CLEAN AIR AT WORK

Our ref: HSR/1/3
Head Office Circular: NP/116/22
11th May 2022
To: The Secretary
ALL BRANCHES
REGIONAL COUNCILS

Dear Colleague,

CLEAN AIR AT WORK

I write to inform you that your National Executive Committee (NEC) was convened on 5th May 2022, to consider a report from its Health and Safety sub-committee, from when it met to discuss the following resolution from Paddington No1 branch:

The 20th National Health & Safety Advisory Conference highlighted a hazard that has literally been in our faces since the introduction of the Intercity Express Program. Hitachi Class 800 & AT300 trains have a number of design and operational issues which are posing a real hazard to our members. Trains are running on diesel more than they were designed to, causing higher emissions. It is suspected that the exhaust design may be significantly flawed as The Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning (HVAC) draws fumes / particles into the saloon during service. The performance of these units is hampered by inefficient cleaning methods. All of this adds up to an invisible significant hazard that is ongoing and potentially affecting our members every day.

The most dangerous particulate matter is 2.5microns in size. This is absorbed into the blood and the World Health Organisation (WHO) say there is “No Safe Level”. The UKs tolerance is currently 5 times higher than the WHO guidelines.

Grahame Peterson of the Trade Union Clean Air Network (TUCAN) recorded significant readings on his way to our conference which left him “astounded”.

The recent RSSB report into Onboard Air Quality also raises significant questions. It appears that the industry is primarily focused on CO2, which although a good indicator of airflow, does not do enough to identify our exposure to risk.

Paddington No.1 Branch calls on the NEC to:

Set up an RMT H&S Working Group to specifically tackle the Hitachi IEP issue. This group should include Reps from affected TOCs, Hitachi and independent experts as necessary. This group should sit at National level so either the National Health & Safety Advisory Committee or National Executive health & Safety Sub Committee and should also look at the wider general issue of Air Pollution in our workplaces.

Provide Mobile Particle Monitoring equipment (either to the working group or regionally) to ensure that we know exactly what levels we are being exposed to in our workplaces in order to have suitable and sufficient risk assessments in place.

Campaign nationally for rail stations to lose their exemption from the Clear Air Zones that are being introduced across the UK. It is obscene that a privately owned Ford Mondeo gets penalised in Birmingham’s city centre, but a TOC operated diesel train sat on a platform doesn’t.

Ensure that the Union are fully aware of developments directly involved in the Air Quality Strategic Framework which will set targets on Air Quality in 2022 which are to be met by 2030. We urgently require a voice on this issue.

Your National Executive Committee (NEC), at its meeting on 5th May 2022, noted and adopted the following report from its Health and Safety sub-committee:

We instruct the General Secretary:

To set up an RMT H&S Working Group to specifically tackle the Hitachi IEP issue and any other diesel train as mentioned in RSSB research project T1811. This group to include Reps from affected TOCs, Hitachi and independent experts as necessary. This group should sit at National level so either the National Health & Safety Advisory Committee or National Executive Health & Safety sub-committee and should also look at the wider general issue of Air Pollution in our workplaces.

To provide Mobile Particle Monitoring equipment (either to the working group or regionally) to ensure reps know exactly what levels staff are being exposed to in their workplaces in order to have suitable and sufficient risk assessments in place.

To Campaign nationally for rail stations to lose their exemption from the Clear Air Zones that are being introduced across the UK.

To ensure that the Union are fully aware of developments directly involved in the Air Quality Strategic Framework which will set targets on Air Quality in 2022 which are to be met by 2030.

Branches and Regional Councils to be advised.

I am acting in accordance with these instructions.

Please bring the contents of this circular to the attention of relevant members.

Yours sincerely

Michael Lynch
General Secretary