East Midlands Railway employees make medical mask straps using 3D printers for front line workers at local hospitals

Colleagues at East Midlands Railway are working hard to keep the railway moving for key workers as well as going the extra mile behind the scenes to provide further support.

A number of EMR colleagues have taken to 3D printing to help create mask straps and face shields.

Train Driver Jeff Bannister; saw a link online on how to create face mask straps that alleviate pressure on the ears for NHS workers during the Coronavirus crisis.

So far, Jeff has donated over eighty to a friend who works for the ambulance service and over one hundred to other friends and family. He has also shared the plastic straps on his Facebook page, offering them out to anyone who needs them, which has already had a great response.

Jeff Bannister said: “A few of my colleagues had sent me a link to an article on how to make them so I tried it and realised I could help, I am trying to create as many as possible to donate.

“I am currently running three printers, one making four at a time, one making ten and the other one making sixteen.

“Without the plastic straps, the masks can become very uncomfortable after wearing them for long periods of time, which all of the key workers on the front line are doing so hopefully these will help relieve some of the pressure on the ears.”

Jeff is not the only one supporting the front line workers; other employees at EMR are also creating items on their own 3D printers.

Reservations Controller, Dean Myers, has been making face shield frames. Dean has been printing the face shields at home then bagging and boxing them off. The elastic strap and clear sheet of plastic is then added before they are shipped off to various key workers.

Stuart Howe, IT Service Delivery Manager, is also making plastic straps for medical masks using his 3D set up in his garden shed.

Will Rogers, Managing Director for EMR, said: “A huge well done and thank you to Jeff, Dean and Stuart for your generosity, we appreciate everything that you’re doing to help our NHS and front line workers.”

Photo credit: East Midlands Railway 

Download article