Toxic Dust Hazards in London Underground Raise Whistleblower Concerns

A former London Underground cleaner has exposed serious safety risks related to asbestos and toxic dust exposure, urging passengers to be aware of potential health hazards within the subway system. The worker, Micky Steeds, was dismissed after raising concerns about dangerous working conditions, including inadequate protective equipment and improper disposal of hazardous materials.

Steeds, a former boxer from Essex, began working for London Underground in 2018, tasked with cleaning decades of accumulated dust from vents, lift shafts, and inverts—confined channels beneath platforms for electrical cabling. He described the job as severely contaminated, with dust so dense on some days that visibility was obstructed. During one shift at Tottenham Court Road station, disturbing the dust triggered the station’s fire alarms.

When Steeds discovered the dust contained dangerous substances such as asbestos, chromium, arsenic, silicates, and iron oxide, he started raising alarms internally. However, he was not provided with appropriate protective masks for the first 15 months of his employment. At times, he and his colleagues were forced to use paper masks that became blackened with dust after repeated use.

Training on asbestos handling was only provided to Steeds and his team after he had already spent 19 months cleaning asbestos-sheathed cables using stiff vacuum brushes. “We had been breaking it up for nearly two years before we received any training on how not to disturb it,” he testified at his employment tribunal.

Steeds also raised alarms about hazardous waste not being disposed of properly. He reported to a manager in March 2023: “We’re fucking cowboys here, we’re dumping hazardous waste in general waste bags. I’ve checked, and we’re required to double bag and dispose of this as special waste, but it’s being thrown into a mixed commercial general skip.”

His complaints were ultimately deemed protected disclosures under the Employment Rights Act 1996 by a judge-led tribunal in May 2023. The panel concluded his concerns were “genuine and reasonable,” validating his whistleblowing efforts. Steeds emphasized the broader public safety implications, stating, “Everyone who rides those trains needs to know about it. People are being put in danger down there.”

London Underground management initially rejected his allegations, asserting cleaning practices did not disturb asbestos. However, the tribunal found evidence of asbestos presence at all sites and confirmed that dry cleaning methods posed risks of disturbance. The ruling also highlighted systemic failures in hazardous waste disposal, warning of potential criminal and civil liability, as well as risks to workers and the public from exposure to toxic materials.

Steeds was terminated in August 2023 after experiencing anxiety-related leave. The tribunal ruled his dismissal was unfair, noting he was pressured to retract his concerns before discussing future employment. The judgment stated the company’s primary reason for firing was his protected disclosures. A solicitor for Steeds described the case as exposing institutional resistance to accountability, noting he was labeled a “troublemaker” and ultimately faced retaliation.

“The tribunal agreed this was an unreasonable and unjustified response,” said Steeds’ attorney, Michael Ballantyne. He called the ruling a milestone for whistleblower protections and criticized the organization for prioritizing internal loyalty over public safety.

Steeds, who now avoids the Tube entirely, described the tribunal’s decision as his proudest achievement, surpassing his boxing career. “They weren’t just ignoring me—they were telling me I was wrong and everything was fine,” he said. He has urged London Underground to safely remove asbestos from infrastructure components such as caulking, cables, and fire doors.

He also alleged witnessing hazardous dust being improperly stored and dumped on tracks, exposing both workers and passengers to toxic fumes. “When trains pass by, everyone breathes that shit in,” he claimed. London Underground plans to appeal the ruling. A TfL spokesperson stated the company follows strict asbestos regulations and employs specialist teams to monitor and manage contaminated areas, ensuring the safety of staff and passengers.

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