Aviation Health Working Group minutes: 11 January 2002

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AHWG/11-01-02/Note

Aviation Health Working Group Meeting

Friday 11 January 2002, Great Minster House, London SW1

Present

   

Chairman

Michael Smethers

DTLR/MLD

Secretary

Martin O'Brien

DTLR/MLD
 

Peter A Smith

DTLR/MLD
 

Matt White

DTLR/STP
 

Dr Bill Maton-Howarth

DH
 

Dr Amal Rushdy

DH
 

Dr Tony Evans

CAA/SRG
 

Steve James

CAA/SRG
 

Graeme Henderson

HSE
 

Roger Wiltshire

BATA
 

Dr Nigel Dowdall

BATA
 

Sandy Mitchell

BALPA

Item 1: Minutes of the last meeting (30 November 2001)

1.1 The minutes of the last meeting were agreed as an accurate record, with the addition of a minor amendment to Item 5.3 to replace 'ATC study' with 'DVT study'.

Item 2: Chair's introductory remarks

2.1 The Chair informed the group that DTLR had engaged in an exchange of correspondence with Roger Morgan, the Clerk to the House of Lords' Select Committee, on the work of the Aviation Health Working Group. In his reply Roger Morgan had subsequently expressed the desire for an update on the outcome of the CAA work on seat dimensions. This issue would be addressed under item 5.

Action: DTLR to circulate copies of the DTLR/HOL Clerk correspondence to the inclusive AHWG for information.

2.2 Dr Tony Evans informed the group that ICAO was intending to issue a state letter requesting details of cases of DVT passenger ill-health caused by air travel.

2.3 Roger Wiltshire informed the group that a recent court judgement in Germany had found in favour of Lufthansa in a case brought by a victim of DVT.

Action: BATA to provide DTLR with a copy of the translation of this case for circulation to the group.

2.4 Nigel Dowdall informed the group that the US National Research Council had recently published details of their study on cabin air.

Action: DTLR to circulate details of the website for the National Research Council's report, 'The Airliner Cabin Environment and the Health of Passengers and Crew'

www.nap.edu/books/0309082897/html

Item 3: Research

3.1 DH report back from the 12 December WHO meeting

3.1.1 A note of the 12 December WHO meeting had been circulated to the group. Bill Maton-Howarth reported that a number of issues remained unresolved following the meeting. Of these funding was the most critical. Nigel Dowdall commented that the smaller Ross Baker Australian study would gain considerable credibility should the WHO give it its endorsement, and that this would enable the study obtain the funding, estimated at approximately US$ 800K, that it was seeking.

3.1.2 Bill Maton-Howarth acknowledged this but indicated that the WHO study remained the best match for the objectives of the UK AHWG, in particular in meeting political pressures. The Chair summarised the options that seemed to be available to WHO:

  • WHO obtain the full amount of funding and implement the proposed work packages in full.
  • WHO raise €4-€5M, prioritise the package of work into stages, and undertake the first stage.
  • WHO raise a smaller amount and merge with the Australian Study.
  • WHO allow the airlines to provide funding and to be involved in the project design.
  • Do nothing.

3.1.3 Bill Maton-Howarth confirmed that while WHO had indicated that they would be seeking funding more proactively, no notification of WHO's plans had been received. The Chair indicated that a prompt resolution of the current impasse was required. It was noted that should the WHO work fail to materialise, involvement in the Australian study was a potential fallback position.

Action: Bill Maton-Howarth to contact WHO and press them on the action they are taking to resolve outstanding issues, and establish the WHO's timetable for pursuing this work. Action at a higher, even Ministerial level, might be necessary should the response be unsatisfactory.

3.2 Cabin Air - outline of current position.

3.2.1 DTLR outlined the current position in respect of research into cabin air quality. The conclusion of the 30 November inclusive AHWG meeting had been that the group did not have sufficient information on the cabin air studies currently underway to be in a position to identify further research needs. The group were aware of four studies funded through European research programmes including BRE's Cabin Air study, ASICA, HEACE (Health Effects in Aircraft Cabin Environment) and FACE (Friendly Aircraft Cabin Environment). In addition three further studies were known to be underway in the US - ASHRAE, National Academy of Sciences (or National Research Council) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

3.2.2 Several areas of concern were identified including the extent to which the existing research would address episodic contaminants, 'at-risk' passenger groups and different aircraft types.

3.3 5th Framework research background

3.3.1 Matt White informed the group that FP5 (the Fifth Framework) had now concluded and that FP6 was under development. FP6 work under the heading of "Aeronautical Space" was suggested as potentially being of interest to the AHWG. Matt White indicated that an initial search had not produced any further details on the European studies into cabin air quality.

