A former London Underground worker has warned passengers that they are breathing in hazardous waste, including asbestos, after raising safety concerns that were later upheld by an employment tribunal. Micky Steeds, who worked as a vents cleaner from 2018 until his dismissal in August 2023, said he repeatedly flagged dangerous practices such as inadequate protective equipment and illegal dumping of toxic dust.
Whistleblower's safety complaints upheld
Steeds made multiple protected disclosures between 2020 and 2023 about health and safety risks at some of the capital's busiest stations. He was sacked after being signed off with anxiety and told to return to unsafe conditions or face dismissal. The tribunal ruled this was an 'unfair and unjustifiable ultimatum' and found his complaints 'genuine and reasonable', amounting to protected disclosures under the Employment Rights Act 1996.
Steeds said he felt 'vindicated' but described the process as 'incredibly gruelling and exhausting'. He added: 'No worker with concerns should ever have to choose between protecting the public interest and their own livelihood.'
Toxic dust exposure risks
During his work, Steeds discovered the dust he encountered contained harmful levels of asbestos, chromium, arsenic, silicates, and iron oxide. He often finished shifts covered in thick dirt, sometimes unable to see. He spent 'nearly two years' cleaning asbestos-covered wiring before receiving training on how not to disturb it.
Steeds told The Guardian that his employer ignored his complaints and insisted everything was fine. He urged London Underground to stop claiming dangerous material is safe, stating: 'They've got to get rid of the asbestos somehow. It's in the caulking, the cables, the fire doors.'
Illegal dumping on tracks
Steeds witnessed bags of hazardous dust being 'dumped on the tracks' to avoid carrying them. 'I saw it happening. And when the train goes by – boof – everyone is breathing that s**t in,' he said. He also learned that waste he vacuumed was not being disposed of correctly; instead of being double-bagged as special waste, it was put in a mixed commercial skip.
The tribunal noted that 'the failure to dispose of hazardous waste appropriately may give rise to criminal and civil liability' and that 'other workers and the public generally' could be exposed to hazardous waste.
Asbestos health dangers
All forms of asbestos are carcinogenic. When disturbed, fibres can remain airborne for days and, if inhaled, travel deep into the lungs, causing lung disease, cancer, or asbestosis. Even one-time exposure can lead to mesothelioma. Symptoms of asbestosis, which can take 20–30 years to appear, include shortness of breath, persistent cough, wheezing, fatigue, chest pain, and clubbed fingertips. The disease is incurable.
Legal and employer response
Michael Ballantyne, Steeds' solicitor, said: 'This case is a reminder of the stigma whistleblowers still face. Mr Steeds was viewed as a troublemaker from the start... When he stood his ground, London Underground closed ranks.' He called the ruling an 'important win for whistleblowers and a good lesson for employers.'
London Underground has vowed to appeal. A 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.'
