consequence of the offence so that lands at the same time.
She wasn’t “lucky the wheel wasn’t removed,” she would’ve been exponentially better off if they had taken it. Riding off oblivious to the fact the axle was missing could in a very real sense have cost her her life, her wheel could easily have parted company with the bike with no warning and a truck behind her.
This. I doubt if more than 5% of people would notice a qr lever being removed. You’d probably only notice if you had to lift the bike. She was extremely lucky to have overheard what was said. It could have caused a life threatening incident like Cougar suggests; I’d say it would be very likely she would have come off and injured herself to some extent.
Probably naively, but I would have contacted the police. Now, if I was her I would look at involving lawyers to take matters further. Perhaps no win no fee, or such like.
Yep I agree with those above.
Get involved yourself
Good luck
Agree with the above. You need to make absolutely clear just how serious this is. Thankfully your Mother noticed the missing QR but the next person might not be so fortunate.
The idiot responsible needs to realise this so it never happens again. If that's via loss of job then so be it.
I would highlight it as a "Near miss" that could have resulted in the injury of a customer. Whatever their safety culture/processes, had that customer actually been injured through the actions of their employee, a formal (HSE?) investigation and possibly sanction for the company could well have been warranted.
I would highlight it as a “Near miss” that could have resulted in the injury of a customer.
I would highlight it as a “Near miss” that could have resulted in the death of a customer.
I would highlight it as a “Near miss” that could have resulted in the death of a customer.
I would call it "deliberate sabotage"
There will be a "near miss" category for reporting of incidents
Email sent to CEO of Southern Railway detailing issue along with photos instead.
Just send another email apologising to the fact that she had assumed that the CEO knew what a QR was and its purpose, but then realising that they might not. Or some bullshit about a paragraph having inadvertently gone missing. Or simply send a more detailed email and just ignore the fact that a previous one was sent, if mentioned just say it was a draught email which was accidentally sent.
I would take photos of the QR so that realise where it is and what it does. I also think it is very important to emphasis that the problem would very possibly not be apparent when first riding the bike, in case they think to themselves "oh well she wouldn't have ridden the bike without the bit that keeps the wheel on", and point out that she might have had a catastrophic accident whilst cycling at speed surrounded by fast moving vehicles.
They must have really changed since I worked at the railways. This would have been gross misconduct. The railways did massive safety training, like fire safety. Taught you everything, then said you weren't insured to fight fires.
I can't imagine this numpty was insured to do "maintenance" on a customer's bicycle. Any breach of insurance can be seen as gross misconduct.
You have three options:
1) let it slide.
2) antagonise everyone by going for the jugular.
3) get them to provide evidence they are inserting this scenario into their training, and at least get the satisfaction their workers wont ever sabotage anyone's bike again.
Is thiz on cctv?
Bet it is, would love to see how he goes about removing it, and does he wave it at an office full of his colleagues as a prize or is he sneaky
The general idea stinks to me, notice attached or not. So what if it's not in a cycle rack?
Having bikes around the place means people are cycling, instead of being shouted at by 'those in charge' who seem to see bikes as inconvenient, threatening or inferior to a car.