Request ID: FOI-2146-2324 Date published: 12 October 2023
You asked
Please provide details of your risk assessments for the followin
1. The installation and implementation of 5G on the underground.
2. The toxic air on the underground.
Please also provide any readings for the above for the past 12 months.
We answered
TfL Ref: FOI-2146-2324
Thank you for your request received by us on 18 September 2023, asking for information about risk assessments. Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Environmental Information Regulations (EIRs) and our information access policy. I can confirm that we hold some of the information you require. You asked:
Please provide details of your risk assessments for the following;
The installation and implementation of 5G on the underground.
Please find the attached guidance on the Control of Electromagnetic Fields which was shared within TfL and our stakeholders. It isn’t strictly a risk assessment, but relates to the 5G radio frequency.
Attached is also a project risk register which documents risks for the project.
Please note that in accordance with TfL’s obligations under the Data Protection legislation some personal data has been removed, as required by Regulation 13 of the Environmental Information Regulations. This is because disclosure of this personal data would be a breach of the legislation, specifically the first principle of the legislation, which requires all processing of personal data to be fair and lawful. It would not be fair to disclose this personal information when the individuals have no expectation it would be disclosed and TfL has not satisfied one of the conditions of Schedule 2 which would make the processing ‘fair’.
The toxic air on the underground.
TfL undertakes regular occupational exposure measurements of the dust levels on the London Underground. Monitoring is underway and will be published later in the year. The measurements are taken in ticket halls and platforms of 24 stations within deep tube sections and some on the subsurface lines, and inside train operator cabs for all lines. This is to measure ourselves against the Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) occupational exposure limits for dust. The upcoming report and previous reports can be found via the following link: - https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/publications-and-reports/environment-reports
Our measurements show that we consistently meet the HSE occupational exposure limits for dust therefore there are no central risk assessments in place for this. The levels of dust and pollution above and below ground are not comparable as they are made up of different substances. Surface pollutants, particularly traffic source emissions have a completely different toxicological profile to tube dust pollutants so it’s a complex comparison process. Below ground dust is predominantly iron oxide particles. Whilst we know that pollution above ground can have negative health impact, there is no clear evidence of this on the underground. However, studies are underway to ascertain if there are health impacts as a result of exposure to tube dust. In the event there are, risk assessments will be undertaken as necessary.
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
