FOI request detail

Gambling Disorder. Corporate Approach to Assessing and Managing Potential Risk and Harm

Request ID: FOI-0901-2223
Date published: 10 August 2022

You asked

1. Does TFL have a corporate policy associated with staff well-being and gambling addiction? . If yes can you please provide either a link to your policy or a copy of your policy. 2. When an accident, incident or near miss is reported within TFL, is gambling addiction assessed as a potential root cause for any human error that caused or was a factor in the accident/incident or near miss ? 3. If the answer to point 2 above is Yes, how does your review process achieve this and what level of harm or cost has resulted from Gambling Addiction within TFL over the last 5 years. 4. If the answer to point 2 is Yes, what has been the main learning from your review process and what changes to improve staff well being and reduce risk of harm to your employee or others have been made. 5. If the answer to point 2 is No, then has this FOI request led you to reflect on this shortfall in your approach to accident/incident or near miss reviews and would you like to discuss this further with me?

We answered

TfL Ref: FOI-0901-2223
 
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 17 July 2022, asking for information about TfL’s policies on gambling addiction.
 
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy.  I can confirm that we hold some of the information you require. Specifically you asked:
 
  1. Does TFL have a corporate policy associated with staff well-being and gambling addiction? . If yes can you please provide either a link to your policy or a copy of your policy.
 
We don’t have a specific policy on gambling addiction. However, if a manager has an employee who reports a gambling problem, our Drug and Alcohol Treatment Service (DAATS) can (and has) referred employees for specialist help. If an employee is assessed at DAATS this would include any gambling components during the assessment process and managed appropriately. As our policy stands currently, the primary diagnosis would need to be drugs and/or alcohol misuse in order to access treatment via DAATS.
 
  1. When an accident, incident or near miss is reported within TFL, is gambling addiction assessed as a potential root cause for any human error that caused or was a factor in the accident/incident or near miss?
 
No, it is not considered as part of routine investigation, but it would be considered if there were grounds for doing so. We are not aware of any incidents or near misses where gambling alone has been identified as a potential root cause. Again, if a manager has an employee who reports a gambling problem, DAATS can refer them for specialist help.
 
  1. If the answer to point 2 above is Yes, how does your review process achieve this and what level of harm or cost has resulted from Gambling Addiction within TFL over the last 5 years.
 
Not applicable.
 
  1. If the answer to point 2 is Yes, what has been the main learning from your review process and what changes to improve staff well being and reduce risk of harm to your employee or others have been made.
 
Not applicable.
 
  1. If the answer to point 2 is No, then has this FOI request led you to reflect on this shortfall in your approach to accident/incident or near miss reviews and would you like to discuss this further with me?
 
We consider a wide range of factors and behaviours as part of incident investigation. Thank you for your offer; we will keep your details on file.
 
If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for any reason, please do not hesitate to contact me.
 
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.
 
Yours sincerely
 
Eva Hextall
FOI Case Management Team
General Counsel
Transport for London

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