Heathrow Airport: Air Pollution
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to help reduce occupational exposure to (a) ultrafine particles and (b) toxic emissions for (i) baggage handlers, (ii) ground staff (iii) and freight workers at Heathrow airport.
Answered by Sir Stephen Timms
The UK has a robust and well-established occupational safety and health regulatory framework in place to protect workers from the health risks associated with exposure to hazardous substances in the workplace.
The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) (as amended) Regulations 2002, enforced by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), require employers in GB to protect workers from the health risks associated with exposure to hazardous substances including chemicals. Under COSHH, employers have a duty to assess the risk and ensure that the exposure of their employees to substances hazardous to health is either prevented or, where this is not reasonably practicable, adequately controlled.
HSE has not visited Heathrow Airport to look at this issue specifically. HSE expect all employers to ensure they follow the requirements of COSHH and act accordingly to meet their statutory duties.
The Department for Transport (DfT) seeks to minimise the impact of aviation on people’s health and wellbeing, including those who work at airports, in the context of other government priorities. It is in regular contact on issues of air quality with other government departments and their agencies, including the Department of Health and Social Care.
While there are currently no legal limits for ultra fine particulate concentrations, air quality at Heathrow Airport is closely monitored and is reported in its Sustainability Reports. Emissions from aircraft are strictly regulated by ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization). ICAO sets global standards to limit emissions of oxides of nitrogen (NOx), particulates and some other air pollutants from aircraft engines.
The UK has played a leading role in developing these standards and supports the aviation industry's actions to cut airport-related emissions. This includes operating aircraft more efficiently, introducing new lower emission technologies and practices, reducing vehicle emissions within the airport boundary, and improving public transport links to airports.
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