Micky Steeds, a former London Underground worker, has spoken out about the dangers of toxic dust on the network after winning an employment tribunal for unfair dismissal. Steeds, who began working for the London Underground in 2018, was responsible for cleaning vents, lift shafts, and inverts across the system. His job often left him covered in grime and dust, which he later discovered contained hazardous levels of asbestos, chromium, arsenic, silicates, and iron oxide.
Whistleblower Dismissed After Raising Safety Concerns
After raising concerns about these dangerous working conditions, Steeds was told to return to work or be sacked. He was dismissed in August 2023 after being signed off with anxiety. In May 2024, a judge-led employment tribunal found that he was unfairly dismissed and that his belief that he and colleagues were being put in danger was “genuine and reasonable.”
The tribunal heard that for 15 months, Steeds was not provided with a proper protective face mask, sometimes using paper masks that became blackened with dust. Training on how to handle asbestos only came after he had been cleaning asbestos-sheathed cables for 19 months. London Underground managers rejected his complaints, insisting the work was safe and that cleaning practices did not disturb asbestos. However, the tribunal ruled that the company failed to demonstrate compliance on all occasions.
Toxic Dust Risks for All Tube Users
Speaking to The Guardian, Steeds said that every tube user should be aware of the risks. “Everyone who gets on those trains needs to know about it. People are being put in danger down there,” he said. He urged London Underground to safely remove hazardous material and stop claiming it is safe. He also alleged that he saw bags of hazardous dust being tipped onto tracks to avoid carrying them. “I just want to make people aware of what they are breathing in. It’s not just dust, it’s hazardous waste and they don’t know that. I personally don’t travel on the tube. I’d rather get a bus,” he added.
Legal and Employer Response
Michael Ballantyne, Steeds’ solicitor, said his client was “viewed as a troublemaker from the start and expected to fall in line.” He added: “When he stood his ground, London Underground closed ranks and Mr Steeds was given an ultimatum - either retract his disclosures, or be fired. I’m glad to see the Tribunal agreed this was unreasonable and unjustified. This is an important win for whistleblowers and a good lesson for employers.”
Transport for London (TfL) is considering an appeal against the tribunal’s finding. A TfL spokesperson said: “We have strict controls in place, in line with the government’s Control of Asbestos Regulations, which ensure customers and staff are not at risk from exposure to asbestos when travelling or working on the Tube network. Our specialist teams monitor and manage locations where asbestos has been found to ensure the safety of everyone travelling or working on the network.”
