Aviation Health Working Group minutes: 28 April 2005

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Aviation Health Working Group Meeting

28 April 2005, DfT, Great Minster House

Present

   

Chair

Sandra Webber

DfT/ACCD

Secretary

Robert Baker

DfT/ACCD 2
 

Peter Smith

DfT/ACCD 2
 

Abimbola Alli

DfT/ACCD 2
 

Victoria Mayo

DfT/ASCM
 

Paul Reardon

DfT/APD 4
 

Dr Annette Ruge

CAA/AHU
 

Tom Hamilton

CAA/SRG
 

Steve James

CAA/SRG
 

Andy Freeman

HSE
 

Dr Bill Maton-Howarth

DoH
 

Roger Wiltshire

BATA
 

Dr Mark Popplestone

BALPA
 

Tim Lindsay

BALPA/CAQTG
 

Mike Carrivick

BAR UK
 

Carolyn Evans

BALPA
 

James Fremantle

AUC

Apologies

   
 

George Blundell - Pound

Thomas Cook Airlines
 

Dr Tony Goodwin

BALPA
 

Tristan Loraine

BALPA/CAQTG
 

Alison Tingle

DoH
 

Nikki Jones

TGWU

Item 1: Minutes of the previous inclusive meeting (11 February 2005)

  1. Following the last meeting, Dr Ruge had received information from members on the cost of introducing defibrillators on civil aircraft.

Item 2: Chair's introductory remarks

  1. The Chair welcomed Tim Lindsay from BALPA.
  2. The Department had responded to ministerial correspondence on the provision of medical equipment on aircraft and DVT.
  3. The BALPA Aircraft Environment Task Group chaired by Tristan Loraine is now called the Cabin Air Quality Task Group (CAQTG).

Tristan Loraine had written to the HSE about the labelling of Exxon Mobil Jet Oil II. HSE had responded advising that the current labelling was not in contravention of current Regulations.

Action: DfT to forward to Roger Wiltshire copies of the ministerial replies.

Item 3: Update of the work of the Aviation Health Unit current Issues

Medical equipment on aircraft

  1. Dr Ruge said she had evaluated information submitted by airlines and noted that several were reviewing their equipment. She had spoken to Lufthansa about defibrillators, who indicated that it had proved to be financially viable to carry them as it could mean that flights need not be diverted.

Oxygen

  1. There had recently been Ministerial correspondence on the provision of oxygen for passengers. The issue concerned Britannia Airlines, who had refused to carry a passenger's oxygen cylinder due to safety concerns. Dr Ruge had contacted Britannia as there are no grounds for safety concerns, however the AHU was unable to intervene as this was a decision for the airline. Most airlines do allow passengers to use their own oxygen.
  2. On 26 April, the Daily Telegraph printed an article based on research published in Anaesthesia magazine, claiming that low oxygen levels in aircraft increased the risk of DVT for most passengers. Dr Ruge said that she was surprised that the article had been published and stated that there was no evidence to support the allegations that a reduction in oxygen intake contributes to thickening of the blood, leading to an increased risk of DVT. Mark Popplestone said that other research had been used out of context. The Chair said that the Department and CAA had prepared briefing in order to respond to this, but that there had been no further media interest in the story.

Water quality on aircraft

  1. Dr Ruge had been contacted by the US Environmental Protection Agency, who had asked whether there were procedures or standards in place to ensure that water boarded at airports is safe.  They are concerned about possible contamination of the water. Mark Popplestone commented that some airlines carried out their own tests. Roger Wiltshire said that airlines followed procedural guidance, but that this was a public health issue.

Potential flu pandemic

  1. The Chair introduced Paul Reardon DfT, who is responsible for contingency planning in airports. He said that that the outbreak of a flu pandemic was currently assessed as being one of the key risks to the UK. He also said that according to WHO, the speed of an outbreak can only be reduced not contained. A cross-Departmental group had recently published a flu pandemic plan, annex J was relevant (contingency planning note AHWG/30/02).
  2. Dr Ruge said that there had been concerns raised by operators about the integration of the DoH plans concerning air travel.
  3. The Chair felt that there was a need for a central point to pass information from DoH to airlines. This could be a role for the AHU.

