Staff at rail operator East Midlands Railway (EMR) are making PPE for the NHS in their spare time.
As well as managing to keep services running for key workers across the region, some workers at the Derby-based train firm are going the extra mile by trying their hand at making vital equipment for those working on the coronavirus frontline.
According to EMR, a number of its staff have taken to 3D printing to help create mask straps and face shields.
They include train driver Jeff Bannister, who decided to help after he saw a link online on how to create face mask straps that alleviate pressure on the ears.
So far, he has donated more than 80 to a friend who works for the Ambulance Service and over 100 to other friends and family.
He has also shared the plastic straps on his Facebook page, offering them out to anyone who needs them.
He 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 10 and the other one making 16.
Most Read
“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 frontline are doing, so hopefully these will help relieve some of the pressure on the ears.”
Jeff is not the only EMR worker supporting the frontline workers as other employees are also creating items on their own 3D printers.
Reservations controller, Dean Myers has been making face shield frames. He 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.
And Stuart Howe, who works as an 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 at 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 frontline workers.”