AwalkwithMO

Have you ever noticed the staircases you pace up and down at the train stations moving from one platform to another? How well dressed they are? Making it safer for you to not slip and fall. Did you know that they are often well dressed with what’s called an ‘Anti-slip resistance flooring’ material. I won’t get into the detail nor bore you with it properties but all I could say is that they provide a far more slip-resistant surface than concrete and steel staircases.

Remember when I said you have to win the job to do the job? And part of winning the job is to pay a visit to the site to explore and obtain as many relevant information that could be of significance in writing your bid and estimating. In doing so, you’re already one step ahead of your competitors.

Anyway, I had the opportunity to use my Engineering skills to measure an entire station of staircases and calculate how much surface area we need to install the anti-slip resistance materials. ANYONE could do this and I mean anyone. All you have to remember from your elementary school is working out areas and perimeters of various shapes. For example Area of a rectangular shape : A = Length x Width . It’s that straight forward.

This task was personal to me. Why? Because It was conducted at one of the stations in my hometown city – A city of roundabouts called Milton Keynes. We don’t often do projects in Milton Keynes region so you could see how personal this was to me.

The same day I was informed of this task I wasted no time in igniting my engine and cruised down the Motorway from London to Milton Keynes Bletchley Station.

I arrived and spoke to the station manager, signed in and he gave me access to the station and I went to work. It started pouring with rain but that didn’t stop me. A train passenger approached and asked for my assistance with the train journey – thinking I work there – I was happy to help. Another passenger (who walked past me earlier) approached with curiosity wanting to know what I was doing. We had a brief smiley and casual chat right before she left.

I finished my work followed by some final structural checks, access and parking. I signed out and finalise my calculations and sent it to my manager. This information is then sent out to sub-contractors (specialists that manufacture and install the anti-slip resistance material) to obtain a price.

Looking back I used to get off the train station ( a few times) hoping the barriers are open so I don’t get to pay – the life of a student at university. It felt good coming back to it but for a different reason this time around.