Aviation Health Working Group minutes: 5 April 2006
Aviation Health Working Group # 36
5 April 2006, Great Minster House
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Present |
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Chair: |
Sandra Webber |
DfT/CAD |
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Secretary: |
Grace Hansford |
DfT/CAD |
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Andrew Ashbourne |
DfT/CAD |
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Abimbola Alli |
DfT/CAD |
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Andy Freeman |
HSE |
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Dr Ray Johnston |
CAA/AHU |
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Tom Hamilton |
CAA/SRG |
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Cliff Barrow |
CAA/SRG |
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James Fremantle |
AUC |
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Sandy Mitchell |
BALPA |
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Dan Monnery |
CAA CPG |
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Nigel Dowdall |
BA/BATA |
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George Blundell- Pound |
Thomas Cook Airlines |
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Bill Maton-Howarth |
DoH |
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Guests: |
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Dr Bob Maynard |
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Prof Virginia Murray |
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Apologies: |
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Dr Mark Popplestone |
BA/BATA |
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Roger Wiltshire |
BATA |
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Tim Williams |
CAA |
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Nikki Jones |
TGWU |
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John Furlong |
HSE |
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Rick Bewsey |
CAA/SRG |
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Dr Tony Goodwin |
BALPA |
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Mike Carrivick |
BAR UK |
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Victoria Mayo |
DfT/ASCM |
Item 1: Introductions
1.1 The Chair opened with apologies for the delay since the last meeting. This was due to the weight of work within the Civil Aviation Division, including the Civil Aviation Bill and the Transport Select Committee.
1.2 The Chair introduced Dr Ray Johnston, the newly appointed Head of the CAA's Aviation Health Unit. Dr Johnston will take up the post on 18th April.
1.3 The Chair welcomed two guests to the meeting: Professor Robert Maynard CBE, a DoH toxicology expert with a background in OPP and a special interest in respiratory issues; and Professor Virginia Murray, Head of the Health Protection Agency (HPA), who would be delivering a presentation on investigating chemical accidents. This would set the wider context for the Medical Protocol on Fume Events.
Item 2: Minutes of the previous inclusive meeting (18 November 2005)
2.1 The minutes of the previous meetings were agreed.
Item 3: Update on COT
3.1 The Committee on Toxicity secretariat continues to review the evidence of cabin air contamination to date. A discussion paper is being prepared by the secretariat, which it is hoped the COT will consider at its meeting scheduled for May or July 2006. The outcome will help inform the AHWG on the way forward with any future research, monitoring procedures; etc.
3.2 Members of the COT Secretariat met with BALPA representatives on 22 February and with CAA representatives earlier today (5th April). The Chair invited comments from both on the meetings. Dr Sandy Mitchell reported that BALPA had found the meeting useful. Tom Hamilton (CAA's Safety Regulation Group) said the CAA had provided information to give context on, for example, reporting systems; etc.
3.3 The dates of the forthcoming COT meetings are as follows:
Tuesday 23 May
Tuesday 11 July
Tuesday 5 September
Tuesday 17 October
Tuesday 5 December
The Chair advised that as yet we do not know which two meetings will discuss Cabin Air, but that the main COT meeting on 11 July would be held in public so interested parties could attend as observers.
Item 4: HPA investigation of chemical accidents
4.1 Professor Murray gave a presentation on the subject to provide a general health protection / medical perspective, to aid the Group's discussions on the development of a medical protocol.
4.2 During the discussion which followed, the group identified two main issues to be addressed:
- Identification of the causes of ill-health:
From an Occupational Health aspect, a number of people genuinely present symptoms, but an exact cause needs to be identified. To date, consideration has been given almost exclusively to organophosphate involvement, but there are others to consider, including organic solvent and multiple chemical sensitivity syndrome.
- Investigation and Data capture:
Data gathering is vital for two reasons: to provide a firm basis for research and analysis, and to inform decisions on the deployment of resources.
The Buncefield incident (fuel depot near Hemel Hempstead) was cited as a good example of the principles of investigation techniques. Whilst the incident itself was not comparable, the investigation involved data collection and mapping of levels of exposure and consequential symptoms on a large scale and included data capture from, amongst others, the emergency services dealing with the incident before, during and after the event.
4.3 The Group agreed to wait until the COT assessment before finalising the draft medical protocol produced by Dr Tony Goodwin. But meanwhile Professor Maynard would send comments to Dr. Mitchell (BALPA), to help ensure it was sufficiently rounded in its approach.
4.4 In closing the discussion, the Chair suggested that although this was an issue of some complexity, progress was being made. Today's discussion along with the outcome of the COT's examination of evidence investigation would help identify areas into which resources could be channelled. The Chair thanked both guests for their valuable input.
Item 5: Update on Disinsection
5.1 Bola Alli raised the issue of the chemical compound of disinsection sprays used in aircraft cabins. The issue in question was whether or not the WHO's recommended aerosols include any containing DDT, which is banned from use in the UK. Nigel Dowdall responded that the main active ingredient in the WHO's recommended disinsectant sprays is phenothrin. The WHO is conducting a review of the use of disinsectants, but this may not be completed for some time. British Airways has managed to make a case for reducing the number of locations where spraying is required.
5.2 In matters of policy on disinsection, it is for national governments to decide their own policy, for example disinsection is no longer required on any flights into the USA.
Item 6: Research
ICE Project
6.1 Dr. Ray Johnston will be participating in this and able to report back to the AHWG. The Letter of Agreement between the CAA & DfT for the provision of the AHU has been revised, with bullet point 5 amended to allow the CAA to sign the ICE contract documentation.
Use of Aspirin in the prevention of DVT - update on Synovate report
6.2 Following Ministerial approval, the Synovate report has now been published on the DfT website, at:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/inclusion/dvt/
The report will also be published on the DoH website in due course.
Item 7: Civil Aviation Bill: Progress of Bill through House of Lords
7.1 Andrew Ashbourne reported that the third reading of the CA Bill took place in the House of Lords on 28 March. The provision to enable the CAA to recover the costs of the AHU from industry was not contested. Some amendments designed to extend the provision were defeated.
Item 8 - AOB
The future of the Aviation Health Unit
The Chair introduced Dr Ray Johnston, the newly appointed Head of the CAA's Aviation Health Unit, who will take up the post on 18th April. Dr Johnston spoke briefly on his new roll, and his vision of the direction of the AHU.
The Group agreed that the 'Exclusive / Inclusive' terminology used to differentiate the meetings is no longer appropriate, and that in future all AHWG meetings will be open to the wider group. If any urgent issues arise, further meetings can easily be arranged with the appropriate group members on an ad hoc basis.
Dates of Next Meetings:
In view of the above, and the long delay since the previous meeting (18th November 2005), the Group agreed that meetings should now take place at two-monthly intervals. Dates of forthcoming meetings for 2006 have been rescheduled accordingly:
9 June 2006
4 August 2006
6 October 2006
1 December 2006
CAD 1
5 April 2006
