London Underground users should know about toxic dust risk, whistleblower says
Summary
A London Underground worker, Micky Steeds, raised concerns about dangerous dust containing asbestos and other harmful substances while cleaning underground stations. After whistleblowing about unsafe practices and poor waste disposal, he was unfairly dismissed, and an employment tribunal ruled that his complaints were protected under the law.Key Facts
- Micky Steeds worked for London Underground starting in 2018, cleaning dust from vents, lift shafts, and areas under platforms.
- He discovered the dust contained asbestos and toxic materials like chromium, arsenic, silicates, and iron oxide.
- For over a year, Steeds was not given proper protective masks and only received asbestos safety training after 19 months of exposure.
- Hazardous waste was not always disposed of correctly, sometimes being placed in general waste instead of special containers.
- Steeds reported these issues to managers, who denied any safety problems.
- A tribunal found that Steeds’ complaints were genuine whistleblowing and that London Underground failed to protect him.
- He was unfairly dismissed in August 2023 after being pressured to retract his complaints.
- The tribunal highlighted that unsafe waste disposal could expose workers and the public to dangerous materials and could lead to legal penalties.
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