Request ID: FOI-3442-2324 Date published: 22 January 2024
You asked
Under the freedom of Information Act 2000 and Environmental Act, please provide the last asbestos survey for the Northern line Tunnel running from Angel Station to Old Street station.
Thank you
We answered
Our ref: FOI-3442-2324
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 27 December 2023 asking for information on the asbestos survey for the Northern line tunnel.
Your request has been considered under the requirements of the Environmental Information Regulations and our information access policy.
I can confirm that we do hold the information you require. You asked:
Under the freedom of Information Act 2000 and Environmental Act, please provide the last asbestos survey for the Northern line Tunnel running from Angel Station to Old Street station. Thank you
Note that due to the age of the Underground, asbestos is found in a number of locations on the network. However, in public areas the vast majority of Asbestos Containing Materials (ACMs) are contained behind station finishes and cannot be accessed by the general public. Where ACMs are found in public areas, they are located where they cause no risk to the general public or staff. All stations are re-inspected on a periodic basis to ensure that no damage has been caused to change this status. If, in the very rare case it is assessed and the status has changed for any reason, then a risk assessment is undertaken which will result in either encapsulation, encasement, or removal.
TfL has processes and procedures in place to ensure that the management of asbestos is carried out in compliance with the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012. Some of the main requirements that London Underground delivers under the regulations are listed below:
• Identify the location and condition of hazardous materials • Maintain an asbestos register with known, presumed or strongly presumed asbestos • Assess and manage the risk of exposure • Prepare, implement, review & monitor the management plan to manage the risks • Regularly inspect known instances of asbestos • Provide information on the location and condition of the material to anyone who is likely to disturb it • Carry out management, refurbishment and / or pre-demolition surveys when required • Carry out airborne fibre monitoring where necessary • Maintain records detailing when and where asbestos is removed, treated and disposed • Request and retain Waste Consignment Note upon transportation of Hazardous Materials to Hazardous Waste Landfill site • Hold relevant Asbestos Management Qualifications
It is London Underground’s policy to continue to safely manage ACMs in-situ, through continued management surveys, re-inspections, risk assessments and pre-work Refurbishment & Demolition (R&D) surveys. We also carry out airborne fibre monitoring for asbestos for reassurance during work on or near to asbestos containing materials.
Please find the attached data from our last Asbestos survey for the Northern line tunnel running from Angel to Old Street station.
In accordance with our obligations under Data Protection legislation some personal data has been removed, as required by regulation 13 of the EIR. This is because disclosure of this personal data would be a breach of the legislation, specifically the first principle of Article 5 of the UK General Data Protection Regulation 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 which would make the processing ‘fair’.
If you are not satisfied with this response please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.
Yours sincerely,
Tahsin Prima FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London