1. The number of escalators used by the public at London Underground stations; 3. The number of accidents on escalators identified in 1 above for each of the last three years; 4. Any breakdown of the injuries sustained as a result of the accidents identified in 3 above; 5. The number of fatalities on escalators identified in 1 above for each of the last three years; 6. Any breakdown of the cause of the injuries / fatalities sustained as a result of the accidents identified in 3 and 5 above.

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Our Ref:         FOI-3265-1819

Thank you for your revised request received on 4 March 2019 asking for information about escalators on the London Underground.

Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy. I can confirm we do hold the information you require.

The Tube supports nearly 5 million passenger journeys per day, and up to 1.36bn journeys were made in 2017/18 on the Tube. The safety of our staff and customers is our top priority and the Tube is recognised as one of the safest metros around the world. We are never complacent, however, and continuously strive to reduce injuries.

We have done a lot to understand the key locations, issues and contributory factors which lead to customer accidents occurring on escalators. To reduce numbers of incidents we are focussed on both influencing customer behaviour and changing our infrastructure to remove/reduce risk. Both elements are integrated into a plan which is cascaded to each of the London Underground lines and stations with escalators. These plans are visualised, performance and delivery reviewed each week and action taken to improve performance where required (using a continuous improvement approach). Recent actions have included senior management team visits to hotspot locations to talk about the issues and challenges.

To minimise slips, trips and falls, we have been trialing and implementing a variety of ways to highlight risks and encourage safe use of escalators. These encourage customers to hold the handrail; walk or stand safely; be aware of the step or landing interface; and, where available, to use lifts when mobility impaired.

Initiatives to minimise slips, trips and falls include hand prints on the handrails, wording on step risers, new electronic displays, under-step lighting, escalator and lift floor signs, projections of staff members giving safety messages near escalators and frequent public address announcements.

Additionally, TfL's safety campaigns, which run throughout the year, use posters in lifts, stations, as well as advertisements on the escalators across the network, to remind our customers of the risks of running on stairs and escalators. We continually monitor the effectiveness of our measures and campaigns in reducing accidents and adjust our approach accordingly.

You asked for:

1. The number of escalators used by the public at London Underground stations;

There are 448 escalators used by the public at London Underground stations.

3. The number of accidents on escalators identified in 1 above for each of the last three years;

Year 2016 2017 2018 Total
Total 1737 1808 2105 5650

4. Any breakdown of the injuries sustained as a result of the accidents identified in 3 above;
5. The number of fatalities on escalators identified in 1 above for each of the last three years;

Year 2016 2017 2018 Total
Fatal 1 0 0 1
Major 27 34 41 102
Minor 1699 1554 1652 4905
No injury 10 220 412 642
Total 1737 1808 2105 5650

RIDDOR (Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations) defines a major injury as:

(a) any bone fracture diagnosed by a registered medical practitioner, other than to a finger, thumb or toe;
(b) amputation of an arm, hand, finger, thumb, leg, foot or toe;
(c) any injury diagnosed by a registered medical practitioner as being likely to cause permanent blinding or reduction in sight in one or both eyes;
(d) any crush injury to the head or torso causing damage to the brain or internal organs in the chest or abdomen;
(e) any burn injury (including scalding) which:
(i) covers more than 10% of the whole body‘s total surface area; or
(ii) causes significant damage to the eyes, respiratory system or other vital organs;
(f) any degree of scalping (separation of skin from the head) requiring hospital treatment;
(g) loss of consciousness caused by head injury or asphyxia; or
(h) any other injury arising from working in an enclosed space which:
(i) leads to hypothermia or heat-induced illness; or
(ii) requires resuscitation or admittance to hospital for more than 24 hours.

Minor injuries are any other injuries not covered by the above definition.

6. Any breakdown of the cause of the injuries / fatalities sustained as a result of the accidents identified in 3 and 5 above.

Year 2016 2017 2018 Total
Slips / Trips / Falls 1588 1743 2022 5353
Contact with Machinery 69 59 70 198
Falling object (i.e. luggage) 80 6 12 98
Other 0 0 1 1
Total 1737 1808 2105 5650

If this is not the information you are looking for please feel free to contact me.

Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.

Yours sincerely

Gemma Jacob
Senior FOI Case Officer
FOI Case Management Team
General Counsel
Transport for London

[email protected]

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