Funding of the Aviation Health Unit

  1. The Chair said that as part of the Civil Aviation Bill the Department would include provisions to enable the cost of the AHU to be recovered from the aviation industry. The Government had said in a press release at the time the AHU was created that it would legislate at the earliest opportunity. Roger Wiltshire asked if there would be consultation about implementing this.

Actions: Dr Ruge to forward information on the provision of oxygen to passengers to Roger Wiltshire.

Roger Wiltshire to raise with Britannia Airways the carriage of oxygen.

Dr Ruge to forward a copy of the Anaesthesia article to Roger Wiltshire and to write to the editor of the magazine.

DfT to find out if anyone in Aviation Directorate was designated ot liaise between the airlines and DOH; otherwise arrange for Annette Ruge to be the focal point. consider whether there is a role for the AHU to act as a focal point on the potential flu pandemic.

Item 4: BALPA Conference 21/22 April 2005

  1. The Chair said that DfT, CAA and DoH officials had attended the conference. Tim Lindsay said that the speakers at the conference had presented evidence on contaminated air events and had highlighted technical solutions to measure events.
  2. Dr Ruge said that the conference had given a good overview of the issues and had presented evidence of the physiological effects of in-vitro exposure to organophosphates. However, much of the evidence from assumed in-flight exposure was inconclusive and unsupported. She felt that there is a need to evaluate the extent to which cabin air contamination is a problem. Steve James said that the CAA had investigated the issue of cabin air and had found no evidence of carbon monoxide at levels approaching certification levels.
  3. Roger Wiltshire asked if there was any data to identify a trend in events, particularly in modern aircraft. Steve James replied saying that the CAA continues to monitor aircraft, but that it would not be possible to eliminate fume events entirely.
  4. It was noted that Nikki Jones had sent the attached paper detailing TGWU concerns on contaminated air (AHWG/30/03). It was agreed that the way forward would be through arranging a meeting of the AHWG Sub-Group. Dr Maton-Howarth said that he was planning to arrange a meeting of the AHWG Sub-Group in a month's time. The meeting would enable the scope of the research aims to be determined and produce an outline for the tender process. Tim Lindsay confirmed that BALPA/CAQTG were currently preparing evidence and would send copies of the papers in time for discussion at the Sub-Group meeting.

Actions: BALPA to provide information to Bill Maton-Howarth in time for the next Sub-Group meeting.

Dr Ruge to develop a first draft of specifications for research aimed at establishing the scope and nature of potential air contamination events.

Item 5: Research

Update on WHO Wright Project

  1. Peter Smith said that the results were being written up for submission to scientific journals for peer review and publication. Some of the findings will be presented at a conference scheduled for June.
  2. The Scientific Executive Committee of the WRIGHT Project and the Department would shortly meet to discuss publication of the Phase 1 results and to discuss the proposals for Phase 2.

Research on respiratory disease following flights

  1. Dr. Jane Zuckermann (Royal Free Hospital) is preparing the study design which will be in two parts; the first being a questionnaire based study and the second will include experimental design to establish the mechanisms of transmission of respiratory disease in aircrafts. Carolyn Evans said that Dr Tony Goodwin had been in contact with Brompton Hospital about this issue.

Action: The Department will prepare a press statement on the research when the WRIGHT reports are published.

Item 6: AOB

  1. Carolyn Evans referred to a previous meeting when she had raised BALPA concerns about the cabin temperature of stationary aircraft, which can become uncomfortable for passengers and crew. They have produced guidelines for members but were seeking something official. Dr Ruge said that AHU was not able to offer guidance as there are no requirements for ventilation (and therefore none for temperatures) of the aircraft cabin while the aircraft is on the ground. It was agreed that the issue would merit further discussion. It might be possible for other members of the AHWG to support the BALPA guidelines.

Dr Ruge indicated that the issue of crew toilet facilities, which had been raised at the last meeting, was not an issue for the AHU/AHWG.

  1. Dr Hunter had chaired the recent meeting of the Cosmic Radiation Advisory Group, which had decided that there was not a need to monitor the effect of cosmic rays on passengers.

Action: BALPA to send to DfT/AHU a copy of its guidelines on cabin temperature of stationary aircraft.

Dates of next meetings:

-Exclusive - 20 June 2005

-Inclusive - 4 August 2005

-Exclusive - 2 September 2005

-Inclusive - 17 November 2005

-Exclusive - 2 December 2005

ACCD April 2005