Our Ref:         FOI-3763-1920

Thank you for clarifying your request asking for further information about air quality in relation to Crossrail.
 
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Environmental Information Regulations and our information access policy. I can confirm we hold some of the information you require.
 
There are no specific written requirements for contractors regarding their obligation to monitor or record air quality measurements while working on Crossrail sites and no written policies concerning air quality written by or used by Crossrail between 01/01 2016 and 01/01/2020.
 
However the Works Information (included in every contract) contains the following which may be relevant:
 
• Section 19.4 Occupational Health, Includes general responsibilities for contractors to have an OHP (occupational health plan) to develop strategies to reduce exposure to health risks etc. 
• Section  19.4.3 states ‘Eliminating and reducing exposure to health risks is a requirement of all organisations working on the Project …’  and ‘…systems and controls are in place to ensure that occupational health issues are identified, eliminated where possible and/or mitigated where necessary so as not to import additional risk into the Project through materials, equipment or work processes; …’.
• Section 19.6.7 states that the Contractor’s CCP (Construction Phase Plan) shall include plans and procedures to address specific health and safety hazards (and includes noise in the list of hazards but says nothing on air quality or dust monitoring and does not state ‘including, but not limited to …’)
• Section 19.7 – Includes monitoring of atmosphere with confined spaces, and also, under ‘demolition’, includes undertaking baseline surveys for dust but not ongoing monitoring
 
There were no RIDDOR reportable incidents attributed to air quality between 1/1/2016 and 1/1/2020 on any Crossrail site.
 
If this is not the information you are looking for please feel free to contact me.

Please note, the Government has announced a series of measures to tackle the Coronavirus. It is essential for London, and in particular for all critical workers, that we continue to provide a safe transport network that enables them to make the journeys they need to.

In current circumstances, we are not able to answer requests readily and we ask that you please do not make a request to us at present.

Answering requests will require the use of limited resources and the attention of staff who could be supporting other essential activity. In any event, please note that our response time will be affected by the current situation.

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]