Aviation Health Working Group minutes: 4 July 2002

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AHWG/04-07-02/Note

Aviation Health Working Group Meeting

Thursday 4 July 2002, Great Minster House, London SW1

Present

   

Chairman

Michael Smethers

DfT/MLD

Secretary

Martin O'Brien

DfT/MLD
 

Dr Amal Rushdy

DH
 

Tom Hamilton

CAA/SRG
 

Steve James

CAA/SRG
 

Dr Tony Evans

CAA/SRG
 

Graeme Henderson

HSE
 

Roger Wiltshire

BATA
 

Dr Nigel Dowdall

BATA
 

Sandy Mitchell

BALPA
 

Bruce D'Ancey

BALPA

Apologies

   
 

Peter Smith

DfT/MLD
 

Dr Bill Maton-Howarth

DH
 

Peter North

BARUK
 

Simon Evans

AUC

Item 1: Minutes of the last inclusive meeting (5 April 2002)

  1. With the addition of amendments received from Sandy Mitchell and from Amal Rushdy the minutes of the last meeting were agreed as an accurate record.

Item 2: Chair's introductory remarks

  1. The Chair informed the group of the formation of a cross-party group on deep vein thrombosis and added that David Jamieson had met the central figures from this group, David Kidney MP and John Smith MP.
  2. The Chair added that recent Parliamentary activity included a series of Parliamentary Questions from Baroness Wilcox, the most recent of which would be addressed under agenda item 5. In addition John Smith MP had initiated an adjournment debate on 25 June on DVT. The Chair further indicated that David Kidney's Private Members Bill, Health (Air Travellers), was on the list for the final Private Members Day on 19 July, but, at number 25, it was not expected to be reached, and would therefore progress no further. The Secretary added that notice had recently been received of another Private Members Bill, to be introduced by Cheryl Gillan MP on 8 July entitled Health (Air Travellers (No.2).
  3. Roger Wiltshire indicated that Paul Tyler MP had recently issued a press notice on the subject of in-flight air quality.

Item 3: Update on CAA HSE roles and responsibilities work

  1. The Chair outlined the current position on the work clarifying roles and responsibilities for aviation health. A consultation paper was expected to be issued shortly, subject to John Spellar's reaction to a request from the TUC for a prior meeting about concerns over occupational health issues. The outcome from the consultation was expected to be included within the White Paper.

Item 4: Research

Update on Cabin Air

  1. In the absence of Bill Maton-Howarth the Secretary provided the Group with an update on research into cabin air quality. The AHWG Research Sub-group had invited BRE to develop a specification to extend CabinAir's Measurement in the Skies programme to include older aircraft used in high volume short haul operations. This would specifically involve carrying out monitoring on BAE 146 and B737 Classic aircraft on 12 flights. Subject to a final proposal from BRE a contract was expected to be let shortly.

Update on WHO

  1. The Chair commended the work of the AHWG Research Sub-group in securing additional funds and the agreement of the WHO and scientists to commence on an initial phase of the research. The Secretary confirmed that the UK contribution would be €1.8m (£1.2m) and that the EC would contribute the remaining €1m (£600K). Work was expected to get underway in the Autumn.
  2. The Secretary indicated that initial attempts at engaging the airlines had not been as productive as the Universities had hoped. Nigel Dowdall commented that David Flower from BA had identified some potential problems and had discussed these with the WHO scientists. Discussions were ongoing.
  3. Tony Evans indicated to the group that the CAA had recently received a proposal from Leicester University to carry out research into the effect of flight-related hypoxia on respiratory infections in children. The Chair agreed that this would be best handled by the AHWG Research Sub-group.

Action: For CAA to circulate Leicester's proposal to the AHWG Research Sub-group, and for this to be considered at the Sub-group's next meeting.

Item 5: DVT Advice to passengers

  1. The Chair drew the Group's attention to the 24 June 2002extract from Hansard. He also identified a new leaflet from Britannia on DVT, which was intended to be distributed at all stages of before and during a flight. The Chair underlined that Baroness Wilcox was particularly concerned about whether passengers could access the advice before and during a flight and the extent to which passengers understood the advice.
  2. The Chair passed on Lord Macintosh's view that this was a legitimate point and that research to assess passengers' understanding would be likely to only cost in the region of £50K. In response to Baroness Wilcox's question the Department had agreed to discuss the issue with industry representatives.
  3. Nigel Dowdall informed the group that the recent University of Birmingham research involving BA Executive Club members had found awareness of DVT to be around 70%. The Chair asked whether any of the findings could be provided to DfT. Nigel Dowdall agreed to look into this.
  4. The Chair asked BATA to consider the scope for undertaking an exercise of this kind, and suggested that it could be funded jointly by Government and industry. Roger Wiltshire agreed to take the point to his members.

Action: BATA to indicate whether they were prepared to participate in research into passenger awareness of DVT.

