Inspector Sands
Encyclopedia
Inspector Sands is a code phrase
used by public transport
authorities in the United Kingdom
, including Network Rail
and London Underground
, to alert staff and other agencies, such as the police
, to an emergency or potential emergency such as a fire
or bomb scare without alerting the public and creating panic. The exact wording depends on the station, and the nature of the incident, for example "Would Inspector Sands please report to the operations room immediately" or "would Inspector Sands please report to platform 2".
The automated public address announcement can be generated automatically by the station's fire warning system, or can be triggered from the station control. The message audio file is usually stored as the primary standard emergency announcement on the station PA/VA system. The message may indicate that a single fire alarm call point in a public area has been operated. If a fire alarm in a non-public area is operated or more than one fire alarm is operated or if a detector has gone off the system will start the evacuation procedure and the fire brigade is automatically called. The announcement can be triggered by the station controller to alert station staff of other incidents which need urgent attention. The automated nature of the announcement and its high priority means that it has occasionally been known to cut into manual (lower priority) announcements being made by station staff.
"Mr Sands" has long been used in theatres as a code for fire, where sand buckets were used to put out fires. The word "fire" backstage would cause alarm to either performers or audience.
Code word (figure of speech)
A code word is a word or a phrase designed to convey a predetermined meaning to a receptive audience, while remaining inconspicuous to the uninitiated.- Medical :...
used by public transport
Public transport
Public transport is a shared passenger transportation service which is available for use by the general public, as distinct from modes such as taxicab, car pooling or hired buses which are not shared by strangers without private arrangement.Public transport modes include buses, trolleybuses, trams...
authorities in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, including Network Rail
Network Rail
Network Rail is the government-created owner and operator of most of the rail infrastructure in Great Britain .; it is not responsible for railway infrastructure in Northern Ireland...
and London Underground
London Underground
The London Underground is a rapid transit system serving a large part of Greater London and some parts of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex in England...
, to alert staff and other agencies, such as the police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
, to an emergency or potential emergency such as a fire
Fire
Fire is the rapid oxidation of a material in the chemical process of combustion, releasing heat, light, and various reaction products. Slower oxidative processes like rusting or digestion are not included by this definition....
or bomb scare without alerting the public and creating panic. The exact wording depends on the station, and the nature of the incident, for example "Would Inspector Sands please report to the operations room immediately" or "would Inspector Sands please report to platform 2".
The automated public address announcement can be generated automatically by the station's fire warning system, or can be triggered from the station control. The message audio file is usually stored as the primary standard emergency announcement on the station PA/VA system. The message may indicate that a single fire alarm call point in a public area has been operated. If a fire alarm in a non-public area is operated or more than one fire alarm is operated or if a detector has gone off the system will start the evacuation procedure and the fire brigade is automatically called. The announcement can be triggered by the station controller to alert station staff of other incidents which need urgent attention. The automated nature of the announcement and its high priority means that it has occasionally been known to cut into manual (lower priority) announcements being made by station staff.
"Mr Sands" has long been used in theatres as a code for fire, where sand buckets were used to put out fires. The word "fire" backstage would cause alarm to either performers or audience.