§ Mr. Nigel GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what steps he is taking to act on the conclusions of the air accident investigation branch that airport safety is threatened by confusion between his Department, the Civil Aviation Authority and the Health and Safety Executive over responsibility for vehicle safety and staff safety training;
(2) what action he is taking to ensure that a mechanism is in place at every airport to take immediate action on staff complaints about serviceable vehicles; and that vehicles used at airports are checked regularly for roadworthiness and have appropriate vehicle test certificates;
(3) what steps he is taking to ensure that all staff at airports have proper safety training;
(4) what response he has made to the report of the air accident investigations branch published on 7 January on the fatal accident affecting a member of the ground staff at Edinburgh airport, and what action he is taking to ensure that its recommendations are implemented at every airport without delay.
§ Mr. NorrisThese questions relate to a tragic accident at Edinburgh airport on 11 March 1993 in which a tractor driver was killed by the propeller of a stationary aircraft. The air accidents investigation branch has made safety recommendations to the CAA, BAA plc and the Airport Operators Association—AOA. Appropriate action has been taken, or is in hand, by those organisations.
The CAA initiated an aerodrome apron safety management working group with members drawn from BAA, AOA, the British Air Transport Association and the British Airline Pilots Association, with the following terms of reference:
- i. To determine the best practice in safety management and procedures and their application in apron safety management.
- ii. To establish model safety management standards and procedures from which airport operators can prepare the systems and procedures for their airports.
- iii. To determine the most appropriate measures to effect audit control over the safety management systems and procedures at airport.
The working group is meeting on a monthly basis to expedite its progress. The CAA is also in active discussion with the Health and Safety Executive.
BAA plc advises me that it has remedies in place or in progress relating to the detailed points emerging from this accident and these will apply equally to all its airports. It took action where possible at the earliest moment. The AOA has already brought these matters to the attention of its members.