BUS FUMES CAUSE SERIOUS BREATHING PROBLEMS

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: february 2019 :: RMTnews 25 A bus driver has secured £5,500 in compensation after noxious engine fumes made him ill and off work for months. The RMT member had to stop the engine of a bus he was about to drive after noticing a burning smell. He asked not to drive it again because he suffers from asthma, which was exacerbated by the smell. However, several months later, he was asked to drive the same bus again. His employer rather than fix the problem had tried to mask the smell by attaching a fresh board – used in urinals – to the front of the vehicle. He had to stop the bus early, was sick and needed three months off work. He was unaware that there had previously been a fire on the bus and the engine had not been repaired properly. “I struggle to count the number of times my employer ignored my concerns about my reaction to fumes over the years,” he said. “With this bus they tried to cover up the issue, instead of ensuring the bus was properly maintained. I spoke with colleagues as I started to wonder if it was just me, but it turned out that a number of them had also complained about the smell. “They’ve finally stopped using the bus and, since then, my condition has improved significantly. I just don’t understand why it took so long for the change.” He turned to RMT and industrial disease experts, Thompsons Solicitors, who helped him secure £5,500 in compensation. “I don’t know what I would have done without the backing of my union and Thompsons. “Having a solicitor who actually listened to and acted on my concerns was refreshing and meant my employer was held to account for what it did,” he added. RMT general secretary Mick Cash said that it was crucial that any transport operator ensured that its vehicles are regularly checked and any faults are corrected as soon as possible as failure to do can put staff and, in some cases, passengers at risk. “Roland suffered for far too long because of his employer’s negligence and thankfully, his union membership meant he could get legal guidance and 100 per cent of his compensation, free of charge,” he said. Shivani Vadukul, the solicitor from Thompsons who supported the member with his claim, added that from the onset of the claim, his employer denied it was responsible for the member’s ill health. “We investigated the issue and quickly found that his wasn’t true; there had been almost 100 complaints from a number of bus drivers about the smell. “The fact his employer continued using the bus after the fire demonstrated a lack of care for health and safety. Their continued reluctance to address the problem following complaints was particularly concerning. “In the end, the employer’s poor attitude to health and safety led to them losing a costly, but avoidable, legal battle,” he said. LEGAL Bus driver wins compensation after falling ill because of fumes from a faulty engine BUS FUMES CAUSE SERIOUS BREATHING PROBLEMS