3.3.2 Matt White confirmed that projects under each generic research theme would be overseen by a Scientific Officer for the EC. In addition Member States have the right of access to policy relevant results although this can be restricted by commercial confidentiality. The Chair asked the AHWG Research Subgroup to identify and meet EC contacts, including the relevant Scientific Officer, as part of the current work of gaining further knowledge of the ongoing strands of research.

Action: Bill Maton-Howarth and the AHWG Research Subgroup to report back on progress at the 22 February AHWG meeting.

Action: Steve James to identify the EC Scientific Officer for Cabinair:

Marco Brusati, DG RTD-C1, Rue Montoyer 75, Office 2/44, B1040 Brussels, Belgium.
Tel: +32 2 2994 848 Fax +32 2 2967 023 e-mail: marco.brusati@cec.eu.int

3.4 CAA research into smoke/fume incidents

3.4.1 Steve James gave an update to the group on CAA research into smoke/fume incidents on BAe146s and 757s. Despite extensive research undertaken by the CAA and others in the UK, and elsewhere in Australia and Sweden, no specific cause of the reported symptoms of incapacitation had been identified. The CAA work would be continuing with an expectation that it would reach a conclusion by the end of 2002.

3.4.2 This discussion replaced the later agenda item titled 'Organophosphates'. It was noted that this title was misleading, since organophosphates were not held to be the primary cause of these incidents.

Item 4: House of Lords Report - Recommendations aimed at airlines

4.1 DTLR circulated a table of recommendations from the House of Lords' Report that had in full, or in part, been aimed at airlines. BATA agreed to provide an update of their initial response to the House of Lords report by indicating the progress made against each of the recommendations listed in the table.

Action: BATA to provide a completed table by the next inclusive AHWG meeting on 5 April 2002.

Item 5: Definitions for Seat Dimensions

5.1 Peter Smith had written to Tom Hamilton in the light of the Clerk of House of Lords Subcommittee's request for additional information on the outcome of the CAA's work into seat sizes. Roger Morgan was in particular keen to identify progress against the House of Lords' recommendation for this work to be used to develop an unambiguous set of definitions for seat dimensions. Steve James summarised Tom Hamilton's 9 January response, setting out the CAA's view that establishing health related specifications for aircraft seats went beyond their current remit of ensuring safe evacuation procedures. DTLR emphasised that what was required was to establish an agreed methodology for measuring seat dimensions irrespective of health or comfort concerns. The primary focus of this work would be to establish a basis for informing consumer choice.

5.2 BATA confirmed that seat pitch was already established as a universally agreed standard. The group discussed whether any further dimensions were required to meet the House of Lords recommendation. It was noted that there was no universally accepted method for measuring width. It was also noted that seat pitch would not give an unambiguous definition of available space, since the size of the chair back would vary between seats of the same pitch. In discussion, cabin configuration and seat pitch was raised as one possibility where the information was already readily available. Roger Wiltshire urged caution in branding the availability of seat dimensions as a health issue.

5.3 The Chair indicated that the group would need to respond to the Clerk of the House of Lords' Committee on this issue. DTLR would consider Tom Hamilton's letter, which had not yet been received.

Action: DTLR to consider CAA's letter in the light of the HOL Clerk's request.

Item 6: CAA/HSE responsibilities

6.1 The Chair informed the group of the ongoing discussion between DTLR, CAA and the HSE on the issue of responsibility for aviation health. A further meeting between the three parties had been arranged for 1 February 2002. The group would keep BATA informed of further developments.

Item 7: In flight medical emergencies

7.1 BATA circulated an information paper on in flight medical emergencies. In discussion it was noted that there was a low incidence of use of automatic external defibrilators, and a success rate lower than would be expected from use by qualified users on the ground. It was also noted that the on board provision of defibrilators was greatly appreciated by staff and that the vast majority of airlines were now carrying this equipment on both long haul and short haul flights. It was arguable that even a low success rate might justify universal carrying of defibrilators.

Action: DTLR to consider how BATA's paper would enable the group to prepare a shadow Regulatory Impact Assessment.

Item 8: AOB

8.1 DTLR informed the group of a request from DTI, asking whether the Department or any other agencies had conducted contingency planning for the event of airline contamination from anthrax. Nigel Dowdall indicated that these were likely to already exist given the action taken in the light of scares during November and December. Greame Henderson suggested Jim Neilson at HSE as a contact point for anthrax contamination issues.

8.2 Action: Nigel Dowdall to provide further details of any useful contacts on this issue.

8.3 Dates for future AHWG meetings are as follows: Friday 22 February (exclusive) Friday 5 April (inclusive), Friday 17 May (exclusive) and Friday 28 June (inclusive).

MLD3

January 2002