CLEAN AIR AT WORK

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: february 2023 :: RMTnews 18 Following last year’s health and safety advisory conference dealing with clean air at work over 9,000 members working in rail, maritime, buses and taxis responded to a short survey about exposure to diesel engine exhaust emissions in the workplace. Over 80 per cent of respondents said that they had been exposed to diesel fumes while at work and 79 per cent said that this exposure is ongoing. MARITIME Car decks were shown to be the main area in which maritime members are exposed to diesel pollution, which is particularly problematic as they are enclosed areas - and in some instances fans not cleaned. One respondent wrote “all cars and lorries are ticking over at least 15 minutes before we enter the bottom deck is full of fumes and only one door open it doesn’t leave the deck” and alarmingly several respondents wrote in connection to Irish Ferries and P&O that these companies “Didn’t care, we asked for face masks, but were told it would frighten passengers”. BUSES One respondent wrote, “I’m a bus driver, I’m regularly exposed to diesel fumes either at the depot or most commonly in the cab of the bus. The vents suck it through from the whole vehicle in front and it is often very unpleasant and smells strongly of burnt diesel fumes in the bus cab. Most of our diesel buses you can smell fumes while driving them”. Another respondent explained that their canteen /restroom window opens straight into the bus depot. TAXIS The survey found that Transport for London are the qualification body for taxi drivers under section 53 & 54 of the Equality Act 2010 but neglect their duty to taxi drivers who they licence. RAILWAYS Tunnels were identified by respondents as a high-risk area where diesel fumes are particularly bad, especially when placing T3 protection and when working by engineering trains and using machinery. When working track side, diesel exhaust emission pollution was identified by respondents as a problem when using tamping machines, stone blowers, other diesel plant, also using road rail machines and MEWPs (Mobile Elevated Working Platform). The continued use of diesel trains because of the governments continued failure to electrify lines is reflected in response findings and its impact on board trains and in stations: Respondents said that they were exposed to diesel engine exhaust emission inside train sheds, during testing after engine change, when working in DMU maintenance depot and constantly running vehicles in shed as the overhead lines/shore supply were not being used. One respondent wrote: “Every day we have poor to none ventilation the extractors we have don’t walkway work or turn on our plant and buildings department fob us off every time we complain about the problem. My company doesn’t want to spend the money to improve the outdated system.” A respondent wrote of impact of diesel pollution on board train: “As a guard this can be on train coming into the back cab or when performing station duties. Often finding black on the CLEAN AIR AT WORK RMT surveys finds that in all grades including rail, maritime, buses and taxis are exposed to diesel fumes FUMES: Diesel fume deposits from trains beneath pollute the inside of the glass trainshed roof making it difficult to clean