Union Accuses Tube Of Increasing Fire Risks
The Rail Maritime and Transport (RMT) union claimed that Tube bosses had scrapped a fire inspection programme and abolished the post of specialist fire safety adviser.
It said it had seen an internal email from London Underground's (LU) fire engineer opposing changes to the fire safety management regime.
But LU said it had no plans to reduce fire safety staff at Tube stations and that it would be happy for health and safety inspectors to examine the fire regulations.
Bob Crow, General Secretary of the RMT, said: "It is astonishing that in one breath LU can tell the London Assembly about the massive problems it experienced in the wake of the July 7 bombings, yet with the next insist on changes that even their own fire engineer opposed."
"For all sorts of reasons - not least the security situation - the fire risk on the London Underground has increased significantly, and now is not the time for LU to weaken fire-safety management or for ministers to abolish minimum fire-safety standards."
LU said it had an excellent fire safety record, adding: "The Government's new fire safety regulations proposes a risk assessment-based approach to managing the fire risk, which is what LU already undertakes.
"We will be happy for Her Majesty's Railway Inspectorate to look at our fire safety regulations and we do not believe the fire risk is increasing. In fact, we believe it is decreasing."
Source: News Telegraph.com
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