Asbestos

Ask Tubeworker: Is Asbestos Removal Safe?

Q: There is a poster in Euston station, saying, 'this passage has been closed due to the safe removal of asbestos'. When enquiring, we were assured there was nothing to worry about. But can we trust them?

A: There are two types of work which deal with asbestos: complete removal, where the material is removed from the structure and disposed of; and encapsulation, where the asbestos is treated and completely sealed.

Deadly Fibres

Asbestos needs removing from the track area at Bounds Green. Fair enough, you'd think, safety systems exist to ensure that staff are protected from the lethal fibres. At the very least, staff would be told about it. Or maybe not, since it seems that local management decided that there was no need to consult stations safety reps. Or to tell the staff. Hey, don't mind us - we only work here.

This is no joke. This stuff kills, and if management ignore the basics, we could all be at risk.