Item 6: BATA's progress against House of Lords recommendations

  1. The Chair thanked BATA for providing the group with the report on progress against the House of Lords recommendations. In discussion a number of comments were made:
  2. On the "collection of basic cabin environment data", recommendation 1.25, BATA were asked to expand on the information that had been made available. In response Nigel Dowdall indicated that material had been published on a number of websites including BA's Boeing's and also in a number of articles and journals. Nigel Dowdall confirmed that this material would include some of the routine data continuously monitored on-board flights. Nigel Dowdall also outlined the lack of available equipment to provide the sort of 'routine monitoring' recommended by the House of Lords and described the steps required set up monitoring for a study on the cabin environment of the Boeing 777/ 747-400.

Action: BATA agreed to compile a list of the information available for the Group.

  1. On the fitting of ozone converters, recommendation 1.29, BATA were asked to provide further information.

Action: BATA to provide details of the timescale and cost involved in fitting converters.

  1. Bruce D'Ancey indicated that several UK airports, including Heathrow, had restrictions that prevent Auxiliary Power Units (APUs) being used, recommendation 1.32. He stated that this was potentially a health and safety problem. Without auxiliary power there was a potential risk of cross-infection, in addition there would be no running water for cabin crew to wash their hands.

Action: MLD to consider this issue with others within DfT.

  1. On the "collection of passenger information", recommendation 1.33, it was noted that the recommendation was initially framed with the transmission of disease in mind. However it was an issue that had been raised by MPs in relation to DVT, and was part of David Kidney's Private Members Bill. Nigel Dowdall outlined the difficulties involved in tracing individual passengers.
  2. On recommendation 1.37, "the provision of free ear plugs to passengers", it was suggested that earplugs were relatively inexpensive in comparison to the other 'freebies' distributed on long haul flights. Nigel Dowdall replied that 'freebies' were not in fact free and were included within the ticket price. He indicated that with 35 million passengers even something with a unit cost of 10p ended up costing £3.5million a year. The selection of those items provided to passengers was based on market research of what passengers wanted.
  3. On recommendation 1.42, "the provision of ground based medical services", BATA were asked to provide further details.

Action: BATA to provide further details of the numbers of long-haul aircraft subscribing to this type of service.

Item 7: HEPA Filters

  1. Steve James circulated a paper to the group setting out the total number of passenger seats on UK passenger aircraft with; the highest HEPA standard, filtration of a lower standard, and no re-circulation. The Chair thanked CAA and BATA for their efforts in putting these statistics together. The Chair asked whether the second grouping could be disaggregated into HEPA and non-HEPA. He also indicated that it would be helpful to be able to specify the proportion within this group with efficiency of 95% or higher.
  2. Steve James acknowledged that passenger miles or hours would be a better indication of exposure than passenger seats, however it was agreed that this would be difficult to achieve. Roger Wiltshire confirmed that almost all UK long-haul aircraft would have the highest HEPA standard fitted.

Action: CAA to provide further breakdown on figures.

Item 8: Cosmic Radiation

  1. The Chair reminded the Group of the discussion at the 5 April meeting, where Sandy Mitchell asked whether the HSE could be involved in distributing advice to frequent flyers based on material to be produced by the Cosmic Radiation Working Group. Graeme Henderson indicated that the HSE did not tend to have links with the commercial and financial sector where most frequent flyers would be working. He suggested that the most effective way of getting this material to frequent flyers was through BA and Virgin frequent flyer programmes.
  2. Nigel Dowdall raised the concern that many frequent business travellers fly with other international airlines, and that this would not therefore reach everyone in the intended audience. Nigel Dowdall confirmed that information on cosmic radiation already appeared on the BA website and that BA had included this kind of information in presentations to corporate clients. Nigel Dowdall agreed to take the Chair's request for a one off trawl of Executive Club members to BA's Communications Department. The Chair asked Roger Wiltshire to pass the request on to Virgin and to British Midland.

Action: BATA to involve BA, Virgin and British Midland in drawing frequent flyers attention to material on cosmic radiation.

Item 9: Travel Advice Centre/Network

  1. Amal Rushdy informed the group that the Department of Health had initiated a Travel Advice Network bringing together existing travel advice services. Work on this network remained at an early stage.

Item 10: Dates for future meetings

  • 4 September 2pm Exclusive meeting
  • 16 October 10.30am Inclusive meeting
  • 29 November 10.30am Exclusive meeting
  1. The Chair commented that it had now been 18 months since the formation of the Group. He proposed that, for 2003, meetings should move from a 6 weekly to a 2 monthly basis. The Group agreed. Proposed dates for 2003 are as follows:
  • 17 January 10.30am Inclusive meeting
  • 14 March 10.30am Exclusive meeting
  • 16 May 10.30am Inclusive meeting
  • 18 July 10.30am Exclusive meeting
  • 19 September 10.30am Inclusive meeting
  • 14 November 10.30 Exclusive meeting

Item 11: Any other business

  1. The Chair drew the Group's attention to a Symposium on Health planned by ECAC on the 23 and 24 October, and noted Tony Evans participation. The Chair indicated that Peter Smith would be likely to participate from DfT.

MLD

July 2002