I wish to make a Freedom of Information request on how health and Safety checks you have made before introducing constant announcements on to TfL trains, stations and busses. Thank you.

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TfL Ref: FOI-4475-1718

Thank you for your email received by us on 09 February 2018 and for your clarification email received on 10 March asking for information about health and Safety checks made prior to public announcements being implemented. I sincerely apologise for the delay in replying.

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. You asked: I wish to make a Freedom of Information request on how health and Safety checks you have made before introducing constant announcements on TfL trains, stations and buses.

Passenger safety is our top priority so we trialled a new bus safety announcement to assess if it helps to reduce the number of people hurt ‎in slips and falls on buses. One of the aims of the trial was to see how effective it is in reducing injuries. As it was broadcast through the well-established iBus next-stop announcement system which passengers are familiar with, there was no need to conduct an assessment. The timing and wording have since been modified to help the public travel as safely as possible at all times, not just when the bus moves away from a stop.

For on-bus audio announcements we need to strike a fine balance in providing information important to the customers (especially relevant to passengers with visual impairments or those not familiar with local areas) but not being unnecessarily prominent and intrusive.

The volume level varies by bus type (surveys were carried out on each vehicle type to determine the most appropriate volume level) but would not exceed 75 decibels, which is considered safe. This may appear loud but they need to be set at a level when they can be heard over ambience noise, otherwise they wouldn’t serve any purpose. Ambience noise is often around this level in central London so a similar level within the saloon area is audible.

Occasionally additional announcements are played on buses to raise customer awareness about certain issues (eg ‘please remember to touch in’ or ‘please hold on’) but these are only active for a limited amount of time to avoid causing unnecessary noise pollution.

We use announcements in our Tube stations to improve safety for our customers and remind them that while the system is one of the safest in the world, they need to be aware of their environment. We are investing billions in making the Tube network better and more efficient and we are also working to make it safer for our customers.

A recent trial of the benefits of repetitive announcements as part of a package of alerts has shown that it has reduced injuries at Victoria Tube station.

Besides announcements, other methods we use at stations are blue footprints on the steps, hand prints on the handrails, contrasting colours to highlight the ‘comb’ between the moving steps and the landings, wording on step risers, new electronic displays, under-step lighting, escalator and lift floor signs and projections of staff members giving safety messages near escalators as well as frequent public address announcements.

If this is not the information you are looking for, 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

Sara Thomas

FOI Case Management Team

General Counsel

Transport for London

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